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Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
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.' RELATED: Bodycam footage released after over 150 dogs rescued from Ogden home 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. Two Ogden men facing hundreds of charges related to animal hoarding case 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. 'Heartwarming': Community rallies to help over 150 animals rescued from Ogden home '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. Animal shelters come together to help 152 dogs rescued in Ogden 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. 152 dogs rescued from 'extremely poor' conditions in Ogden home 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. Abandoned pets are a growing problem in Utah — What local experts say '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. Two Utahns who took in dogs from Ogden hoarding situation share their stories 48 puppies flown from overcrowded Arizona shelter to Utah Motorcyclist killed in crash on State Street in Sandy Warmer temperatures settling across the Beehive state Kona Grill dishes up delicious options to treat mom on Mother's Day Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ogden man faces 637 misdemeanor charges after 156 dogs removed from his home
The man who lived at the Ogden home where authorities found and removed 156 dogs last month now faces several hundred misdemeanor counts in the case. Ogden city prosecutors on Wednesday filed 637 charges against Miguel Salgado-Vargas, 73, related to mishandling and mistreatment of animals. The charges are all class B misdemeanors, filed in Ogden City Justice Court. Ogden and other animal services officers removed 156 dogs from Salgado-Vargas' home in the 3000 block of Jefferson Avenue on April 15 after receiving a report of possible neglect. Charging papers don't offer any sort of narrative about the removal or what led to it, and representatives from the Ogden City Prosecutor's Office didn't immediately respond to a query Wednesday seeking comment. But Ogden police have said the dog owner was cooperative when authorities removed the dogs and relinquished ownership. In 2012, Ogden authorities removed 149 dogs from Salgado-Vargas' Jefferson Avenue home, the same place where the 156 dogs were discovered on April 15, according to KSL-TV. He didn't face charges at the time. Now the man faces 169 counts of cruelty to animals, 169 counts of failing to properly maintain an animal, 149 counts of failing to get a rabies vaccination for an animal, and 149 counts of maintaining an unlicensed animal. He faces a single count of maintaining a kennel on his property without first getting a permit. Charging papers don't identify an attorney for Salgado-Vargas, who's to make his first appearance in court in the case on July 15. Class B misdemeanors are punishable by up to six months in jail and fines of up to $1,000. As for the dogs, they were initially housed at the Weber County Animal Services shelter in Ogden. Weber County Commissioner Sharon Bolos said all but 10 have been taken by other animal rescue organizations and shelters for care and possible adoption. The Humane Society of Utah took 45 of the critters the week after they were removed from the Ogden home. All the dogs removed — which included smaller mixed-breed Chihuahuas and poodles — were found to be in fairly good health, according to Bolos. The 10 still at the Weber County Animal Services shelter, operated by the county, need more socialization to get them used to being around people. The influx of animals initially overwhelmed the Ogden shelter, but Bolos said operations are normalizing. In fact, the publicity surrounding the removal of the 156 dogs caused an uptick in adoptions and the shelter is now operating below capacity. 'A lot of people have come to the shelter and picked up a new pet. Our numbers are down, so that's been helpful,' Bolos said.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The 156 dogs removed from an Ogden house are starting to find new homes
The 156 dogs removed from an Ogden house last week are starting to find new homes and owners. The Humane Society of Utah took 45 of the animals from Weber County Animal Services, and as of midday Thursday had found new homes for 22 of the critters. 'People are coming in to adopt,' said Guinn Shuster, director of marketing and communications for the Humane Society, based in Murray. The backstory of the animals — they were found crowded in a home on Jefferson Avenue, repeating a similar episode that happened at the same location in 2012 — seems to have motivated some of the adopters, she said. The Humane Society will still have dogs available in the next week or two, though, she thinks. Meantime, whether the prior owner of the animals, who has not been publicly named, faces repercussions remains to be seen. Ogden police say they've completed their investigation, and representatives from the Ogden City Prosecutor's Office didn't respond to a query on Thursday seeking comment on the matter. The owner was cooperative with authorities when they removed the dogs on April 15 and has relinquished ownership. The remaining 111 dogs will likely be sent to other shelters so they can be put up for adoption, Shuster said, while an adoption event and fundraiser is set for Sunday, April 27, at Scooter's Coffee at 1085 12th St. in Marriott-Slaterville in support of Weber County Animal Services. It will go from 8 a.m. to noon. 