It is hard to avoid stories about cruelty to animals. They appear in television news reports, Internet sources and print media. And they range from individual acts of mindless abuse and animal hording to organized dog fighting rings and puppy mills.  As a culture it is reported that we react more strongly to incidents of animal abuse than we do to child abuse.  Not a flattering statistic as a whole but at least we are reacting.

But at the opposite end of the spectrum are the stories of courage and self-sacrifice by humans to save animals. The pet owner who goes back into a burning home to rescue an animal companion.  Abuse victims who will not leave the abuser because they will have to leave an animal behind and know that their pet will be at even greater risk. And recently in our own headlines, a man who rushed onto an icy pond to save a dog. The dog survived but he did not. His family said he could be counted on to do the “right thing” and it must have been his instinct to be there for the animal in his care that contributed to his actions.



Our volunteers save the lives
of many animals every year,
like this wonderful kitty named
Casanova.



Imagine that you are facing a terminal diagnosis and want to do the best for your beloved pets.  You want to do “the right thing”. This is what the volunteers at Safe Place for Pets do every day. It is our mission to work with people at the end of life to ensure their companion animals will be “rescued”, will be looked after, will be placed in new forever homes.  And now we have expanded that mission to allow these animals to stay in their homes longer, to help our terminally ill clients care for their pets as long as they can.  If you would like to help us help them consider being a foster or serving in some other volunteer capacity. We love what we do and would love to have you join us.

In Loving Memory of Glen Cook

It is with great sorrow that we mourn the passing of Glen Cook, a long-time supporter and adopter from Safe Place for Pets. Glen was the brother of our outgoing Board President, Cathy Woods, and evidently a big heart runs in the family, because Glen and his wife Diane adopted five pets from Safe Place over the years! The pets fortunate enough to become Glen and Diane's fur-kids were Pancho and Lady, two Shih Tzus who were 10 years old when adopted; a cat named Kitty Curry; and two dogs, Bradley and Monty. Monty, their most recent adoption, is a pug who was 48 pounds when the Cooks adopted him, and has since trimmed down to a svelte 31 pounds.

His family and pets are all mourning Glen's loss deeply, and we send deeply heartfelt condolences to them all. We were very fortunate that Safe Place for Pets was chosen to benefit from memorials to Glen. If you'd like to make a contribute in loving memory of this caring soul, who has now been reunited with a whole lot of very happy animals over the Rainbow Bridge, please visit our donation page.

Here is Glen's more formal obituary:

Glenwood H. Cook, Jr., beloved husband and best friend of Diane, loving father of Jamie (Paul) Hull and Michael (Becky Gardner) Cook, beloved brother of Cathleen Woods, cherished uncle of Shannon (Brett) Sparks and Andrew Pierson and dear grandfather of Zoe and Lauren Hull.  Preceded in death by parents Glenwood H. Cook and Jeanne Cook, as well as his brother Thomas Cook.  Glen passed away on December 21, 2011 in Sarasota, Florida at the age of 64.  Glen was born on May 1, 1947 in Bonne Terre, Missouri.  He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati.  He later received his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky.  He spent many years practicing as a licensed clinical social worker in Cincinnati, Sarasota and Pueblo West, Colorado.  He was also a business owner for a number of years both in Sarasota, as well as Dalton, Georgia.  Glen enjoyed good food, good music and good company.  He loved to travel and had experienced many wonderful trips.   He was well read and there was not much about history or geography that he did not know.  He loved animals, especially his dogs, Monty and Bradley and cat, Kitty Curry.   Memorial services celebrating Glen’s life will take place later this month in both Sarasota and Cincinnati.  The National Cremation & Burial Society in Sarasota, Florida will be handling the arrangements.  Details concerning the memorial services can be found at www.nationalcremation.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Safe Place for Pets, P.O. Box 38202, Colorado Springs, CO 80937 or online at www.safeplacepets.org.