Denver Program Helps Renters Keep Pets

New pet deposit assistance aims to reduce animal surrenders in the city

Jan. 29, 2026 at 2:07pm

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A new pilot program in Denver is providing $300 pet deposit assistance to 100 renters in City Council District 10 to help them keep their furry companions. The program is a partnership between the Community Economic Defense Project and the Denver Animal Shelter, with the University of Denver's Institute for Human Animal Connection studying its effectiveness in reducing pet relinquishment.

Why it matters

The number of animals surrendered to the Denver Animal Shelter has tripled since 2019, with dogs making up 60% of surrendered pets. This program aims to address the issue of renters having to choose between stable housing and keeping their pets due to high pet deposits.

The details

The Pet Deposit Assistance program is designed to help renters in Denver City Council District 10 keep their pets while accessing safe and stable housing. The program is a partnership between the Community Economic Defense Project and the Denver Animal Shelter, with the University of Denver's Institute for Human Animal Connection conducting a survey to determine the program's effectiveness.

  • The program was launched in 2026.

The players

Chris Hinds

Denver City Councilmember for District 10, who initiated the program to address the issue of renters having to choose between housing and pet ownership.

Community Economic Defense Project

A partner organization in the Pet Deposit Assistance program.

Denver Animal Shelter

A partner organization in the Pet Deposit Assistance program.

University of Denver's Institute for Human Animal Connection

Conducting a survey to evaluate the effectiveness of the Pet Deposit Assistance program.

Jared Eccles

A resident of Denver's District 10 who supports the program, noting the challenges of rising rents and housing affordability in the area.

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What they’re saying

“We've heard time and time again from renters in District 10 that they feel that they are one paycheck away from being on the streets themselves.”

— Chris Hinds, Denver City Councilmember (CBS News Colorado)

“We are really hoping with this project to do a deep dive into this field about the effectiveness of this type of intervention.”

— Lauren Loney, Research Assistant, University of Denver's Institute for Human Animal Connection (CBS News Colorado)

“We can make sure that we can provide an experience or provide funds for those who might have to make housing or pet ownership decisions because of Denver's affordability; we want to make sure people have their furry friend.”

— Chris Hinds, Denver City Councilmember (CBS News Colorado)

What’s next

The University of Denver's Institute for Human Animal Connection will conduct a survey of those in the program to see if it does help reduce pet relinquishment.

The takeaway

This program aims to address the difficult choice renters in Denver sometimes face between stable housing and keeping their pets, which has led to a surge in animal surrenders to the city's shelter. By providing pet deposit assistance, the city hopes to keep more families and their furry companions together.