OGDEN — Animal rescues across the Wasatch Front are rushing to make space so they can care for the 156 dogs found in an Ogden home this week.
The dogs were being hoarded in a home, in “extremely poor and overcrowded conditions,” according to the Ogden Police Department. Originally, 152 dogs were rescued from the home, but animal services soon found an additional four.
A number of animal service agencies have been helping accommodate the dogs, including Weber County, Roy, and Draper animal services.
Guinn Shuster with the Humane Society of Utah says they are taking 46 small-breed mixes. Many are puppies with their mothers. Some are the most severe medical cases. She explained that the Humane Society has the resources to help with the more severe cases so they are transferring their care over from Weber County Animal Services.
“We’ve been asked to take on dogs that are missing body parts or possibly have broken limbs, so we are expecting some pretty severe injuries to some of these dogs,” Shuster said.
Based on past experience with hoarding situations, Shuster says when these pups could be available for adoption is dependent on each one’s condition.
“In the past when we’ve dealt with some hoarding cases, some of the dogs are available and ready as soon as they’ve been spayed or neutered,” Shuster said. “Some of them can take up to a couple months before they’re available or ready for adoption.”
Ogden Police said in a press release on Wednesday, it could be as soon as April 21, for some.
In the meantime, Shuster says having to care for all these dogs is a huge strain on the local shelters that were already full.
“Because you’re trying to make room, so you’re really trying to find the dogs that are [already] in the shelters adopters or foster homes to get into, so you can make the room for these incoming animals,” Shuster explained.
They are asking for a lot of help from the public right now, whether that is adopting or fostering a dog, or providing donations so they can care for this huge influx in animals. Most places are accepting monetary donations, as well as food and other supplies needed for the dogs.
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