Denver Animal Protection

What Denver Animal Protection does

The Animal Welfare Association of Colorado (AWAC) is a Colorado-based nonprofit professional association formed in 2020 through the historic merger of the Colorado Association of Animal Control Officers and the Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies. It serves animal welfare and animal control professionals statewide — including individual Animal Control Officers, municipal animal control departments, and nonprofit shelters and rescue organizations — through four functional pillars: professional development, advocacy, collaboration, and animal care and control. Its product portfolio centers on the annual Colorado Animal Welfare Conference (Aug 18–20, 2026 at Sheraton Denver West in Lakewood, CO), an AWAC Spring Training program for hands-on ACO education, the Colorado ACO State Certification testing and recertification process (which AWAC administers on behalf of the state), a member-only job board, and a tiered membership program offering discounted conference access and member resources. AWAC is governed by a board drawn from Colorado's largest welfare organizations (HSPPR, Foothills Animal Shelter, Humane Colorado, Humane Society of Boulder Valley, NOCO Humane) and police-department ACO units (Boulder County Sheriff, Westminster PD, Lakewood PD, Castle Rock PD).

Revenue is generated through five streams: tiered conference registration (members $125–$350 across 1/2/3-day passes; non-members $175–$425), recurring membership dues, ACO certification testing fees ($45 initial, $25 renewal every two years), PayPal-based donations, and event sponsorship. Sponsorship is anchored by national animal welfare and pet industry partners — ASPCA, Petco Foundation, Hill's Food Shelter Love, Animal Assistance Foundation, Fetch Pet Insurance, DocuPet, Elanco, Michelson Found Animals, and Boehringer Ingelheim — and supplemented by strategic partners including NACA, Colorado State University, Shelterluv, and Petfinder. AWAC operates from a Denver mailing address (6300 E. Hampden Ave Unit C #284) and runs no proprietary technology platform; its digital surface is a WordPress-based website with member resources, a job board, and an online payment portal for certification fees.

Name

Denver Animal Protection

Legal name

Animal Welfare Association of Colorado

Website

https://awac.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado-based nonprofit professional association formed in 2020 that delivers animal welfare training, advocacy, and statewide ACO certification for shelters, rescue groups, and animal control officers across Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Professional Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab) (AFAEALAN), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal welfare services
• Professional association membership
• Animal control certification
• Animal welfare conferences
• Animal shelter advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference Registration: Revenue generated from the annual Colorado Animal Welfare Conference, with tiered pricing for members and non-members, including early bird discounts through July 31.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for animal welfare professionals and organizations in Colorado, with discounted conference pricing for members.
3. Donations: Donations from individuals and organizations supporting animal welfare in Colorado through PayPal.
4. ACO Certification Testing: Fees for Colorado Animal Control Officer certification testing ($45 original test) and recertification ($25 renewal).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The organization is a nonprofit professional association serving Colorado's animal welfare and animal control professionals. It operates the annual Colorado Animal Welfare Conference, Spring Training events, and manages state Animal Control Officer (ACO) certification testing and recertification. It also runs a membership program and a job board connecting animal welfare employers with job seekers across Colorado.

