A rodeo athlete, James Zink supports charities throughout the Durango, CO, region as a donor and volunteer with several philanthropic organizations, including Habitat for Humanity of La Plata County and Community Connections, Inc. James Zink also supports Annie’s Orphans, a no-kill dog shelter in Durango, CO.
For years, Annie’s Orphans has provided ongoing care for canines in need not only in the Durango area, but throughout the Four Corners region, serving as a haven for homeless and otherwise at-risk dogs. The organization regularly works with animals until they are ready to be adopted and also serves as a long-term sanctuary for dogs.
Service providers like Annie’s Orphans provide critical support across the United States. According to the 2025 Shelter Animals Count from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, approximately 6 million companion animals enter US shelters each year, but Americans only adopt 3.2 million of them from shelters annually. No-kill shelters provide especially important services, as an estimated 757,000 dogs and cats experience euthanasia and other non-live outcomes in shelters, often due to a lack of space or resources, rather than behavioral or health issues. These numbers only tell part of the story: About 60 percent of companion animals in shelters are strays, and studies indicate that as many as 70 million stray dogs and cats wander the streets of America in search of their forever homes and loving families.
Dogs represent an important and unique aspect of American culture. As many as 68 million households in the US feature at least one canine companion, or about half of all American homes, according to the American Pet Products Association. Many households feature multiple dogs, with the nation’s total canine pet population approaching 60 million. However, dogs are much more than pets for most Americans. A Pew Research Center poll found that as many as 97 percent of pet owners view dogs as members of their family, and about half of pet owners view dogs as equally important as human family members.
The important role that dogs play in American homes and families makes Annie’s Orphans’ work all the more vital to the Durango, CO, community. Various local public shelter listings describe the organization as one of the state’s long-running no-kill operations, while praising the shelter’s mission of providing lifelong care and rehabilitation to all animals in need, while at the same time pursuing adoption opportunities for abandoned and neglected canines.
To continue this mission, Annie’s Orphans relies on the kindness of locals like James Zink. Donations help to pay for daily costs and general shelter operations, in addition to funding vital veterinary services, purchasing food, and sustaining a safe, hygienic shelter for dogs who are recovering and waiting for their next family. Individuals can further involve themselves with Annie’s Orphans’ mission by volunteering at the shelter or at a community event, sponsoring an animal, or fostering a dog until the shelter locates its forever home. Additional information about getting involved is available online at anniesk9orphans.org. Individuals can also email anniesk9orphans@yahoo.com or text (970) 759-8811.
