With numerous pet-friendly restaurants, and trails, and endless open spaces to roam in, Colorado is known for being one of the most pet-friendly states in the country. More than 65% of Coloradoans live with an animal. No, your significant other doesn’t count.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) describes the bond between humans and pets as “a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors considered essential to the health and wellbeing of both.”

Those with pets couldn’t agree more. We love their snuggles, facial expressions, and the funny things they do, enhancing the beauty of our lives. We love them like we would love any child. It makes us sad when they’re sick, pass away, and sometimes run away.

It is estimated that nearly one-third of all pets go missing in their lifetime, equalling roughly 10 million a year, many of which never return home. Mountain Paws & Claws Pet Services is teaming up with Go 2 Drone Services LLC, building a handful of volunteers to help return your fur babies home.

Owner of Mountain Paws & Claws Pet Services, Brittanie Dickson, works full-time with animals and volunteers for Gilpin County Animal Response Team and Summit County Lost Pet Rescue when they need an extra hand.

Carmell Dickson is an active community member, volunteering her time to search for missing animals. She joins her daughter as a volunteer for the Gilpin County Animal Response Team and Summit County Lost Pet Rescue.

Karla Booth owns Water Garden Services, LLC, Real Snowflake Photography, LLC, and Go 2 Drone Services, LLC. As an expert, Booth uses her drone for pleasure, business, or volunteering her time to help people locate their missing pets.

The three women, who already dedicate time to helping their mountain communities locate their missing pets, are taking an eight-week online Missing Animal Response Course and Lost Pet Recovery Training through the Missing Animal Response Network.

Brittanie Dickson shares, “My mom Carmell and I started getting involved with missing/dumped animals in 2018 when a pitbull got lost in the woods for ten days. His owner was sick and unfortunately passed away days before we rescued the dog.”

She continues, “The adrenaline from the rescue was addicting and had us excited to help more animals in need!” To this day, Dickson and her mother have taken 25 missing animal cases. Booth recently joined the duo and has helped with two.

They serve Gilpin County and the surrounding mountain communities. From dogs to cats and almost everything in between, the Gilpin County missing animal response trio is dedicated to helping rescue animals and reuniting them with their families.

The trio is working on possibly turning their efforts into a 501(c)(3), which can be a lengthy process. Dickson shares, “All of our donations are going under Go 2 Drone Services LLC, for now, until we create a new organization.”

The three women work full-time jobs and have families to care for. They help respond to missing animal cases during their free time as volunteers. “We are not doing this as a business to make money. We will not be able to take on every single missing pet, but we will be able to help the community with tips on how to recover their pet,” says Dickson.

Imagine waking up or coming home to find your fur baby gone and no one to help. Now, imagine the sense of relief knowing your chances of bringing your baby back home increase by 50% or more, thanks to Brittanie, Carmell, and Karla.

A total of $10,000 needs to be raised to purchase the items necessary to safely search, catch, and bring pets home, including an Animal Stretcher, XL Tomahawk trap, Garmin GPS Tracking Device, DJI Mavic 3 Thermal SP Care Plus Drone System, Gimbal searchlight, binoculars, Trpleterl 9 Pro screen LTE cellular, a catch pole, and walkie-talkies, to name a few.

For the love of pets, please consider donating to the cause by visiting https:// gofund.me/5868f61f. For more information, call Brittanie Dickson at 303-653-4799 or email her at brittanie@mtnpawsnclaws.com.