Unleashed – PAWsitive Stories from Salt Lake County Animal Services
Home for the HOWLidays Shindig
December 01, 2022
For a suggested donation of $5, have your pet sit with Santa, and you (or we) can snap a quick photo with your phone.
Giving Tuesday 2022
November 01, 2022
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We're Hiring
October 17, 2022
We're looking for individuals that are passionate about animal care and welfare to join our team at Salt Lake County Animal Services. You can see all jobs currently available on the main county job site. Or email kcarpenter@slco.org for more information.
Current Openings Include
Full-Time Veterinarian
Temporary Veterinarian
Veterinary Technicians (FT & PT)
Animal Care Associates
Front Counter Associates
Animal Control Officers
Join Our Strut Your Mutt Team
October 03, 2022
October Adoption Special
October 03, 2022
Adopt a shelter pet this month! Did you know October is Adopt a Shelter Dog month?
$10 Cat/Kitten/Rabbit Adoption Fees. All pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
$31 Large Dog Adoption Fees. All dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Excludes: small dogs, puppies, and VIP's. Questions? Email adoptions@slco.org.
See our adoptable pets online.
Find out more about adoption fees and the process.
Bingo Night
October 03, 2022
Outcome to Dog Set on Fire
July 15, 2022
Salt Lake City, UT – Salt Lake County Animal Services is satisfied with the sentencing of Michael Paul Busico, 41, who tortured a companion pet in the spring of 2021. Busico admitted guilt to setting Dixie, a 4 year-old Red Heeler, on fire after taking her from her yard in an effort to intimidate her family. The dog suffered from extensive 2nd and 3rd degree burns to most of her body and was euthanized because of her injuries. Busico was charged with felony Animal Cruelty for the torture of a companion animal, as well as other charges. Dixie was a victim of domestic violence.
This week, a judge sentenced Busico to one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison for the arson conviction, and up to five years for the animal cruelty conviction. The judge also ordered the sentences to run consecutively, meaning Busico could serve up to 20 years in prison if he serves his full time. (Credit: Jed Boal/KSL)
“The outcome of this case is a huge win for pets in Utah. This is a step in the right direction and emphasizes that animals cannot be tortured to manipulate and hurt other humans. Salt Lake County Animal Services hopes that these strict penalties will deter future animal and domestic abuse cases.” Talia Butler, Salt Lake County Animal Services Division Director.
“Our Animal Control Officers and staff are still devastated by what happened to Dixie,” said Butler. “No pet should suffer at the hands of a human. Throughout the years, our team has seen mistreated, and abused animals but this was not only horrific, but it was also an intentional attack against a companion animal.”
Salt Lake County Animal Services is grateful for the efforts of our Salt Lake County Animal Control officers, veterinary staff, the attorney’s assigned to the case, and everyone involved, including the community, that helped lead to this fair and just sentence.
“Our staff has never forgotten Dixie and the pain and suffering both she and her family went through. We’re hopeful this resolution can give Dixie’s family peace. Dixie’s legacy will live on in our community, and in our efforts to stop animal abuse universally,” says Butler.
Animal Services would like to remind pet owners, that violence against their pets by a loved one is a serious offense and asks that these cases be reported. To report an animal abuse or cruelty case call 801-840-4000 or email animalcontrol@slco.org.
Kuranda Bed Fundraiser
June 06, 2022
Every pet at the shelter deserves a comfy bed to rest their head every night. At Salt Lake County Animal Services, providing a comfortable living situation for our dogs and cats is a priority. Help us make this happen!
A kennel can be a very scary environment for our animals so we want to ensure their bed can be a welcoming safe haven for them. Our goal for June is a new bed for every dog and cat kennel, so nearly 100 beds!
Kuranda offers a discount when purchasing for shelters. Our dog beds are looking rough and a couple kennels have the cheap ones that do not last long. They also offer cat options to be used in their kennels plus some other cozy comfy pads to add to the beds. You can find our list of needs on their site.
You can help make a world of difference in a homeless pets life by donating one of the Kuranda products to the shelter at a discounted price, the beds are then shipped directly to Salt Lake County Animal Services. You can donate directly to us on the Kuranda page or send us a monetary donation online and put "beds" in the notes section during checkout.
What's great about these beds is they are extremely durable and can be sanitized.
Thank you so much! Our animals appreciate it!
Petco Love Invests in Lifesaving Work of Salt Lake County Animal Services.
Grant of ten thousand dollars will help save more pet lives in Salt Lake County.
Salt Lake City, UT (May 9, 2022) – Salt Lake County Animal Services announced today a $5,000 grant investment from, Petco Love, to support their lifesaving work for animals in Salt Lake County.
