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The Tooele County Landfill is trying to make the public aware of a dumping problem. It's not the trash they're concerned about; it's the dozens of pets being left there to die.
The usual sights and sounds at the local dump are becoming much more unusual in Tooele. Where are they coming from? Rayda Tegen, the office manager of the Tooele County landfill said, "We have no idea. One day we had a rooster." A rooster and cats, lots of them.
Janell Clement, who works at the landfill, said, "It's really sad to see these cute little babies out here. And they're sick and starving to death. It's horrible."
Clement and Tegen say the landfill has become a place where people dump their unwanted pets. "If we saw the people dumping them we would have them arrested. It's against the law," Tegen said.
But the problem is only getting worse; new animals are spotted on a weekly basis. Some of them are born right in the trash. "I've taken several home, actually," Clement said.
Kittens like Star and Monkey were found with their umbilical cords still attached, their faces were swollen with infection. Clement said, "So I took them home, and we had to bottle-feed them every two hours."
People have been dumping their unwanted pets there for quite some time; but now, along with the other animals, they estimate they have about 50 cats, and they say the conditions are nearly impossible for any animal to survive. Animals are often run over by heavy equipment. They eat rotten food, which makes them sick.
Despite efforts from landfill workers, finding homes for 15 to 20 cats is just not enough. "Get them fixed. If you don't want your pet, take it to a shelter," Tegen said.
The Tooele County Landfill doesn't see dogs very often. With the exception of the rooster, the cats are their biggest concern, and they continue to breed.
E-mail: wjohnson@ksl.com
