09-05-2025
Two Utahns who took in dogs from Ogden hoarding situation share their stories
OGDEN, Utah () — After 168 dogs and cats were in Ogden, two Utahns are sharing their experience with taking in dogs. The dogs and cats rescued from the home have been adopted out, fostered, and sent to other shelters across the Wasatch Front.
Lisa Peterson, who lives in Weber County, was fostering Coco. Sadly, she passed away yesterday after being spayed on Friday. Peterson said that Coco was the first dog that was part of the animal rescue she started.
Brandi Hysell, from Utah County, adopted Leia. She said that Leia has been making progress and adjusting to her new home after being rescued from the hoarding situation.
In a statement from the Ogden City Police Department, they said, 'As of today, only 13 dogs remain at the Weber County Animal Shelter and are available for rescue. No animals required euthanasia.'
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Lisa Peterson was fostering Coco, one of the rescued dogs, but shared that she sadly passed away just yesterday.
Peterson said that just over a month ago, she found two stray dogs at her front door. She and a neighbor who both work for rescues put leashes on them and started looking for their owners. Instead, they found animal control at a nearby house.
'Be prepared… we're about to get flooded,' Peterson warned local shelters.
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Peterson said that she helped two of the shelters pull dogs from where they were first taken, Weber County Animal Services. One of those shelters was Hope's Rescue, which Peterson began fostering Coco through. She was a small dog, weighing only five pounds and two ounces, Peterson said.
'Unfortunately, Coco passed away yesterday,' Peterson shared. 'She was just spayed on Friday, but her tiny little body just wasn't able to handle the anesthesia and the impact of the surgery.'
Walking through the shelter when the dogs were first brought in, Peterson said there was no way she could describe it. It was crates stacked on top of each other, full of dogs.
'It looked like a puppy family reunion; they were all inbred,' Peterson stated.
Peterson said that she knew she planned on adopting Coco herself from the moment that she saw her in the shelter.
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'With Coco specifically, when I saw her and I saw her face, she looked shut down,' Peterson said. 'And just something sparked in me, just right to my soul.'
Peterson was inspired to start her own foster-based animal rescue, with Coco being the first animal to join it. Even though she has passed away, Peterson is looking forward to helping more pets and said that they just took in two kittens.
'Help rescues. Adopt, don't shop,' Peterson said. 'There's too many sitting in shelters that need us.'
Peterson encourages the community to attend an adoption event on May 18 in Roy. She says that Hope's Rescue and Weber County Animal Services will be there. The event starts at 9 a.m. at 1845 W 4400 S in Roy.
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Brandi Hysell adopted her dog from the hoarding situation, Leia. Her first full day with Hysell's family was May 4, 'Star Wars' day. She said Leia was named after the 'Star Wars' character because she is a 'resilient little princess.'
Hysell said she ran into Leia at a store when she bumped into a woman with a rescue called Whiskey Tango Feline. Initially, Hysell was just planning to foster, but said that when Leia leaned into her, she knew that she had to adopt her.
'We've always, always been dog people. We've always had dogs, and we just haven't had one since the pandemic,' Hysell said.
From what Hysell had been told, most of the dogs rescued were relatively healthy. Leia was partially shaved due to the fleas that were found on her. They're waiting for that fur to grow back in.
'She's a little underweight, and she did have a lot of fleas… she had a nice bath yesterday, and though she wasn't a fan, she's looking nice and clean,' Hysell shared.
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Leia is blind in one eye, though it doesn't cause her any pain or suffering. Hysell says that the rescue believed another dog may have injured her because she's small and young. The vet guessed that she's only a year or two old.
'She's doing great, huge progress every day,' Hysell said. 'Yesterday I took her out and let the neighborhood kids say hi to her, and little girls were all over her and she was happy as a clam.'
Leia is hesitant around people, especially men, but Hysell says that she's getting better. Her husband leaves in the morning, and when he returns, Leia is afraid for a few minutes before being happy to see him.
The rescue told Hysell that Leia was not potty-trained. Hysell said she was worried, but Leia is very smart and learned quickly. She only had one accident in the home before she was house-trained. Hysell also said that Leia follows her everywhere around the home.
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'I think I needed her as much as she needed me. She's healing my heart. The world's been a little rough, and she's been a bright spot in our family the last few days,' Hysell said.
The vet believes that Leia is a Jack Russell terrier and chihuahua mix. Hysell joked that she believes that because Leia is bouncy and shakes all the time.
Many of Leia's siblings are still available for foster or adoption, Hysell said. She encouraged people to help out where they can.
'Even if you can't foster a dog, even if you can't adopt a dog, the shelters are definitely still in need of plenty of volunteers,' Hysell said. 'They definitely need dog and cat food, puppy pads, and blankets… they are all definitely very full.'
Kayla Baggerly, MJ Jewkes, and Kade Garner contributed to this report.
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