
On April 17th, Weber County Animal Services contacted the Humane Society of Utah for help with an urgent situation. Authorities were notified of a severe hoarding situation in the area. 152 dogs were removed from a home where they lived in close quarters without sufficient access to care. With so many dogs suddenly in need of shelter, it took a village to house and care for them. We gladly agreed to help our neighbors to the north, and our generous community came together to support the sweet pups. The Humane Society of Utah took in 45 of the animals, including mother dogs, puppies, and dogs with special medical conditions.
A Complex Situation
Cases like this are difficult for the animals and people involved. However, they also demonstrate the immense capacity of a community to come together. Several animal welfare organizations, including the Humane Society of Utah, stepped in to help. We loaded our transfer van with puppy food, pee pads, flea and tick medication, and other much needed supplies. Many of these items were donated by our caring community members. We commend Weber County Animal Services for their tremendous efforts in responding to the situation and finding safe shelter options for all of the dogs. As 45 of the dogs arrived at our facility, we provided immediate medical treatment, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, and behavioral support to start the healing process.
The Humane Society of Utah recognizes that animal hoarding is a complex mental health issue, and not simply a case of cruelty. In many cases, individuals who hoard animals have the best intentions for their pets, but find themselves overwhelmed and unable to provide adequate care. As we respond to the needs of pets in our community, we encourage folks to have compassion for the people involved.
A Caring Community’s Response
Whenever we get a large influx of animals at once there is a need for additional space and resources. All incoming animals need food, basic care, and comfortable space during their time at our facility. The need for resources is even greater when pets have unknown medical or behavioral challenges. Luckily, our amazing community stepped up in a big way! We are immensely grateful to our donors who gave generously so these sweet animals had immediate access to medical treatment and compassionate care. Our generous supporters are central to our lifesaving work.
But the work is far from over! By now, many of the Weber pups have received the care they need. We are thrilled to report that as of writing this, 29 have been adopted already! But some of the younger or sicker animals will require more support before they can start their new chapter. There is still time to help!
- Donate to support the Weber pups! Your gift will help provide medical care, foster resources, and behavior support for dogs who need some extra TLC. Any amount helps!
- Adopt or foster! Many of these sweet friends will become available for adoption in the coming days and weeks. Whether you adopt one of the 45 Weber dogs or another animal at our facility, you will give a deserving animal a second chance at life and open up space for more pets to find their loving homes.
- Spread the word! Share stories on social media or talk to your friends about pets in need. If we all pitch in, we can ensure local pets will always have loving support.
Between the tireless efforts of Weber County Animal Services, the support of other local animal organizations, and the generosity of a caring community, we have been inspired by the compassionate response to this situation. Our community came together for these animals and gave them hope for a better future. It is amazing what we can achieve together for the local pets we all love and cherish!