ANNOUNCEMENT:
It is with great sadness that we share some bad news. After 17 years of rescuing Shibas, Colorado Shiba Inu Rescue is closing. We made the extremely difficult decision after spending the last 5 years struggling to maintain the volunteer staff needed to run the rescue in a way that we can be proud of. While staffing was our biggest issue, we’ve also experienced a severe decline in the availability of quality foster and adoptive homes for our dogs over the last few years. Sadly, we are told other rescues are experiencing these issues too.
In early 2024, we stopped taking in dogs to focus on the ones already in rescue, who required considerable time and effort to place due to their history. We have just one dog left who needs a home; Panko! (see below)
Going forward, we continue to care for the 3 hospice dogs in rescue: Cece, Missy, and Hiroki. They all require considerable care, but COSIR and their fosters will support them for the rest of their lives. We have stopped soliciting donations since we are no longer taking in dogs. For now, we can sustain our hospice dogs with donations from 2 long-term monthly donors/alumni, as well as passive fundraisers like the King Soopers Community Rewards program and then Walk for a Dog app.We will be sure to reach out to our supporters should one of these dogs needs something beyond our means in the future, as we will not compromise on their care! They deserve the very best.
Our focus will now shift to supporting the Shiba community through education vs. rescue. We will keep our website updated with helpful information, including resources for those needing to rehome their Shiba. We will continue to support Shiba parents through free behavior consultations, and award scholarship funds for veterinary care and/or training as available and appropriate.
Panko is the last COSIR dog! He is a special boy and ready for adoption. Please share with anyone you think may be a good fit.
About us
Colorado Shiba Inu Rescue (COSIR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehoming of Shiba Inus, and Shiba Inu mixes, in Colorado. While in rescue, all our dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, given heartworm prevention, and any/all veterinary care necessary to ensure they are healthy and ready for their forever homes. We also provide post-adoption training for our younger dogs, and maintain a lifelong relationship of support with our alumni. We have an all volunteer staff who donate their free time to saving Shibas because of their love and appreciation for the breed.
The Shiba Inu is a very unique breed with very strong personality traits, and they are not for everyone! People often decide they want a Shiba because they are cute, without doing any research first, and don’t know what they are getting into. For this reason, many Shibas end up in shelters, surrendered by their owners, or abandonded. COSIR understands and appreciates the uniqueness of this quirky and difficult breed, and has the expertise to ensure each dog finds the right forever home. This challenging of a breed warrants an in-depth screening process for adopters, and our goal is to find each dog their FOREVER home, not just their NEXT home.
COSIR takes in Shibas from animal shelters or other rescues, as well as from owners looking to surrender their Shiba in order to give them a better life. Shibas typically do not do well in shelter environments and are often deemed un-adoptable and euthanized. COSIR prioritizes taking in Shibas from local shelters and places them in foster homes. By doing this, we not only relieve the shelter load, so they can help other dogs, but we give a deserving dog a chance at life.
We do not have a shelter facility for you to visit and meet our dogs. All of our dogs are cared for in loving foster homes. An adoption application must be submitted, reviewed, and pre-approved prior to scheduling a home visit to meet our dogs.
