02/23/2026
In the Four Corners, it’s not that people don’t love their pets.
It’s that too many families can’t access veterinary care—either because they can’t afford it, can’t get in, or live too far from services.
What the data says (closest, best-available local evidence)
Colorado-wide pet owner survey data (Colorado State University’s Animal-Human Policy Center) found:
• ~8% of Colorado pet owners have never obtained veterinary care for their pets—and the most common reason was “too expensive.” 
• Among those who had never taken a pet to the vet, 44.2% said “too expensive,” and the next most common reason was “I provide my own care” (36.4%). 
• ~28% of Colorado pet owners reported a time in the last two years when they tried to access vet care but couldn’t—with top barriers including no appointments, clinic hours, and affordability. 
And in the heart of the Four Corners, access barriers can be even more extreme. For example, reporting on the Navajo Nation has highlighted the scale of the shortage: an estimated 500,000 dogs and cats with only a handful of veterinarians serving a vast rural area. 
Affordability isn’t a “small” issue—it’s the issue
Nationally, Gallup found 52% of U.S. pet owners report skipping or declining needed veterinary care in the past year. 
That’s not “bad pet owners.” That’s a system where the math doesn’t work for a lot of families.
Where “belief/tradition” fits in (and how we talk about it respectfully)
Some families don’t seek care because they’ve grown up handling things at home, they’ve had negative experiences, they’re navigating language/culture barriers, or they’ve learned to wait until an animal is truly suffering before asking for help. The Colorado survey captured this directly in the “I provide my own care” response—important context that isn’t the same as “they don’t care.” 
And across rural/tribal regions, barriers like distance, transportation, and limited clinic availability are repeatedly cited as major drivers. 
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How Denkai is filling the gap (and why donations matter)
Denkai exists for the families who are trying—but are getting priced out, booked out, or pushed out.
✅ Low-cost community veterinary care in Durango (services and contact info) 
✅ A dedicated Pawsitive Care Fund that helps cover urgent/essential care when families fall in the gap between “needs help” and “doesn’t qualify for enough help.” 
When you donate, you’re not just “supporting a clinic.”
You’re making sure a pet doesn’t suffer because their human is choosing between rent, groceries, heat, and a vet bill.
If you believe pets shouldn’t pay the price for poverty…
Donate here and note “Pawsitive Care Fund”:
https://denkaisanctuary.org/pawsitive-care-fund
Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/Denkai-AnimalSanctuary
PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2073123
