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WEST VALLEY CITY — The West Valley Animal Shelter is open by appointment only. Families have to look at their potential new pets online before coming in, but that isn’t getting in the way of the number of adoptions happening there.
The inside of the animal shelter was mostly empty, but each day, people like Ana Anderson still come through. She’s looking for her next companion, which she said is very important in giving her comfort after her other dog died.
“It’s another Shih Tzu! That’s what I said I wanted, another Shih Tzu,” Anderson said.
Animal Services Director Maranda Weathermon said matches like these are being made
They only have two adoptable dogs, and there’s a small waiting list for each of them.
That’s why the West Valley Animal Shelter is now taking in animals from other shelters to try and help them out.
Weathermon said a number of factors are coming together here. Some families are getting an early jump on that summertime adoption. And simply the fact that so many people are home — it makes a good opportunity to housebreak a pet.
Weathermon said she’s never seen a time like this in 20 years of working in animal welfare.
They’ve had 97 adoptions over March and April. That leaves them with just a handful of kittens and a couple of bunnies. The dog adoption kennels are empty.
“Oh my gosh, it’s so exciting,” Weathermon said. “My staff is in good spirits. We’re all extremely happy that our animals are going to homes.”
Where they’d normally have 40 to 60 dogs, there was a handful in the back that just arrived from other shelters Thursday, and only a few strays.
To make sure all those adoptions stick, Weathermon said they’re counseling with those new families early.
“We’re making sure we’re discussing what the future holds for their new animal, what it looks like when they go home, what it looks like when people start going back to work,” Weathermon said.
For Anderson, it doesn’t take much convincing.
“The face is amazing, and he’s going to sleep in the bed with me,” Anderson said.
Weathermon said they’re also asking questions to be sure families are ready to make that commitment before they walk out the door, and that they’re building connections that will last.
“They give you a lot of love, and that’s the only thing they want,” she said.
For any pet owners who may be struggling, the shelter here has a program that can help with food, and ideally keeping those pets from being surrendered.
