Do you want a ‘Save A Shelter Pet’ license plate too?

I recently bought a “Save A Shelter Pet” license plate. I was curious about what impact it actually has on pets in Colorado and La Plata County. Here is what I found out.

Funds from the “Save A Shelter Pet” license plates are managed by the Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund, a charitable fund established by the Colorado Legislature in 2001. CPOF collaborates with animal care organizations, like the La Plata County Humane Society, to reduce pet overpopulation and improve the lives of shelter pets. Specifically, the funds support:

Since the program’s inception, more than 26,000 “Save A Shelter Pet” license plates have been issued, generating more than $5 million for shelters across Colorado. In 2023 alone, over 16,600 shelter pets received veterinary care funded by these plates.

You can purchase the plate at any Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles office. No special certificate is required. If you’re registering your vehicle for the first time or need a replacement plate, you can order the license plate online through the Colorado DMV’s MyDMV portal. The cost is an extra $30 on top of the $50 standard fee for a special use license plate.

While LPCHS does not directly administer the funds from the “Save A Shelter Pet” license plates, we did receive a grant from CPOF to purchase microchips this year. In addition to microchips, every pet adopted from LPCHS also comes fully vaccinated and fixed. To learn more about LPCHS and how you can support our efforts, visit our website at www.lpchumanesociety.org.

What I discovered on my license plate journey is that purchasing a “Save A Shelter Pet” license plate is more than just a way to share my love of shelter pets; it’s also an easy way to contribute to the well-being of shelter pets across Colorado, including La Plata County!

Julie Dreyfuss is executive director of La Plata County Humane Society.