Product overview

AWAC (Animal Welfare Association of Colorado) operates as a professional association offering a unified portfolio of animal welfare services in Colorado. The core offerings include the annual Colorado Animal Welfare Conference and Spring Training events for professional development, plus state ACO certification testing and renewal services. The organization also operates a job board platform connecting member organizations with talent, and provides membership benefits including discounted conference access and member resources. Formed in 2020 through the merger of the Colorado Association of Animal Control Officers and the Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies, AWAC focuses on collaboration, advocacy, animal care and control, and professional development across the Colorado animal welfare community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Colorado Animal Welfare Conference Annual flagship conference bringing together Colorado's animal welfare professionals for training, collaboration, and networking. Features multiple educational tracks, expert speakers, sponsor exhibitions, and networking meals.
• AWAC Spring Training Annual spring training event providing continuing education for animal control officers. Includes hands-on workshops, certification test preparation, and professional development sessions.
• Colorado ACO State Certification Testing State-managed testing program for Animal Control Officers in Colorado. The organization administers the certification exam for officers across the state.
• ACO Certification Renewal Credential renewal service for state-certified animal control officers, requiring 20 hours of continuing education every two years.
• Job Board Online job board platform connecting animal welfare organizations with job seekers across Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. Posts positions from member organizations including shelters, animal control departments, and welfare agencies.
• Membership Program Organization membership offering discounted conference registration, access to member resources, professional development benefits, and participation in advocacy and collaboration initiatives.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fetch Pet InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor providing pet insurance services to the animal welfare community.
• DocuPetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet licensing and registration services sponsor supporting the Colorado Animal Welfare Conference.
• Hills Pet Food (Hill's Food Shelter Love)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading pet nutrition company and conference sponsor supporting animal welfare organizations.
• Animal Assistance Foundation (AAF)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit foundation providing grants and support to animal welfare organizations in Colorado.
• ASPCAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter-level sponsor providing national animal welfare expertise and resources.
• Petco FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor animal welfare foundation supporting shelter operations and animal care programs.
• ElancominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnimal health company providing veterinary pharmaceutical products and conference support.
• Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern Colorado's largest animal welfare organization, providing member representation and conference collaboration.
• NOCO HumanecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern Colorado independent nonprofit providing animal shelter and control services; member organization posting job listings.
• Humane Society of Boulder ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado's oldest continually operating animal shelter (since 1902); member organization with representation on AWAC board.
• Humane ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenver-based animal shelter organization providing animal welfare services in the Denver metro area.
• Michelson Found AnimalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor supporting animal welfare initiatives and programs.
• Colorado State University (CSU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution providing educational programs and research in animal welfare and shelter management.
• Boehringer IngelheimminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnimal health pharmaceutical company providing veterinary products and conference support.
• Cheyenne Animal ShelterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWyoming-based shelter organization participating in AWAC job board and conference activities.
• Foothills Animal SheltercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJefferson County open-admission shelter serving over 9,000 animals annually; AWAC member with board representation.
• Humane Society of the Pikes Peak RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern Colorado's largest animal welfare organization with 200+ employees operating Pueblo Shelter and Animal Law Enforcement.
• NACA (National Animal Care & Control Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association collaborating on unified safety standards and PPE statement for animal control officers.
• Colorado Bat CrewminorOthersExpert organization providing bat handling and identification training for animal control officers.
• Colorado Association of Animal Control Officers (merged organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two founding organizations that merged in 2020 to create AWAC.
• Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies (merged organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two founding organizations that merged in 2020 to create AWAC.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): HSUS is the largest national animal welfare advocacy and direct-care organization. It operates a broad portfolio spanning advocacy, training, and shelter support that overlaps with AWAC's mission at a national scale.
• Best Friends Animal Society: Best Friends operates a national no-kill animal welfare network, providing training, shelter consulting, and advocacy. It overlaps AWAC's professional development and advocacy functions at a broader scale.
• PetSmart Charities: PetSmart Charities is a major national funder of pet adoption, shelter support, and animal welfare research. It engages the same shelter and rescue organizations that AWAC represents across Colorado.
• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): The ASPCA is a national animal welfare leader focused on cruelty prevention, shelter support, and public policy. It is both a broader incumbent and an active AWAC sponsor, engaging with the Colorado animal welfare community that AWAC convenes.
• Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation): Petco Love is a national foundation funding shelter operations, adoptions, and animal welfare initiatives. It is both a broader incumbent and an active AWAC sponsor supporting Colorado's animal welfare ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Maddie's Fund: Maddie's Fund is a national family foundation investing in shelter medicine, professional training, and community animal welfare programs. It mirrors AWAC's professional development and grantmaking-style ecosystem support.
• National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA): NACA is the national professional association for animal care and control, providing training, certification, and advocacy across the U.S. — it is the direct national analogue to AWAC, and AWAC already collaborates with NACA on unified safety standards and PPE guidance.

Regional players

• California Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals): CalAnimals is a statewide membership association for California animal shelters and welfare agencies, providing advocacy, training, and convening. It is a structural twin to AWAC operating in a different state.
• Texas Animal Control Association: Texas Animal Control Association is a regional professional association for animal control officers and agencies in Texas. It mirrors AWAC's ACO training and certification functions at a state scale in a different geography.

Emerging players

• Association of Shelter Veterinarians: The Association of Shelter Veterinarians is a professional membership organization advancing shelter medicine standards, training, and guidelines. It overlaps AWAC's professional development and standards-setting role with a veterinary specialization.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/denver-animal-protection

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Denver Animal Protection