No Animal Left Behind

Search & Rescue · Emergency Response · Gilpin County, CO

When an animal is lost, stranded, or in danger in the Colorado mountains, we show up. Serving Gilpin County and the surrounding communities.

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What We Do

When an animal needs help, we show up.

There is no animal control in Gilpin County. NALB fills that gap, for lost pets, unknown animals, and large-scale emergencies alike.

Search & Rescue

When an animal shows up and no one knows where it came from, we respond. From lost pets to unknown animals in the mountains, if no one else can help, NALB is the call.

NALB-ERT

The No Animal Left Behind Emergency Response Team deploys during disasters, wildfires, and large-scale emergencies across the Front Range.

MOU · Gilpin County Sheriff's Office

If Your Pet Goes Missing

Here's what to do right now.

Follow these steps immediately. The first hours matter most.

Lost Dog Guide

Scent stations

  • Place unwashed items (clothes, towels, pet bed) where the dog was last seen — anything that smells like home.
  • If lost from home: leave a door cracked open so the dog can re-enter.
  • If lost on a trail: leave scent items both where the dog went missing and at the trailhead.
  • Leave a car door open if safe.
  • Do not chase or follow into the woods. Most dogs return to the trailhead or vehicle on their own.

Searching on foot

  • Do not yell, chase, or follow after the dog.
  • Stay calm, breathe, and move slowly.
  • Carry a slip lead, clip leash, high-value food (chicken, hot dogs, liver), and scent items.
  • If you see the dog: sit or crouch low, turn your body sideways, avoid eye contact, speak softly, toss food gently toward the dog, and stay put. Act like you're eating and "drop crumbs" to draw them closer. Build trust — let the dog approach at its own pace.
  • If the dog leaves: leave food, water, and a scent item where you were sitting. Avoid getting into a vehicle mid-search — this can create a "dead end." Dogs have strong noses and can track your scent back.
  • If you have another bonded dog, bring them along — their scent can guide the lost dog back.

Spread the word

  • Post immediately on local Facebook groups and the Nextdoor app. We can help suggest the right pages.
  • Share a clear photo and description: date & time last seen, exact location, your phone number.
  • Talk to everyone in the area. Hand out flyers with the dog's picture and your phone number.
  • Post flyers in local businesses and contact local shelters. Update microchip information.

Neon signs for sightings

  • Use large neon poster foam boards in the surrounding area.
  • Write clearly in thick black marker: "LOST DOG — CALL/TEXT [your number] with sightings — DO NOT CHASE" and include a photo.

Beware of scams

  • If you share your number online, scammers may contact you pretending to have your pet.
  • Never send money without proof. Always trust your instincts.
Download Dog Guide

Lost Cat Guide

Search thoroughly

  • Look high, low, and in every small space a cat could fit. Cats often hide close to home and may still be inside.
  • Use a flashlight at night — their eyes reflect light even in tight spaces.
  • If you think the cat is close, leave a door open and place food just inside to entice them back.

Stay calm and patient

  • Even vocal cats go silent when scared or hiding.
  • They may be nearby — under a deck, in a bush — and not make a sound. Cats usually don't travel far.
  • Be slow, calm, and methodical as you search.

Spread the word

  • Post immediately on local Facebook pages and the Nextdoor app. We can help suggest the right pages.
  • Share a photo & description: date & time, exact location, your phone number for sightings.
  • Talk to neighbors, hand out flyers, post in local businesses. Contact shelters and update microchip information.

Set up a feeding station

  • Put out high-value food (canned food, tuna, sardines). Only leave food out during the day to avoid attracting wildlife.
  • If your cat went missing on a trail, use dry food only to avoid pulling in wildlife.

Use familiar scents

  • Place clothing or blankets that smell like home outside.
  • Set out their cat bed, toys, or scratching post.
  • Do not put out the litter box — it attracts other animals and may push your cat further away.

Neon signs for sightings

  • Use large neon poster foam boards in the surrounding area.
  • Write clearly: "LOST CAT — CALL/TEXT [your number] — DO NOT CHASE" and include a photo.

Beware of scams

  • Scammers may contact you pretending to have your pet. Never send money without proof.
  • Trust your instincts. Cats are resilient — don't give up.
Download Cat Guide

Need help? Call or text us at (303) 653-4799 — we'll guide you through every step.

Meet the Founder

Born from a love for animals and community.

Hi, I'm Brittanie Dickson, founder and president of No Animal Left Behind Search & Rescue. Animals have always been at the center of my life. In 2015, I founded Mountain Paws & Claws Pet Services, where I've had the privilege of caring for hundreds of pets and building lasting relationships with families throughout our mountain communities.

In 2018, I became involved in helping search for missing and displaced animals. What started as volunteering quickly became a calling. From the very beginning, my mom has been by my side through every challenge and every success — hanging flyers, checking trail cameras, searching late into the night. For years, every search and every happy reunion was truly a two-person effort.

In 2024, a heartbreaking case involving two Boxers that had been used as bait dogs and dumped in Gilpin County brought our community together in a way I had never experienced. Neighbors, volunteers, businesses, and complete strangers stepped up, united by one goal. That case became the turning point. It showed me this mission was bigger than just my mom and me — and from that experience, No Animal Left Behind Search & Rescue was born.

Proudly serving our mountain community since 2024.

Where We Work

Serving Colorado's mountain communities.

If there's no one else to call, we're the call.

Get In Touch

We're here when you need us.

Have a lost animal or need to report one? Reach out, we respond as fast as we can.

(303) 653-4799 info@nalbrescue.com Follow us on Facebook
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