We Believe
Their love is unconditional
Pets are family, too! Can you imagine having to give up a sibling or parent because they needed care that you couldn’t afford? Well, that happens every day with pets and their people – people who are retired, have lost their jobs, are facing life’s challenges – and just need a little help to protect the special bond they share with their pet. Harley’s Hope is here to assist during those difficult times. We do this because at Harley’s Hope, we believe their love is unconditional.
Shawn and Hank
Hank is a 9 year old pup who lives with his person, Shawn, and a kitty named Moby. Hank underwent surgery to remove a mast cell tumor, paid for in part by donations made IMO Buddy Loehr. Shawn applied for assistance because he had to take a medical retirement and relies on SSI to live. Hank had his surgery and we’re so glad HHF was able to assist in keeping these two together!
We’re here to help in tough times
Temporary COVID-19 services available immediately
Our Services
Keeping pets & people together
We at Harley’s Hope offer a variety of services designed to help keep pets in their existing homes. Our core services are financial assistance with major veterinary care, emergency foster care, and additional help for seniors and their companions.
*Unfortunately we can’t pay pre-existing vet bills or expenses.
You can find resources for other types of assistance here.
Everyone needs a little help sometimes
If you have a pet in your life, you may find yourself in need of help at some point. Safety net agencies, like Harley’s Hope, exist specifically to provide that support. We do not do pet adoptions, we are not an animal rescue or shelter – we provide programs to keep your pet in their home. Why is this important? Besides preserving that amazing human-animal bond, too many animals continue to lose their homes every year, roughly 1 million alone due to their persons’ financial challenges. Rather than see these pets become homeless and add to the millions of pets entering the shelter system each year, we choose instead to focus on preserving existing relationships.
Featured Stories
Happy pets make happy people
Valentine Elizabeth & Sarah
Emergency surgery saves a pig’s life.
Valentine Elizabeth & Sarah
This little piggie is Valentine Elizabeth, a 3 month old pet pig who was spayed earlier this year and nearly lost her life due to complications. Valentine lives with Sarah, a school teacher, who was following the law in Colorado Springs that requires pet pigs to be altered. Unfortunately, when Sarah noticed issues with Valentine post-surgery, the veterinarian brushed them off. By the time Sarah took Valentine to the Strasburg Veterinary Clinic near Denver, Valentine was in serious trouble. She underwent emergency surgery to correct the complications and damage to her intestines, and was hospitalized for observation.
Sarah was able to get assistance from her mom, Harley’s Hope Foundation, and Ginger’s Legacy, for what turned out to be a costly, corrective operation that sadly, shouldn’t have been necessary. But, we’re happy to report that Valentine is back home – our first piggie veterinary case! Whether or not she cried wee, wee, wee all the way home has yet to be confirmed.
King Teddy & Shannon
Being out of work due to COVID was hard enough. King Teddy got hit by a car.
King Teddy & Shannon
This good boy is King Teddy, a 7-1/2 month old Shepherd who was about to begin training to become a medical service dog. KT lives with Shannon and her five children. Shannon lost her job last year due to the pandemic and has been trying to get back on her feet ever since, but is also dealing with her own medical disability. The apartment she and her children live in has a faulty latch on the door so the dead-bolt has to be engaged. Unfortunately, the one time it wasn’t, KT got out and was hit by a car. The person who hit him didn’t bother to stop, but witnesses contacted the Humane Society and King Teddy was transported to Animal ER Care. He was diagnosed with bruised lungs and soft tissue damage and was hospitalized for treatment. Sadly, he suffered serious damage to a tendon in his hind leg and also had to undergo surgery at Colorado Canine Orthopedics. The good news is the surgery went well and KT is expected to make a full recovery!
Bamm-Bamm & Heather
Eating string almost cost this poor kitty dearly.
Luke & Britteny
The inquisitive 4 year old, Bamm-Bamm, swallowed a bunch of string, which got tangled around the base of his tongue and down into his stomach. Bamm-Bamm’s mom, Heather, is employed, but doesn’t earn enough to cover emergency surgery and follow-up care.
