Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur is an active hospital providing pre-scheduled appointments of urgent care services for pets of families who otherwise wouldn’t have access to veterinary care. There are opportunities to interact with the medical team and observe surgical procedures Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and on 2nd Saturdays at Spur; however, appointments are subject to the needs of the patients, and demonstrations are not guaranteed every day.
Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur provides education, veterinary care to underserved communities
In January 2022, the Dumb Friends League opened its doors even wider by launching a new Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur. The state-of-the-art, donor-subsidized clinic increases the Dumb Friends League’s impact for people and animals, by serving more than 6,000 additional sick and injured pets in the first year of operation.
The donor-subsidized, public Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur allows people in the Denver community – regardless of income, language, or location – to give their animal companions the care they need.
Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital client hours
Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday: Closed to clients / no appointments
Sunday: Closed
Above are the hours for the Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital. CSU Spur is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and the 2nd Saturday of every month. Check the CSU Spur events calendar for information about on-show surgeries and dental exams.
Did you know?
In 2022:
- The Dumb Friends League Clinic at CSU Spur served almost 5,000 pets through hospital and urgent care services
- Over 9,000 animals were spayed or neutered
- Over 5,000 pets were vaccinated through vaccine clinics in the GES neighborhood
The Dumb Friends League is actively recruiting volunteers to support the spay/neuter clinic at CSU Spur. Volunteers assist with providing directional assistance, checking patients in and out, providing post-surgery care and feedings as well as cleaning and preparing the surgical area and instruments.
The League’s second location and its work at CSU Spur focuses on the vital interconnections between human and animal life.
The community veterinary hospital at CSU Spur will aid in providing those interconnections on multiple levels:
As a Teaching Hospital
The services offered at the Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur benefit from the diverse perspectives of student interns and recently graduated externs from CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Student externs participate in two-week rotations at CSU Spur and the Leslie A. Malone Center, where they assist seasoned veterinarians with various procedures and learn about animal welfare from a sheltering standpoint. One-year supervised internships are available in both League locations for recent CSU graduates to gain practical experience with incremental diagnostics, surgery, and client care.
With Community Engagement
Central to the League’s commitment to accessibility is creating an environment at CSU Spur where people can gather to learn and be inspired. The League aims to engage the community in the essential work of veterinarians and expose young people to STEM-related careers so they can begin to envision themselves in these roles. Veterinarians perform “on-view” surgeries, meaning the public can watch live procedures through glass while the League’s veterinarians and certified veterinary technicians discuss the surgery in real-time and CSU docents describe the activity and field questions.
Through Humane Education
A cornerstone of the League’s compassionate mission is to work with children and youth to foster respect for animals, people, and the planet we share. The organization inspires children to appreciate and empathize with each animal’s unique nature, regardless of their background, appearance, or ability; to treat them with kindness and provide for their well-being; and to work with others to prevent and heal their suffering. At CSU Spur, the Humane Education team teaches PreK-12 student groups from the surrounding communities in topics, including staying safe around cats and dogs, caring for pets, careers focused on animal welfare and advocacy, and bullying prevention.
[We are focused on] treating the animals who need us now, while building a broader safety net for those who will need veterinary care long into the future.”
Dr. Apryl Steele, President and CEO, Dumb Friends League
Hours
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
2nd Saturday of every month: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (closed all other Saturdays)
Closed Sundays
Location
4777 National Western Dr.,
Denver, CO 80216
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JOCELYN HITTLE
Associate Vice Chancellor for CSU Spur & Special Projects, CSU System
Jocelyn Hittle is primarily focused on helping to create the CSU System’s new Spur campus at the National Western Center, and on supporting campus sustainability goals across CSU’s campuses. She sits on the Denver Mayor’s Sustainability Advisory Council, on the Advisory Committee for the Coors Western Art Show, and is a technical advisor for the AASHE STARS program.
Prior to joining CSU, Jocelyn was the Associate Director of PlaceMatters, a national urban planning think tank, and worked for the Orton Family Foundation. She has a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton, and a Masters in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Jocelyn grew up in Colorado and spends her free time in the mountains or exploring Denver.
TONY FRANK
Chancellor, CSU System
Dr. Tony Frank is the Chancellor of the CSU System. He previously served for 11 years as the 14th president of CSU in Fort Collins. Dr. Frank earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Wartburg College, followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. and residencies in pathology and toxicology at Purdue. Prior to his appointment as CSU’s president in 2008, he served as the University’s provost and executive vice president, vice president for research, chairman of the Pathology Department, and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He was appointed to a dual role as Chancellor in 2015 and became full-time System chancellor in July 2019.
Dr. Frank serves on a number of state and national boards, has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications, and has been honored with state and national awards for his leadership in higher education.
Dr. Frank and his wife, Dr. Patti Helper, have three daughters.