09/03/2026
The dangers of leaving your animals outside.
On January 23rd, at around 4:00 pm, officers responded to the 2000 block of Cherry St. on a call for a stray animal hiding under patio furniture. The outside temperature at this time was approximately 10°.
When officers arrived at the home, they found a small dog hiding on the front porch. The puppy was shaking, covered in mud, and lethargic. Officers quickly wrapped the puppy in a coat and brought her to the patrol car. It was determined that the puppy needed emergency medical intervention for hypothermia. Officers transported the puppy to Animal Urgent Care North East in Commerce City for further medical care and evaluation.
The 6-month-old puppy, named “Toast” by veterinary staff, was immediately seen and given care. Vet staff informed officers that Toast was showing signs of ethylene glycol poisoning, also known as antifreeze poisoning. Toast was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure from the antifreeze poisoning. Based on this diagnosis, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize the puppy.
Cases like this are not easy to respond to. We greatly appreciate the officers who responded to the call and stayed with Toast. We are so thankful for the vet staff that did everything they could to save her. We also want to thank the community members who called in to make a report.
Please remember to bring your pets inside, limit outdoor time during extreme temperatures, and make sure that all chemicals are stored away. Animals are attracted to the sweet smell and taste of antifreeze, which is also commonly ingested in the wintertime.
This case is a painful reminder of the dangers of leaving your pets outside.
The investigation into this case is ongoing. If you have information on who this dog may belong to, please call us at (303) 288-1535.
