Annie and Millie’s Place was created out of the idea that people and their pets should have the opportunity to stay together, no matter the situation. Founder Kristen Baltrum started the organization in memory of her sister, Annie, and her dog Millie. “Together they experienced homelessness and were unable to access shelter — unless Annie wanted to surrender Millie,” says Baltrum. “Unwilling to do so, Annie remained unsheltered with no access to resources before she found an abandoned home and died by suicide. Our belief is that no one should have to choose between a safe place to sleep and their animal companion, who is their family.”
Annie and Millie (Left) | Annie and Millie’s Place Team (Right)
The organization’s purpose is not only to serve unhoused people and their pets, but also to build awareness for human-animal homelessness and create an open-minded network of people willing to help. “Our dream is to build a co-shelter space, where unhoused people and their pets can receive a safe and secure place to sleep, together, every night of the year,” says Baltrum.
Currently, Annie and Millie’s Place partners with other agencies and organizations to run their programs without a brick-and-mortar space. Their services range from providing veterinary care, both through pop-up clinics and through urgent and emergency care, to street outreach with pet food and supplies. They also help keep people and pets together by coordinating foster care for people who enter detox, rehab, hospital stays, or short-term jail sentences, and through collaboration with the cities of Boulder and Longmont, providing animal supplies for the city shelter, and hotel nights at animal-friendly hotels in extreme weather and extenuating circumstances.
In 2025 alone, Annie and Millie’s place has…
• Reached out to 75 families for foster support and received 10 foster placements or direct service connections.
• Served as a trusted resource for 41 individuals seeking their services.
• Covered $6,500 in veterinary costs to help 73 pets gain access to essential care, keeping pets healthier and helping their people feel supported.
• Distributed 1,575 pounds of food and nearly 300 leashes, collars, harnesses, and coats for pets in need in Longmont and Boulder.
Baltrum says Annie and Millie’s Place is committed to recognizing the inherent dignity of people with pets, removing barriers to resources and shelter, supporting health and well-being for both humans and their animals, and advocating for inclusive practices that keep families together, no matter their circumstances. “All of our work is rooted in ‘compassionate collaboration’ — the belief that compassion for the most vulnerable should guide every action we take,” says Baltrum. “By bridging the gap between human services and animal welfare, we strengthen the web of support available to people and their pets. In doing so, we help ensure that every individual has the opportunity to experience stability, dignity, and a fulfilling life.”
We’re proud to support Annie and Millie’s Place and their work to evolve pet-friendly solutions, programs, and resources to keep humans experiencing homelessness together with their fur family.
Annie and Millie’s Place was awarded a Community Trust Grant in 2025.