'This event isn't just about adoptions, it's about recognizing the shelter's commitment, helping them continue their amazing work and mission, and bringing the community together to say thank you,' said Mark Berger, the Scooter's owner. A statement on the event said that while most of the dogs removed on April 15 aren't yet ready for adoption, 'many other loving dogs and cats are available now.' If they get new homes, it will free up space for Weber Animal Services' ongoing efforts with the influx of canines. Caring for the 156 animals overloaded the shelter's facilities and prompted many workers to do double duty. Melanie Jensen, of the shelter, said the outpouring of support from the community in the wake of the discovery of the dogs has been overwhelming. The shelter particularly needs cat food and other cat items, but welcomes food and things for dogs at Sunday's donation drive. 'Our team and so many volunteers have been working nonstop to care for these animals, and events like this mean so much,' Jensen said. As for the dogs at the Humane Society of Utah in Murray, Shuster said they are all around 10 pounds or less and appear to be poodle and Chihuahua mixes. 'These cuties have been through a lot, and many are a bit nervous about making new friends. They are going to need very special adopters who are willing to work with them and help them to become the best dogs they can be,' reads a Humane Society Facebook post. The Humane Society animals up for adoption are vaccinated and have received medical attention. Some were groomed and 'might have funky haircuts' to deal with hair matting, Shuster said. In 2012, Ogden authorities removed 149 dogs from the same home where the 156 dogs were discovered on April 15.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Weber County Animal Services staffers get outpouring of support in caring for 150-plus dogs
As efforts proceed to examine the 150-plus small dogs removed this week from an Ogden home, many organizations and well-wishers have pitched in to help Weber County Animal Services staffers contend with the situation. "The community partners are really coming through," Weber County Commissioner Sharon Bolos said Thursday. "The community has just come through in an amazing way and made this bearable." While the examinations of the dogs continues ahead of putting them up for adoption or foster placement, Bolos said the canines seem to be in relatively good shape given the circumstances. She visited the county-owned Weber County Animal Services facility in Ogden and saw the animals, none of which had to be euthanized. "They're fairly healthy," she said, adding that she thinks most will ultimately be adoptable. They're all smaller, mixed-breed dogs. Ogden police were tipped off to the presence of a multitude of dogs at a home in the 3000 block of Jefferson Avenue and removed them in an operation that started Tuesday evening and extended into the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Authorities originally reported 152 dogs, but Ogden Police Lt. William Farr said the count is actually 156. The owner of the dogs, cooperative when authorities showed up at his home on Tuesday, has relinquished ownership to Weber County Animal Services and Weber County, Farr said. He also said the police probe into the matter is complete, with the case now in the hands of prosecutors. "I expect that we'll probably know more by ... the beginning or middle of next week, as far as what charges and if they choose to pursue charges at this point," he said. Farr wouldn't offer any additional details about the former dog owner, but the home where the animals were recovered was the site of a similar operation in 2012. At that time, Ogden animal officials removed 149 dogs from the home, many or most of them Chihuahuas, according to a news report at the time. Brenda Gordon, now living in Oregon, worked with the man with the 149 dogs in 2012. She was operator of an Ogden animal rescue operation at the time. "He really does love the dogs and he puts his heart, his soul and everything" in to their care, she said. However, he didn't have the income back in 2012 to spay or neuter the animals or otherwise give them the care they needed. The turn of events this week has pulled at the heartstrings of animal lovers and others and prompted an outpouring of support. The Humane Society of Utah on Thursday took some of the dogs from