Salt Lake Co. animal shelters are full; staff pleading for help from the community

SALT LAKE COUNTY — Salt Lake County Animal Services is sending out a plea to the community to foster, volunteer and adopt because the shelter is full. 

Following Independence Day and fireworks celebrations, the shelter took in around 30 animals.

Alright, fellow animal lovers! ❤️

We all know tails can only wag for so long, especially while waiting for their furever homes.

The Salt Lake County Animal Services are slammed FULL.

(These are 3 of the fur babies up for adoption.) 🐶

@SLCoAnimals @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/BDtXBHxD3h

— Karah Brackin (@KB_ON_TV) July 6, 2022

Tails can only wag for so long, especially when waiting in a shelter for their forever homes. 

Randee Leuker, rescue and event coordinator for Salt Lake County Animal Services, said this is the fullest the animal shelter has been in several years. 

“They all wanna go home,” she said.

All 84 dog kennels are packed more than full, even doubling up in some cases. 

Currently, there are 110 dogs looking for their forever human. 

“There’s more than usual. We haven’t been this full in probably at least five to eight years,” Leuker said. “We’re seeing a lot more animals come in.”

And, we can’t forget about the kitties! 🐱

From the 3 Musketeers (pictured), adult and senior cats, they’re all looking for homes.

All 256 of them. @KSL5TV @SLCoAnimals pic.twitter.com/zrwgKAiB9W

— Karah Brackin (@KB_ON_TV) July 6, 2022

In addition to dogs, a chorus of meows are looking for their forever homes, too. 

Right now, 256 cats are up for adoption. 

Plus, a lot of guinea pigs: 54 to be exact. 

“Adoption rates are slowing down a bit, too,” Leuker said.

She said while some of the animals are found and brought in as strays, there’s been a recent uptick in surrenders, largely due to the economic downturn hitting pet owners’ wallets. 

The need to keep tails wagging ever greater.

“We’re putting out a plea to the community — rescue, foster and adopt if you have room,” Leuker said.

I should also add they have guinea pigs.

LOTS of Guinea pigs looking for homes.

54 total.

(I’ve never been inside a room of that many together!)@KSL5TV @Derek_Photog @SLCoAnimals pic.twitter.com/O35SrDVWiX

— Karah Brackin (@KB_ON_TV) July 6, 2022

Through the end of July, Salt Lake County Animal Services is adopting out animals 50% off. 

The shelter is also pushing people missing their pet to check the shelter in person as the website may not be updated with their missing pets’ picture yet. 

The shelter said they are extremely short staffed and are hiring.