Weber County overwhelmed with support for hoarded dogs
Apr 26, 2025, 8:00 AM
It started with 154 dogs, but it said many organizations keep showing up to take some of the burden. (Mike Anderson, KSL TV)
(Mike Anderson, KSL TV)
OGDEN — Only eight dogs and eleven cats from a hoarding situation remain at Weber County Animal Services. It started with 154 dogs, but it said many organizations keep showing up to take some of the burden.
Related: Local animal rescues scramble to help more than 150 dogs rescued from Ogden home
Many of the small dogs will be up for adoption at an event on Saturday. None of them, so far, will have to be euthanized.
Lisa Peterson, a foster with Hope’s Rescue, is one of the many people making it all possible.
“These guys are all going to have happy endings,” Peterson said. “And it’s amazing.”
Peterson said so many people and organizations have stepped up to help. Right now, she has Koko.
“She’s loving all of the attention that my family gives her,” Peterson said.
Aside from being nervous at first, she said Koko is doing well despite the conditions he was found in.
“They (the dogs) were fed … they were a little underweight … but they didn’t have a ton of medical problems,” Peterson said. “Like, they weren’t abused. It was just a lot of them.”
At least half a dozen shelters are stepping in to take some of the load off Weber County Animal Services, which was already full when the animals were rescued.
Now, Weber County Animal Services said not only are these little guys getting new homes, but adoptions at the shelter overall are up significantly.
Hannah Wright with the West Valley City Animal Services said it had space, and knew it had to help. That shelter took in 21 of the dogs.
“I love it. I think it just shows how supportive this community can be,” Wright said.
The Human Society of Utah took in 46 dogs.
“They’re surprisingly in really great shape, physically, and we’re just excited to see them flourish emotionally and mentally as they go into homes,” Wright said.
Already about a couple dozen are adopted, and many more soon, getting them much needed care and affection.
It’s hard to know that these animals didn’t have that before us,” Peterson said.
West Valley City is having an adoption event, including five of those dogs tomorrow at its shelter. The one thing the folks in Weber said they still need is deli trays that can be used as disposable litter boxes.