Fortunately, she went to Animal ER Care who work with HHF and our clients.
The surgery was successful, but Bamm-Bamm spent a few more days hospitalized at his daytime veterinary clinic just to make sure everything was functioning well post-op. Heather shared some photos and a follow-up with us earlier today: “Hello Cynthia and the incredible members of Harley’s Hope Foundation. As of yesterday, Bamm-Bamm is home recovering and doing very well. He has a nice crate where he stays most of the day. Though he’s not pleased about the confinement, he’s adjusting very well and appreciates supervised free time. I’m happy to see that he loves his new bland diet of rice and chicken.
Thanks to your organization’s mission and generosity, we were able to do this life-saving surgery and I was able to afford the necessary after-care to help ensure the procedure is successful. Bamm-Bamm and I are grateful beyond words and I thank you every day.”
The stories vary, but the smiles are all the same. When we’re able to keep people with their pets, they both thrive.
Rusty & Mark
Another pet saved after being hit by a car.
Rusty & Mark
Meet Rusty, a 1 year old Aussie who suffered a broken pelvis after being hit by a car. Rusty’s person, Mark, was returning home from work. Unfortunately, the front door wasn’t firmly closed. Rusty was so happy to see Mark, he rushed through the door and, before Mark could grab him, Rusty was hit. Although they live in Pueblo, Mark rushed Rusty to Powers Pet Emergency and Specialty where he was notified that Rusty needed immediate surgery. We’re happy to report that Rusty had his surgery, is now back home recuperating, and that Mark is committed to making sure all doors are securely latched from now on. Thank you to our donors for making it possible for HHF to help these two!
Luke & Britteny
A life changing operation for this German Shepherd.
Luke & Britteny
Luke is a 5 year old German Shepherd suffering from a condition called compressive cauda equina neuropathy and nerve root pain. His person, Britteny, took the dog in to her veterinary clinic when she noticed that Luke would cry out in pain whenever he used the stairs. She was referred to a specialist and told that Luke would require a Lumbosacral Dorsal Laminectomy Surgery, but that it would be life-changing for him in a good way. Without the surgery, Luke would ultimately lose function in his back legs as well as lose control over his bowels and bladder.
Britteny lives with her own disability, which limits the hours she can work. The surgery is a costly one, but that didn’t stop her from applying to every safety net charity out there, including HHF. It took her a bit longer to raise the funds that she needed, but Luke did undergo surgery at Rocky Mountain Veterinary Neurology. Britteny provided an update,
“Luke’s surgery went as expected and he’s doing well! He finished his IV drip and is eating and drinking. He’s started to walk around in his kennel and I’ve been told there are no signs of pain or discomfort. Thank you very much for granting Luke and I the opportunity to change Luke’s life!”
Pudgie & Martha
Donations in memory of a late animal lover save a little dog’s life.
Valentine Elizabeth & Sarah
This cute pup is Pudgie, a 13 year old Pug mix. Pudgie underwent surgery recently to remove a growth in his mouth. Unfortunately, it turned out to be mast cell cancer. Fortunately, his veterinarian felt confident that if she could perform a second surgery to get clean margins, she could buy Pudgie and his person, Martha, several more years together. Martha is retired and lives on very restricted income. She worked hard to raise the funds for the initial surgery, but had no more options available for the second procedure.
Bijou Animal Hospital reached out to ask if we could help and we were happy to step in, but we must give credit where credit is due. You see, Pudgie’s surgery was paid for by donations made in memory of Buddy Loehr. Buddy’s wife, Leslie, reached out to us several weeks ago to let us know donations would be coming our way. As people contacted us to give, they shared memories of what a wonderful person Buddy was. And, since Buddy was an animal lover, we felt it only fitting that his memorial gifts would be used to help save Pudgie’s life. The second surgery went very well, and Martha is so very grateful for the help. Thank you, Leslie, for thinking of others during this heartbreaking time for you and your family.
The effectiveness of our work can be seen in more detail on the “Who we’ve helped” section of the About Us page.
Emergency surgery saves a pig’s life.
