Northern Colorado

The Mothership

The Street Dog Coalition was founded in Fort Collins, CO in 2015 and although we now have teams in cities across the country, Northern Colorado remains our headquarters, “The Mothership”. Beginning in 2019, The Street Dog Coalition teamed up with Colorado State University’s Inclusive Health Collaborative, followed by the University of Colorado School of Medicine. As a result of these collaborations, we have the opportunity to pilot our One Health Street Medicine model by working with veterinary students as well as social work students and 3rd year medical school students at our recurring clinics in Fort Collins and Loveland, as well as our bi-annual clinics in Longmont in collaboration with Annie and Millie’s Place, and occasional clinics in Greeley alongside United Way Weld County.

Team Leads:

Dr. Elizabeth Bauer

Dr. Elizabeth Bauer received her DVM from Colorado State University in 1997. She practiced in small animal clinics until 2004 when, serving on the Advisory Board for the Front Range Community College Veterinary Technology program, she learned of a position at the college teaching veterinary technicians. From 2004 – 2020, she taught, directed the program, and later served as chair of the Applied Sciences department. Retiring from full-time faculty in 2020, she has participated in the Fort Collins Street Dog clinics at the Murphy Center promoting the collaboration of the CSU vet students with the FRCC tech students. Prior to veterinary medicine, she worked seasonally for the Colorado Division of Wildlife with the Peregrine Falcon Recovery team, and then as an environmental engineer after completing a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Arizona. When not helping at Street Dog, she enjoys gardening, traveling with her family, and participating in Caring Canines with her Therapy Dog, a rescued Golden Retriever, Charlie.

Dr. Miranda Spindel:

Dr. Miranda Spindel graduated in 1999 from Colorado State University’s vet school. She completed a rotating small animal internship and shelter medicine residency. She is a two-term past President of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, a member of the ASV Shelter Standards Task Force, and currently works for the Veterinary Information Network. She believes in keeping pets and people together through community programs like The Street Dog Coalition.

Dr. Jon Geller:

After establishing his second career in emergency veterinary medicine, Dr. Jon Geller founded The Street Dog Coalition in 2015 when he identified a need and wanted to do something about it. Jon understands the importance of the human-animal bond and the benefits of pets for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. “Pets offer companionship, protection, and purpose…we’re committed to protecting the human-animal bond and caring for the lives on both ends of the leash.” Jon approaches street medicine from a One Health perspective. With a focus on serving both ends of the leash, Jon is currently pursuing his Masters in Public Health at The University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Jon believes in doing something, even if it’s wrong. As he says, “We can learn from failure, but we rarely learn from doing nothing”.

Contact Us:

Resources for those currently experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness in Northern Colorado:

 

Click here to access a Google Spreadsheet with tabs for 18 cities in Colorado. Each tab includes resources in that city. This spreadsheet has also been shared with Colorado 2-1-1 so they can access information for at-risk pet-owners seeking pet care resources. Information is added on a continual basis, and we welcome additions. If you know of organization that is not listed, please click here and let us know. Thank you!

 

The Murphy Center serves three main roles for our community:

  1. It provides the infrastructure for 20 independent agencies offering a continuum of roughly 40 services to more than 3,000 individuals who are experiencing homelessness or in jeopardy of becoming homeless, all under one roof.

  2. It operates ten Core Human Services with more than 40,000 guest interactions each year to address day to day needs.

  3. It serves as a morning day shelter for 100 guests each day providing a breakfast snack meal, warm and safe environment, coffee, and lots of space to talk, organize for the day, read, listen to music or access one of the Murphy Center’s many services.

 

Homeward Alliance empowers those who face homelessness to survive, move forward and thrive. The organization is both the Managing Partner of the Murphy Center for Hope and a service provider within the building. Services include gear distribution, benefits enrollment and employment support.

 

Neighbor to Neighbor believes everyone deserves a place to call come. Neighbor to Neighbor offers the following housing assistance services at the Murphy Center:

· Housing Search Assistance: Provides individuals and families with the tools and advice to help identify an affordable rental.

· Homelessness Prevention: Helps to develop a personalized plan to overcome an immediate housing crisis and achieve housing stability.

· First Month’s Rent Assistance: Assists homeless and near homeless households to attain affordable, sustainable housing. N2N may be able to assist with up to $500 toward your first month’s rent if eligible.

 

SummitStone Health Partners PATH Program offers access to: Individual therapy, group therapy, individual case management, psychiatric medications, Choices Café, a peer-run center providing a safe environment to socialize and relax, Spirit Crossing Clubhouse, a place to build employment skills and build relationships. General walk-ins accepted Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm.