Now is the season for giving, so why not help puppies in need?
Aspen's Lucky Day Animal Rescue transforms lives of Colorado animals
Lucky Day Animal Rescue/Courtesy photo
Nestled in the heart of Aspen, Lucky Day Animal Rescue has quietly yet passionately transformed the lives of animals across Colorado since its founding in 2009.
This 501(c)(3) nonprofit, driven by co-founder and president Kelley Brenninger, is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals in need. With a strong network of volunteers and foster families, Lucky Day has become a lifeline, offering vulnerable pets a second chance at a happy life.
Lucky Day focuses on rescuing animals from high-risk situations, such as overcrowded shelters or abandonment.
“We mostly pull dogs from situations where they are in danger of being euthanized,” Brenninger explained. “Whether that is a shelter in a rural area or owner surrenders. Instead of them going into a shelter, we bring them into our system.”
The mission is straightforward yet profound: Rescue animals, provide necessary medical care, and place them in loving homes.
Brenninger and her team believe every animal deserves a chance, regardless of age, breed, or medical needs. They are committed to ensuring no animal is left behind.
“A lot of our dogs are strays; some are breeder releases, where the breeders cannot sell them, so they take them to the vet to be euthanized,” she noted. “We spay, neuter, vaccinate, deworm, and microchip all of our dogs.”
She emphasized that their spay and neuter program is particularly extensive, funding mobile vets who travel to underserved areas, mostly in Colorado and occasionally bordering states.
“The mobile vets go to where there are feral colonies that are overrun, mostly with cats,” she said. “We also sponsor the community to sign up to have their animals spayed or neutered when people cannot afford it, or there isn’t a local vet.”
Without a physical shelter, Lucky Day relies on a dedicated network of foster families who open their homes to animals in need.
Many of these rescues come from Arkansas.
“We were wondering why we were getting so many dogs from Arkansas,” Brenninger said. “We went to a particular area called Mountain View, where people are really impoverished and do not have the funds to care for their animals.”
The success of their program in Arkansas has been significant. Brenninger noted that instances of puppies being drowned or kittens abandoned at vet clinics have stopped.
“Things were happening there that we, in Colorado, cannot even imagine,” she said.
Foster volunteers provide love, socialization, and stability while pets wait for their forever homes. The organization also partners with transport volunteers who travel hundreds of miles to move animals from overcrowded shelters to fosters or adopters, ensuring their safety.
Lucky Day’s impact goes beyond adoptions and rescues.
“We have three different missions, and adoption is one of those,” Brenninger explained. “We have an educational program where we offer scholarships for vet techs going through the CMC program in Glenwood Springs. We are trying to get more qualified medical personnel in the veterinary world because our vet care system has really been struggling.”
The organization also extends support to underprivileged children who require advanced or specialized schooling.
“We bring the dogs in to teach them about animal care, which also acts as therapy, allowing the children to bond with the dogs,” she added.
As a nonprofit, Lucky Day Animal Rescue depends entirely on community support. Donations are the lifeblood of the organization, covering veterinary bills, food, supplies, and transportation costs.
Those interested in supporting Lucky Day can contribute through their website, luckydayrescue.org, where one-time or recurring donations are welcomed.
“We are currently a part of Colorado Gives. That is now, through Dec. 10,” Brenninger said. “Any donation gets matched by the Colorado Gives incentive fund. If people donate through Colorado Gives, the donation goes even further.”
She highlighted that the Lucky Day Animal Rescue Facebook page offers more information on the Colorado Gives program.
“We do not get any money from the state,” Brenninger emphasized. “We count on local people and animal lovers to help fund our programs. We rely on the community for pretty much everything.”
For those looking to contribute beyond financial support, there are numerous ways to get involved. Whether it’s volunteering at adoption events, fostering a pet, or assisting with animal transports, there are opportunities for everyone to make a difference. Volunteers are always welcome, with flexible options to suit various schedules and interests.
By supporting Lucky Day Animal Rescue, individuals become part of a movement to change the lives of animals in Colorado — one pet, one family, one lucky day at a time.
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