FARMINGTON—Animal Care of Davis County has been inundated by a large number of dogs and cats and is in need of the public’s help for some relief. The facility has seen an increase of 100 dogs since last year with more than 200 brought in last month.

“We’re in pretty dire need for people to step up and come and adopt,” said Ashliegh Young, Director Animal Care. “We also have 120 cats. We’re very full. With COVID and inflation people are struggling to take care of their pets.”

In an effort to bring awareness to the need, the Davis County Sheriff's Office, local law enforcement and firefighters held a friendly competition last week, Davis County Cops vs Firefighters Pet Adoption event to see who was better at getting these pets adopted. 

“Multiple forces took dogs out in patrol cars,” said Young; “They posted pictures on social media and encouraged people to adopt or foster.”

For those who are not able to adopt they can volunteer,” she said. “They can take dogs out for a walk or there’s fostering. We have a summer camp for two weeks where they can bring their family out and take trick classes, pictures and engage the family so kids can help with the pets.”

A recent program Pet Finder helps reunite pets with their families. “Finder and fostering has been essential,” Young said. “Either the finder adopts the pet or we get them back home. It would be more difficult if we didn’t have that program.”

A new facility is in the works that will more than double its size. “It’s 11,000 square feet and the new one will be 32,000 square feet,” she said. “It will be a lot bigger with more capacity.”

Right now the kennel is one giant room, Young said. “This will give us eight rooms that will help prevent illness transfer and stress. It can handle 130 dogs, a lot more than is currently available.”

A Kaysville firefighter makes a new friend at the Davis County Cops vs Firefighters Pet Adoption event. Courtesy photo.

It’s still in the planning stage, she said. “The commission has secured a model for funding. It will be discussed in a work session in two weeks.”

In addition to the new facility, the commission recently passed an ordinance restricting where pets can be sold, said Young. “There is a huge concern for the welfare of the animals. People can’t sell animals at places like a swap meet or the Walmart parking lot. People get a pet when they’re not prepared, they just happen to be there.”

Pet stores can’t sell puppies that haven’t come from a rescue organization, she said. “Animals at Petco and PetSmart are all from rescue organizations. They have to have their rabies and other shots. There are a lot of things you have to go through to be a seller.”

Kaysville had the ordinance and this makes it countywide, said Young. “They noticed people were selling doodles and they were not doing any health testing or proper check ups. Oftentimes people are doing it for profit.” 

Young said she does feel that breeders have a place. “Often we don’t have that type of dog but come and check with us. We’ve had an unprecedented number of purebred dogs that historically you wouldn’t expect.”

There are less good outcomes for dogs when the shelter is so full, she said. “We’re trying to go to other partners but they’re as full as we are. The only way out is help from the community through foster and adoption.”