Helping hands for the paws
Many people and pets in Mesa County with few places to turn to find hope in the aptly named nonprofit, Barkley’s Hope. The nonprofit, Barkley's Hope, provides essential vaccinations for dogs and cats whose owners are unsheltered or struggling financially. The founder and wife, Trish Cope, have directed the effort almost entirely on their own. Since its start in 2018, Barkley’s Hope has been instrumental in the vaccination of over 750 dogs, cats and making over 250 veterinary referrals for additional services. The nonprofit also offers educational resources on how to access services for spaying or neutering a pet, and provides kennels for the unsheltering community to contain their pet in a safe area while they access resources that do not allow animal companions. The Copes encourage a $5 donation in exchange for the voucher itself, but only for those financially able.
Published : 2 months ago by JACE DICOLA [email protected] in Lifestyle
Many people and pets in Mesa County with few places to turn to find hope in the aptly named nonprofit, Barkley’s Hope.
The primary focus of Barkley’s Hope is providing access to essential vaccinations for dogs and cats whose owners are unsheltered or struggling financially. Since its start in 2018, the organization has had a role in the vaccination of more than 750 dogs and cats and has made more than 250 veterinary referrals for additional services
Its founder, Vince Cope, and his wife of 11 years, Trish Cope, have directed the effort almost entirely on their own.
“Anybody that might be having hard times could get their dog vaccinated with a rabies shot so they can get off the street and into housing for cheap,” Vince Cope said. “It’s one less barrier for them, and we realize that maybe it’s a lifestyle choice and they don’t want to, for whatever reason, but at least there’s less (overall disease) in the community and the camps, so it’s a benefit for everyone.”
Vince and Trish provide pet owners the opportunity to get their pets vaccinations through vouchers that can be redeemed at All Pet Center or Footprint Animal Hospital for a largely reduced bill of $15. The Copes encourage a $5 donation in exchange for the voucher itself, but they emphasize that the donation is optional and only for those who are financially able.
Barkley’s Hope also offers educational resources on how to access services for spaying or neutering a pet, collaborates with the Roice-Hurst Humane Society on a pet pantry for supplies and provides a limited number of kennels for the unsheltered community to contain their pet in a safe area while they access resources that do not allow animal companions.
The resources that Vince and Trish offer are certainly unique, and it may not be surprising that this animal-focused nonprofit has an equally unique origin. Barkley’s Hope was founded in honor of Widget, Vince’s longtime pit bull companion and his sole source of support through the majority of his battle with alcoholism.
“I lost everything over and over again, and I was going to keep losing everything over and over again until I could find one thing to care about more than myself, and it was Widget,” Vince said. “Then, I quit drinking, and then I met my wife, and all of a sudden, my life is now, 20 years later, wonderful.”
According to Vince, Barkley’s Hope is essentially his way of paying forward the support he found in Widget by providing outreach and resources to unsheltered pet owners and their animals who have not been as fortunate in overcoming their struggles.
Vince added that Widget is not the only motivation behind this effort, as Trish has helped him administrate the grassroots animal resource since the very beginning.
“I thank her every day when I’m driving home and we’re just pulling up to the house. I turn to Trish and I say ‘thank you for supporting me and my stupid little projects.’”
Although Barkley’s Hope has only been around since 2018, it has become a vital, cherished participant in Grand Junction’s outreach community. Currently, they are stationed at the new Resource Center, located at the intersection of Ute Ave. and South Third Street, every Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Given that the Copes are the sole administrators of Barkley’s Hope, they attribute a lot of their capability to community partners such as Mutual Aid, United Way of Mesa County and Roice-Hurst, in addition to the many pet lovers and former clients of Barkley’s who volunteer their time.
“A lot of volunteers were originally clients,” Trish said. “They were there in line to get food, and suddenly one day went, how can I help? Put me to work.”
They added that they are always welcoming new volunteers and accepting donations. Trish noted cat food is an especially helpful donation because they typically run low on it during this time of the year, but any pet-related goods or monetary donations are appreciated.
Barkley’s Hope is a critical resource for many disenfranchised people and their pets; it is a model and inspiration for grassroots nonprofits; it is a source of sanity for the retired couple. At the end of the day, Vince emphasized, Barkley’s Hope and all its benefits connect back to Widget.
“This has probably been one of the most rewarding things that I’ve done in the last five years,” Vince said. “When you retire, it’s important that you have something that gives you purpose and makes you feel like what you do is valuable, and this has absolutely done that for me. So every day I look up and I thank Widget for being able to provide the incentive to go out and do this.”
People interested in donating their time, money, or pet supplies to Barkley’s Hope can email [email protected] or visit their most recent Facebook page, which can be identified by the black and white profile picture of a paw print.
According to a post on their Facebook page, a donation of $20 covers the vaccination costs of four more pets in need.