Puppy love

A few years ago, a scientific study confirmed what most of us already know deep within our hearts: humans feel more empathy toward dogs than our fellow man.

It’s true – researchers showed 256 people four fake newspaper stories, in which a victim had been beaten by a baseball bat and left unconscious with broken bones and multiple lacerations. The four victims were a 1-year-old human baby, a 30-year-old human, a puppy and a 6-year-old dog.

Can you guess which of these elicited the most empathy? Well, if you guessed the 30-year-old millennial, you haven’t been paying attention. The puppy. It was the puppy.

All this is to say, Annie’s Orphans, an animal shelter off the beaten path south of Durango, needs your help and you should help.

Yes, the La Plata County Humane Society is the town’s major animal shelter. But, if you haven’t heard of Annie’s Orphans, you should. After more than three decades in operation, manned by wife-and-husband duo Annie and Bill Anderson, Annie’s Orphans is the oldest no-kill dog shelter in the Four Corners.

Annie’s Orphans recently asked for the community’s help, saying its canned dog food supply is dwindling and money is tight. The shelter specifically requested Merrick, Wellness and/or Nutri Source brands. You can drop donations off at the shelter, 1630 CR 214, or at Pet Haus or Healthy Hounds & Fat Cats in town.

Speaking of cats, Annie’s Orphans says it is also home to feral cats. The shelter would gladly take any canned cat food, too.