We need your help to ensure the future of Charlie's Place...
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With recent discussions at the Clear Creek County Board of Commissioner's meetings (BOCC) regarding current budget shortfalls and options to reduce costs, we want to be proactive in protecting Charlie's Place (Clear Creek/Gilpin Co. Animal Shelter) from budget cuts, third party management or closure. Please use the links below to contact your commissioner and let them know you support Charlie's Place and do not want to lose the safe haven for local animals!
Please sign the petition to rescue Charlie's Place by clicking on the green button to the right. Join our email list for updates by filling out the form and follow us on Facebook and Instagram! |
Fill in the form below to join our email list for updates. |
Charlie's Place Legacy
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Helen L. Buck had a love of nature and all of its creatures since she was a child. Helen married Ray Buck Jr. in 1950. Over their years together, Helen and Ray were guardians to 11 German Shepherd Dogs. Together she and Ray cared for dogs, cats, horses and an array of wildlife. After Ray's death, Helen adopted Charlie, an ex-show dog, as a 5-year-old. Charlie and Helen shared an incredible bond. Helen owned the Blue Ridge Mill Site, one of the only flat pieces of land in the area. In 2003, when Helen heard that the county was looking to build a new animal shelter, she generously donated the land in an effort to give back to the animals that had given her immense joy in life. The land was donated in memory of Charlie, her much loved and loyal friend. Helen's vision for Charlie's Place is to be a safe haven for any and all animals…a no kill-facility to any animal in need of sanctuary. Top left: Helen; Bottom left: Charlie |
Printable PosterDownload the "Rescuing Charlie's Place" poster to print out and post around town. Includes a QR code to access this page and petition. Standard 8.5x11" size.
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Clear Creek County, CO Website https://www.clearcreekcounty.us/
BOCC public meetings Biweekly 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM - in-person or Zoom (refer to website for next meeting Zoom link) Address: 405 Argentine Street (BoCC Conference Room) Georgetown, CO 80444 |
Gilpin County, CO Website
https://gilpincounty.colorado.gov/ BOCC public meetings 2nd and 4th Tuesday 9:00 AM in-person and Zoom (refer to website for next meeting Zoom link) Address: Old Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street, Central City, CO 80427 |
You can view recorded BOCC meetings at CCC Facebook page and YouTube.
Template for a Letter to the Commissioners
Here is a letter to the Commissioners template to use. Or, feel free to word your own email. Please keep the letters respectful and to the topic pertaining to helping Charlie's Place.
Click here for a copy of the template with bullet points on why the current proposed solutions are unreasonable.
Also, please mention how you found your furever friend at Charlie's Place or how the Shelter has helped you and your family.
Click here for a copy of the template with bullet points on why the current proposed solutions are unreasonable.
Also, please mention how you found your furever friend at Charlie's Place or how the Shelter has helped you and your family.
Dear [NAME],
I am writing on behalf of Charlie’s Place (Clear Creek/Gilpin County Animal Shelter) to request you keep the Shelter open in Dumont, Colorado, with the necessary staff and facility upkeep.
While I am aware of the fiscal challenges faced by the county, I want to impress on you the far-reaching value Charlie’s Place offers the residents of Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties. It is not just a dog pound. It is a community of animal lovers, many who adopted their beloved family pet from Charlie’s Place. Countless dogs and cats have been saved from euthanasia and placed into loving homes.
The options that the Board are currently considering would negate the reasons Charlie’s Place is so beloved.
It is heart breaking that the BOCC sees the elimination of Charlie’s Place as an option to solve the potential fiscal shortfall in the current budget. Who will replace the services Charlie’s Place currently provides? Foothills is already too crowded and is known as a kill shelter.
Please reconsider the options currently on the table and keep Charlie’s Place open in its fully functional capacity.
"The time is always right to do what is right!” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Yours Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR COUNTY]
I am writing on behalf of Charlie’s Place (Clear Creek/Gilpin County Animal Shelter) to request you keep the Shelter open in Dumont, Colorado, with the necessary staff and facility upkeep.
While I am aware of the fiscal challenges faced by the county, I want to impress on you the far-reaching value Charlie’s Place offers the residents of Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties. It is not just a dog pound. It is a community of animal lovers, many who adopted their beloved family pet from Charlie’s Place. Countless dogs and cats have been saved from euthanasia and placed into loving homes.
The options that the Board are currently considering would negate the reasons Charlie’s Place is so beloved.
- Having Foothills Animal Shelter, a kill shelter, take over the facility is against every fiber of Charlie’s Place values. Helen Buck donated the land in good faith to save animal's lives, which Charlie’s Place has been doing since opening its doors in 2008.
- Although it was recently stated on social media that cuts have not been made at the shelter, the backfilling of one full-time staff position, currently within the budget, has been put on hold as well as eliminating one half-time position. This has put an immense strain on staff and volunteers. It is an unsustainable long-term solution.
- Selling the land may be a seen as a quick fix for the current fiscal challenges, but it ignores the deed restrictions Helen Buck and the county agreed upon and it goes against everything Helen intended for Charlie’s Place. I believe the voters will see this as a break in faith and integrity and not in the spirit of serving the community.
- Animal Control personnel “pitching-in,” is equally unsustainable. Caring for the animals at Charlie’s Place is not a “pitch-in” type of job. The animals require a commitment of food, water, clean facilities, consistent care, and daily interactions. Animal Control has an important role in the community and must be available to always do their job.
- Relying on community donations to staff/maintain the shelter is also an unsustainable and unreasonable plan. County taxes fund and support facilities and services precisely like those provided by the Shelter. While Friends of Charlie’s Place (FOCP) is committed to supporting the shelter animals, it does not have the consistent and reliable funding sources required to staff the shelter and maintain the structure. FOCP has helped with the expense of spaying and neutering to keep dog populations in check, helped improve the shelter property; added roofs on outdoor kennels, built an exercise yard, created the Helen Buck memorial park complete with memorial windchimes and park benches, and provided specialized training to help animals become more adoptable, all to improve and support the county’s animal shelter.
It is heart breaking that the BOCC sees the elimination of Charlie’s Place as an option to solve the potential fiscal shortfall in the current budget. Who will replace the services Charlie’s Place currently provides? Foothills is already too crowded and is known as a kill shelter.
Please reconsider the options currently on the table and keep Charlie’s Place open in its fully functional capacity.
"The time is always right to do what is right!” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Yours Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR COUNTY]
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Commissioners & Sheriff - Clear Creek
Board of County Commissioners PO Box 2000 Georgetown, CO 80444 FAX 303.679.2440 bocc@clearcreekcounty.us George Marlin gmarlin@clearcreekcounty.us 303.679.2312 Randall Wheelock rwheelock@clearcreekcounty.us 303.679.2312 Sean Wood swood@clearcreekcounty.us 303.679.2312 Sheriff Rick Albers ralbers@clearcreeksheriff.us 303.679.2376 FAX 303.679.2447 |
Commissioners - Gilpin
Deputy Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners Margaret Keller mkeller@gilpincounty.org Marie Mornis mmornis@gilpincounty.org Susan Berumen sberumen@gilpincounty.org Sandy Hollingsworth shollingsworth@gilpincounty.org |