When Jeffrey Menendez was jailed this month, his dog, Bonnie, was taken to the Denver Animal Shelter.

Menendez, who is homeless, was heartbroken. A 30-day sentence in the Denver County Jail for setting an illegal camp fire and fighting with a police officer meant he would not be released in time to save Bonnie from being adopted or possibly euthanized.

“She was something for me to care for. Everywhere I went, she went with me,” Menendez told Simon Crittle, a Denver Sheriff Department spokesman.

Deputies realized how upset Menendez was over his dog, and they stepped in to help, Crittle said.

They contacted the animal shelter and made arrangements for the dog to be boarded there while Menendez served his time. The deputies called New Hope Cattle Dogs Rescue of Colorado, and its leaders agreed to pay the $246 fee for Bonnie’s stay.

Menendez was elated, telling Crittle, “”If they didn’t do that, I wouldn’t still have Bonnie. That kind of kindness is something you don’t expect. I have never experienced it before.”

The deputies and dog rescue group are also working on getting Bonnie spayed and vaccinated, Crittle said.

This isn’t the first time New Hope has worked with deputies and inmates, said Chris Spanos, whose wife is one of the organization’s founders.

The Spanoses said they are blessed with good lives and feel compelled to help others get back on their feet. And they understand how a dog can make a difference in a person’s life.

“You know, if two or three more people do this for two or three more people, we wouldn’t have so many problems,” Spanos said.

Menendez described his dog as friendly. “Everyone wants to pet her. She’s like a celebrity,” he said.

Menendez is scheduled to be released within a week and will pick up Bonnie then, Crittle said.

Crittle said the story is an example of the how the jail’s management philosophy is supposed to work with deputies interacting with inmates and figuring out what may be driving their behavior.

“If you can do a little thing to make their lives easier, ultimately that person is going to be a little easier to manage,” he said.

Noelle Phillips: 303-954-1661, nphillips@denverpost.com or @Noelle_Phillips