If you are seeking an alternative to large, corporate-type shelters in Denver, try the tiny house that is Barnwater Rescue shelter.
My experience with this shelter/house was positive and very sweet. The owner is a compassionate lifelong "cat lady" who is filling a void in the much needed cat resue field. She has been caring for cats for over 50 years and her commitment and attention to detail is apparent.
She mostly works with cats who's lives have originated in less than desirable conditions. She lovingly cares for them during their stay and works to overcome any previous obstacles they may have faced.
Because it is in a house it was a much different experience than a shelter which I found charming, informative and cozy. I was interested in knowing history of the cats and found this to be a very personalized experience with someone well informed about each cat.
Best of all, there were several beautiful, loving, well adjusted cats to choose from all in need of good homes and ready to come home with me. Believe me, if I could have chosen more than one, I would have!
I emailed this rescue for help with rehoming my special-needs cat. I was sent a response that my situation was "hopeless", she should just be euthanized, and that there was "no such place" that existed that would take her. These were her exact words. She even "promised" that no one would "fit the bill". Already in an emotionally compromised state at having to surrender my cat for her best interest, her words were cruel and unhelpful. Every other rescue that wasn't able to help tried their best to give me contacts elsewhere, or at the very least said they were sorry and couldn't help, but wished me luck in a very professional fashion.
I responded after several days of trying to find a civil way of telling her how cruel she had been, and was met with "I appreciate your taking the time to give me hell" and name-calling. She then tried to backpedal by sending a one-line (subject-line, even, no body text) email that I was right, she was sorry, please disregard the last email. As though that made it all better. When I told her I planned to report my experiences to the public, she returned to name-calling, telling me I had some kind of hidden-agenda and that I was out for revenge.
What's more, I always signed my name to my statements. I stand behind my words. Not once did she ever give her name, though she gave me every excuse in the book as to why she was the victim in our exchange.
I would not support this place. I am sure the cats need the help, but the owner/executive director needs to seriously step down. She is unprofessional, cruel, degrading, rude, and snarky. She insists on getting the last word in and didn't even read my entire initial email (otherwise she'd have known my cat didn't have a history of injuries, which I stated).
Completely dissatisfied, and I will be reporting as such everywhere I can to warn people ahead of time. She is a really quite terrible person who makes excuses, won't put in the effort to help if things are slightly harder, calls people names, and is overall rather fractious.
Review from Guidestar