Honoring Henry Roath

July 10, 2024

It is with heartfelt sadness that we share the passing of the Dumb Friends League’s dear friend and leading contributor to our work, Henry Roath. For more than 40 years, Henry provided unwavering support to the League, evolving our programs and services to meet the needs of the communities we serve so that generations of pets and horses could thrive.

Henry’s gifts were instrumental in supporting the League’s first spay/neuter mobile vehicle (the Meow Mobile), providing access to necessary spay/neuter services in underserved communities. He also contributed to major renovations at our Leslie A. Malone Center Shelter Veterinary Hospital and Cat Pavilion, and facilitated the expansion of our services into rural Colorado through the funding of our San Luis Valley Animal Center in Alamosa.

“Henry Roath’s compassion for vulnerable animals inspired him to support our work in ways that changed animal welfare in Colorado,” said League President and CEO Dr. Apryl Steele. “Because of Henry’s support, countless animals have been healed, sheltered, and loved. We will miss his genuinely kind spirit, although he lives on through the animals we serve.”

Henry had a special place in his heart for dogs. When thanked, he always said, often with a smile, “I just want to see their tails wag.” The League’s reach would not be as far, our impact not nearly as great, without Henry. Every aspect of our work has been touched in some way by his generous spirit, and we share our deepest sympathies and gratitude with the Roath family. Today, tails are wagging everywhere because of Henry’s support and friendship.

June 25, 2024

In March 2024, Rosemary’s life took a dramatic turn when she was discovered emaciated, injured, and dirty in an abandoned shed in north Denver. Tragically, she was living alongside another dog who had passed away. The kind people who found Rosemary quickly brought her to the Dumb Friends League, where our Shelter Veterinary Services (SVS) team sprang into action to save her life.

Upon examination, Rosemary was so weakened she could barely stand for a few seconds before collapsing. Her “body condition score” —a standard, numerical value used to describe an animal’s nutritional status and physical health—was a dire 2 out of 9 (with 5 representing a healthy weight), and she had multiple painful pressure sores and small lacerations across her fragile body. Additionally, her paws were caked with dried mud, a stark reminder of the harrowing conditions she had recently endured.

Our dedicated veterinary team knew that Rosemary needed intensive care and thoughtful nourishment to survive. They soon started her on Hill’s Prescription Diet Canine i/d, a therapeutic pet food developed and provided by our generous partners at Hills Pet Nutrition, to help her gain weight and replenish the nutrients she had lost. This partnership has long been instrumental in transforming the future for countless shelter pets like Rosemary, helping to give them a second chance at a happy and healthy life.

Incredibly, after just one day, Rosemary began to show signs of improvement. With nutritious food and medicine onboard, she became brighter, stronger, and more responsive. Recognizing her need for a calm and healing environment, we also placed her in a League foster home where she could receive the special attention she needed to regain her strength and recover from her wounds. During her time in foster care, Rosemary gained five pounds (a whole 11% of her weight at intake) and started to show her playful, affectionate personality. Her foster family showered her with love, and she responded in kind, her energy levels rising with each passing day.

When Rosemary returned to the shelter, our SVS team was thrilled with her progress. Her wounds were healing nicely and were no longer painful. Better yet, her weight gain was right on track. With her newfound energy and well-being, Rosemary was spayed and became available for adoption shortly thereafter.

It didn’t take long for a lovely couple to fall head over tails in love with Rosemary. They had another boxer, also adopted from the League, who had experienced a similar rough start in life. The couple first met Rosemary at our shelter without their dog and were instantly captivated by her sweet and loving nature. When they introduced their boxer to Rosemary, it was clear they were all meant to be together—the two dogs became best friends instantly!

Today, Rosemary is living her best life with her new family, thriving in an environment filled with love and care. Her remarkable transformation, from a frail and injured pup to a healthy, happy dog, is a testament to the power of compassion and the vital role played by Hills Pet Nutrition in helping to give shelter pets like Rosemary a new lease on life. Thanks in part to their incredible support, Rosemary has started her next chapter with a family who loves her dearly, ensuring her future is as bright and beautiful as she is.