the Weber County Animal Services facility to assist in examining, vaccinating, spaying and neutering the critters. Likewise, the Golden Bark Foundation, Friends of Weber County Animal Services and others donated their assistance, animal supplies and food for Weber County Animal Services staffers as they deal with the influx of animals. "We put out a call on social media to recruit, specifically, funds to buy the staff food and energy drinks ... while they're working all these long extra shifts," said Seth Schilling. She's the executive director of Golden Bark, which focuses on providing foster care for older dogs. A post Thursday on the Weber County Animal Services Facebook page noted help from a pair of veterinarians. "Also, our wonderful foster coordinators came in to help us get started on giving some baths with flea shampoo! They also picked up tons of donations for us. We couldn't be more thankful for them donating this time to us and the animals!" reads the post. Schilling, who got a quick glimpse of the animals on Wednesday, said the dogs will likely need grooming and nail trims in addition to medical evaluations before they can be put up for adoption. She suspects other animal rescue organizations will assist in caring for the animals and finding them homes. As is, Bolos said the Weber County Animal Services office is packed, with the recent arrivals placed in the facility's storage spaces and garage. Lisa Peterson, a volunteer with Mountain Mama Pyrs and Pups, a rescue organization, was aiding in efforts to process the many dogs and thinks some could be put up for adoption as early as next week. She lives near the Jefferson Avenue home where the 156 dogs were removed and stumbled upon the rescue scene Tuesday as it unfolded. Contributing: Mike Anderson
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Animal shelters come together to help 152 dogs rescued in Ogden
OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — On Tuesday night, police removed 152 dogs from a home in Ogden. All those dogs were sent to Weber County Animal Services, putting strain on an already full shelter. However, the shelter is now emptying some of its kennels thanks to some helping hands. A handful of other shelters stepped up and now have more than one-third of those dogs. The shelters will take care of them until they are ready to be fostered or adopted. While ABC4 was not permitted to film in the area the dogs from the hoarding situation are being held at Weber County Animal Services, the shelter did provide a few pictures of what some of them look like. All are small dogs. Some appear like they may be some kind of chihuahua mix. While dozens are now being taken care of elsewhere, the majority remain at the shelter. 'Some of it's just kind of a waiting game to see what we can do with the dogs,' stated Animal Care & Community Outreach Coordinator Bailey May. '[We're waiting to see] which dogs we can move and what medical care they need.' 'Do you know, roughly, how many you've moved so far?' ABC4's Kade Garner asked. 'At least 46 for today so far,' responded May. 'South Ogden took quite a few last night but I can't remember the exact number. We should have some more leaving this afternoon or tomorrow.' Along with other shelters stepping into help, May said they've also had people donate their time, including a veterinarian. She emphasized the importance of their volunteers by saying that the shelter would not have opened to the public on time Thursday afternoon if it weren't for the people who helped clean kennels all morning. The shelter has also had a huge outpouring of community donations. 'Our front door was filled with donations this morning, our lobby was filled, and USPS dropped off a ton of Amazon packages this morning,' she explained. May said that all donations are welcome, but if a person wants to know what the shelter needs the most, the Amazon wish list on the shelter's Facebook page is the best place to look. Even with the help of other shelters, many of the dogs will have to stay put. 'Some of these hoarding dogs are not ready to go anywhere,' May said. 'They need more care before they're ready to leave, so fostering the dogs we already have here frees up so much space and we have such amazing dogs right.' That is exactly what brought Kathy Dobrowolski to the shelter Thursday afternoon. 'They need people to foster so much,' Dobrowolski told ABC4. She was there looking to foster a Pomeranian mix named Sparky. She recently fostered a dog, which was adopted two weeks ago, for the first time. 'It was so rewarding to get her out of the shelter and let her be free and in a home and just decompress,' she added. Dobrowolski encourages others to look into fostering as well. Bailey May told ABC4 that every dog's situation is different, so they won't all be up for adoption at the same time. The goal is to have the first dogs ready for adoption by April 21st. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