Petco Love is a nonprofit leading change for pets nationally by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since their founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, they’ve empowered organizations with $300 million invested to date in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And, they’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations, like ours, nationwide.
“Today Petco Love announces an investment in Salt Lake County Animal Services and hundreds of other organizations as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love. “Our local investments are only one component. This month, we will also launch the first of our national tools to empower all animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us.”
“Salt Lake County Animal Services is proud to be recognized by Petco Love for the work done within the community to help prevent unwanted pets from entering the shelter. This grant will help us sustain low-income spay/neuters for the 1200+ pets sterilized in our clinic each year,” said Talia Butler, Division Director.
Salt Lake County Animal Services is committed to serving the animals and citizens in the cities we service with compassion and respect. With over 40 years of experience, Salt Lake County Animal Services is dedicated to a no-kill philosophy. The No-kill philosophy is based on the idea that all healthy and/or treatable animals can be saved and not euthanized. The national industry standards to determine a shelter’s no-kill status is 90% live release rate.
Animal Services began this commitment at the end of 2009. In 2013, the shelter achieved official no-kill status for the entire year, reaching 92% for the year. As of 2021, we continued that trend with a live release rate of over 94% for the entire year. Live release means that of all the animals that come to the shelter, they are either returned home, placed with a loving family through adoption, or transferred to a qualified animal rescue organization.
For more information about Salt Lake County Animal Services, visit adoptutahpets.org. To learn more about Petco Love, visit petcolove.org.
Contact: Callista Pearson, Salt Lake County Animal Services, ctpearson@slco.org Jennifer Perez, Petco Love, foundationmedia@petcofoundation.org
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About Salt Lake County Animal Services.
Salt Lake County Animal Services is always looking for innovative ways to provide better service to the citizens and animals we serve. We are largest “No Kill” municipal shelter in Utah and a flagship shelter for the Best Friends Animal Society’s “No Kill 2025” mission. Shelter staff from across the world visit Salt Lake County Animal Services to learn from the progress we have made here in our community. We are constantly making strides in the community because of the progressive programming we have implemented. Our goal is to create responsible pet ownership, help reduce the pet over-population problem and engage our community of adopters and pet owners. We are dedicated to providing superior support, education, protection, and advocacy for all animals and members of the community.
About Petco Love (Formerly Petco Foundation)
Petco Love is a nonprofit changing lives by making communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we’ve empowered animal welfare organizations by investing nearly $300 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide.
Today, our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Is love calling you? Visit petcolove.org or follow at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedInto be part of the lifesaving work we’re leading every day.
Salt Lake County Animal Services Named Best of State
April 14, 2022
Salt Lake County Animal Services has been named Best of State – Utah for the services the agency provides to the community. Salt Lake County Animal Services is the largest No-Kill municipal shelter in Utah, proudly possessing over 40 years of experience providing sheltering, animal control, emergency response, community resources, and educational programming. Salt Lake County Animal Services is a leader in its industry and has been nationally recognized as one of the top performing animal welfare agencies in the United States.
This year’s nomination was focused on Hounds Around Town, a new volunteer program. The program allows volunteers and fosters to take shelter dogs out on field trips. Field trips can include activities like hiking, walks, car rides, getting puppaccinos, grooming, shopping, or going out to lunch. This program is bringing in community members who cannot commit to taking care of a dog long term, but still want to work with dogs and help get them adopted. More than 50% of the volunteers signing up for Hounds Around Town are people who have never been to Animal Services before. Taking a shelter dog on a walk or hiking is a great way to improve mental health for both the human and the dog.
Hounds Around Town officially started in 2020, however due to Covid-19 the program was put on hold, and access to volunteers was limited. Starting in the fall of 2021, Hounds Around Town rebounded, and is back and running at its full potential. Multiple volunteers are trained each week, and multiple dogs have gone on field trips.
For more information about this program or for our other innovative programs that have contributed to our 14 Best of State awards, visit our Get Involved page or email fosters@slco.org.
Pet Encounters: Dog or Cat Bites
February 22, 2022
You’re on a walk in the neighborhood with your dog, and they unexpectedly bite someone walking by. Or vice versa, you get bit by a dog walking by, what do you do? First, stay calm. Call Dispatch at 801-840-4000, and an Animal Control Officer will come help you both. If you’re both in a rush, exchange information so you can get in touch with the other person. Second, remain civil. This is a very upsetting situation for both sides, the bite victim, and the pet owner.
Why do I have to report the bite?
There are two reasons why bite reports must be filed. The first is rabies control. Our local public health authorities need to investigate if rabies could have been transmitted to the victim. Secondly, the health authorities track the data and trends in animal bites to people within the community.
If my pet bites me, do I still have to report it?
Yes, ALL BITES that break the skin must be reported.
If you have any other questions about Animal Control issues, please email Animal Control.