OGDEN — Now that two men are facing hundreds of charges in connection with more than 150 dogs that were found hoarded inside a small home, there are concerns about the overall health of many of those dogs, and whether Utah laws do enough to protect animals.
“These dogs deserve better,” said Lisa Peterson, who fostered one of the dogs shortly after they were rescued from the home along Jackson Avenue. “Six-hundred charges. That sounds like a lot. But what does that really come down to? A couple thousand dollars in fines? What’s that going to prevent?”
Peterson fostered Koko for a few weeks, and intended to adopt her. Instead, Koko died Wednesday. Peterson believes because of generations of inbreeding inside the home, Koko was not strong enough to recover after being spayed.
“It was heartbreaking,” Peterson said. “I was her first person. Her only person, really. You know? She slept with me every night, and she was with me every waking minute.”
Peterson adds that close companionship didn’t come right away.
“She was 5 pounds, 2 ounces. Just the sweetest, most loving dog,” Peterson recalled. “And you could tell that human touch was a scary thing for her.”
Now, Peterson says this hoarding case has pushed her to do something she’d been considering for many years; heading up an animal rescue. Dirt Roads Animal Rescue currently has a 503c nonprofit pending, and several board members will help foster animals. Peterson’s first rescue arrived today. She says McAllister was set to be euthanized this week.
“The reality of the situation is there’s only so many kennels, right? And there’s only so many hands that can help these dogs,” Peterson said.
She says more people can help by adopting, and fostering animals in need.
Miguel Salgado-Vargas faces 637 misdemeanor charges, and his nephew, Ramon Cano Aispuro faces 336 misdemeanor charges in connection with the hoarding case. 149 dogs were also rescued from Salgado-Vargas’s home in 2012.
Prosecutors say he was not charged back then because he asked for help, voluntarily gave up the dogs, and agreed to get counseling. This time, the dogs were rescued as a result of a search warrant. Salgado-Vargas is set appear in Ogden Justice Court next week.
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