DURANGO, Colo. – Durango is a dog town.

From the canines who accompany their “parents” to work, to bandana-clad “stylin’” pooches, dogs of all shapes, sizes and varieties are part of the fabric of this community.

Unfortunately, while there might seem to be a dog (or two or three) in most every home, quite a few remain homeless. Some are abandoned, some abused. Many run the reservations. The Humane Societies in Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico do their best; but for a perceived “unadoptable” dog, life in these shelters can be short.

Enter: Annie’s Orphans.

While Annie’s Orphans had its genesis as a home for retired sled dogs in 1985, the scope quickly grew to include all breeds. The goal is to help them find “their families;” but if they aren’t so fortunate, they live out their lives at Annie’s Orphans, now certified as a non-profit, private shelter.

Set off of Highway 550 south of town – overlooking the lower Animas River Valley – Annie’s Orphans is a labor of love for Anna and Bill Anderson, whose “day jobs” are creating animal-inspired jewelry sold worldwide under the Black Feather Jewelry moniker. Their roughly eight-acre property is rustic – dotted with ancient juniper trees – and a myriad of fenced kennels and dog runs are the predominant feature.

“It is unique,” said Darcy Williamson, of the shelter that is managed completely by volunteers. “But the dogs are outside and running around. How much better is it for them to see the birds flying around and feel the sunshine, than living on unheated cement with dogs barking all the time?”

This is not to say that the dogs don’t bark at Annie’s Orphans. The arrival of a potential “parent” sends most of them into “performance mode” – a “pick me, pick me” cacophony. Of course the chorus also erupts when a collar and leash (signaling that someone will get to “walk”) come out of the Doggie Den – a centralized visitor’s center funded by Olympic and now pro-beach volleyball athlete Elaine Youngs.

The Doggie Den, funded by beach volleyball player Elaine Youngs, is the new "visitor's center" of sorts for Annie's Orphans.

“As part of her pro contract they give her $10,000 she can donate to the non-profit of her choice, and she chose us,” said Williamson of Youngs. “We had no building before.”

The Doggie Den, in addition to housing the leashes, has gone far to begin organizing volunteer and adoption efforts. Information on all the dogs – including when they have been walked or played with – is posted, plus pre-adoption paperwork can be prepared and adoptive parents screened. The den also includes a grooming table, as many of the new dogs require “clean-up”.

Indeed, once a dog arrives at Annie’s Orphans, the focus becomes preparing for them to leave. This year alone, 60 dogs have already found permanent homes. Of course, once a space is vacated, another is in line to take its place. According to Williamson, this year the shelter has seen an unprecedented number of “surrenders” from people who for one reason or another must give up the family friend.

Each dog has its own story of abuse, neglect or abandonment, such as the terrier who was sequestered on a balcony and ended up hanging from the ledge by her leash before she was discovered and rescued. Another lived with a “parent” whose substance abuse took her away from the home for days at a time, leaving the dog without water or food. And a very loving, mellow eight-year old pair of pups now resides at Annie’s Orphans because the family, with whom they grew up, decided they didn’t want them anymore.

Sienna, Jazz, Jake, Lucy, Doogen, Darby… all the dogs have been given names, for, as Williamson notes, it’s better than “calling them dog number 12 or something.”

But naming them also connects them, and the Andersons as well as Williamson can’t help becoming attached to their orphans. While Anna keeps the older and infirm dogs close to her home, handling their special needs, Williamson works at socializing and training the others, helping to ensure a successful adoption.

A former firefighter, Williamson is a proponent of the “Dog Whisperer” or training techniques that focus on understanding the animal’s nature and working from there to train. Many of Annie’s Orphans have had no prior leash training and some have never lived with a roof over their heads. A ceiling fan can be a scary proposition.

Annie’s Orphans has kennel space for approximately 70 dogs. Some are “private” yards, some multi-dog units. An infirmary houses those with injuries or those being spayed or neutered. Each fenced run includes at least one dog house, and many, though not all, are insulated for warmth during the winter.

With the loss of trees, volunteers at Annie's Orphans have constructed sun shelters for the dogs. The houses pictured above were built by the Durango High School shop class.

“Last year we had to make these shade shelters because we lost so many trees to the beetles,” said Williamson, referencing the loss of dozens of ancient junipers that had provided protection for the dogs. “We just received a $3,000 grant that we’re going to use to build more dog houses because not everybody has an insulated house yet. And we’ve designed a type of foyer that will help protect them in the winter.”

In the heart of the complex is the “play yard,” a shaded, grassy area Williamson uses for training, but also as a familiarization area for potential adoptions. Hope is to find enough funds to build an additional yard structured for more advanced dog training. Plus Williamson is looking forward to construction of an extensive walking trail on the property by students at Timberline Academy.

“We’re going to color code all the dogs – green, yellow, red – for walking and working with them,” said Williamson, noting that green would signify the mellowest and the red, more challenging. “People who don’t really want to work with dogs, but just want to take them for walks, can come up, get a leash and a collar, check the board and see who’s not been out that day, and then walk.”

To say Annie’s Orphans operates on a shoestring is probably an understatement. The organization has been fortunate for sponsors such as Alpine Lumber and Agritech, which have donated materials to create the kennels, and Wal-Mart, from which the shelter receives a great deal of donated food. Durango Animal Hospital contributes time for veterinary care, but medical bills remain the biggest annual expense. All dogs are vaccinated on schedule, plus provided with those medications required to nurse them back to or sustain their health.

“Our biggest fundraiser is our the Christmas trees,” said Williamson, explaining the pledge trees placed in the Durango Mall and Creature Comforts, which offer donors an opportunity to financially support the shelter.

Donation canisters are also stationed throughout the community, funds from which help with monthly expenses, and two years ago a second fundraising event was organized at The Lost Dog by Jennifer Hughes – the Endless Linguini event featuring a silent auction and more.

And Doogen asks - Will you take me home?

“The first year it made $4,200, which is a lot of medical bills for us,” said Williamson. “Then last year it was around $9,000. Jennifer already has the date set for 2009 – June 9. She’s a very effective woman.”

While the Annie’s Orphans wishlist is extensive – from new shade trees and able bodies who can plant them, to organizations willing to sponsor construction of dog houses – the biggest wish is to place the orphaned animals.

“They’re all so sweet, and every dog here has a huge story,” said Williamson. “But they can stay here and we’ll take care of them until they find their homes.”

Annie’s Orphans is located at 1630 CR 214, and while the shelter technically never closes, appointments to visit the dogs are requested. Contact Williamson directly at 970.903.3175 to adopt, volunteer or offer in-kind or cash donations. Dogs up for adoption can also be viewed at www.petfinder.com (select zip code 81301).

indiana@durangodowntown.com