West Valley Animal Shelter — Local services in West Valley City

My husband and I found a small chihuaua in our back yard who was scared, with no tag. We took her in, fed her, walked around to all the neighbors looking for her family. No one recognized her. I posted her on all forms of social media, with pictures trying to find her family. My husband tried to take her to the shelter on Friday around 3 pm they were closed. He took her to the vet and she had no chip and the humane society wouldnt take her either. After our efforts, it was later in the evening and the shelter was closed. By law we are required to take the dog to the shelter within 24 hours. She slept with us in our bed with our other dog, and we gave her a wonderful safe place to be. Saturday morning I drove her to the West Valley humane society. All of the doors were locked and there was a sign saying they were closed for labor day. I saw a staff member in the facility so I knocked on the door loudly till she came. Initially she shook her head at me motioning that they were closed. I yelled through the door that I needed help and this wasnt my dog and I found her. Eventually she came to the door. Again, told me they were closed and they couldnt take anyone in until Tuesday (after labor day). I asked the staff member what they wanted me to do and she said to call animal control and they could bring her in. At this point I strongly pointed out that there is no difference between animal control bringing her in and me being with her there now. She let me know she couldn't take any inbound dogs because they were taking care of the other dogs. I strongly voiced that I had a dog right there in my arms that needed their help as well. Finally the staff member said okay and brought me in. I filled out the paperwork and they took the sweet little chihuaua. The only reason I am giving 2 stars instead of 1 is because she eventually took the pup after i insisted that it was their job. The shelter being closed during labor day for adoptions, vet visits things like that is understandable. But, when you have a lost pet that needs shelter and you have staff there already - turning away an animal is unacceptable. There is no difference then animal control picking up the animal, or a caring dog lover citizen who is trying to help the animal. That is the purpose of an animal SHELTER and your funding comes from the government which is funded by citizen taxes there for your...

Tried for 3 days to adopt a dog that was available. Apparently that supervisor kathy was holding it for a friend or relative or worse, because the one lady said the dog was available and she cut her if saying it was still sick and hadn't been cleared yet. Found it they adopted it out right after i tried again on the second day. Came back for a 3rd day and it was gone. Kathy said they don't hold dogs for people to adopt. Yet reading the other reviews they do, or are supposed to. her obvious lies about the puppy still being sick and she can't adopt it it till it was better. . Subordinate already told me it was adoptable. How can someone like that be allowed to supervise pet adoptions? She told me to call back the first day, she said that then wouldn't answer the phone. I went down personally and she wouldn't hold it for me and didn't allow me to adopt when he was clear to go. And this isn't the only the place i intend to go with this. That lady shouldn't be allowed to be in charge of a adoptions if she's holding them for friends or brokering the dogs. She's doing one or the other. After reading the rest of these reviews I'm more inclined to believe she's illegally selling them. Do you people ever check to in these people?! Whatever she was doing i sincerely doubt it was legal or appropriate with her position.joi

In response to your response. I have a house, no violations of ANY KIND PERIOD! The dog was ready and she was deliberately hiding for someone else or doing something with it. Don't try and change it to try make yourselves look good. What she was doing was improper and you know it. That was the best you could come up with in 2 months? By the way i did talk to her. She couldn't even give me the same story twice. Try again. And like i said. Mine's not the only complaint on here. Oh by the way, the humane society had no problem with me. I suggest, you take another look at...

We went to go adopt a puppy here. This ended with a member of the staff hanging that puppy by his neck via leash and collar. They insist you bring your dog(s) in to meet the new dog which is great and all but they have no facilities for the dogs to meet comfortably. They shove you, your entire family and your dog(s), with the new dog in an 8x8 cinderblock room. This made our dog nervous because she is a rescue and spent a lot of time in shelters. We are new to introducing dogs to each other so we were asking for tips and the staff was completely unhelpful and ignored our questions. We were trying to make it a positive experience for both dogs by giving them treats. We're still learning here. We have done a lot of research on the matter but we needed some guidance from the staff who should be familiar with helping dogs meet each other. Unfortunately the food was a bad idea because our dog thought the puppy was stealing her treats and she got aggressive when the staff member promptly hung the poor little guy buy his collar. Admittedly, we now realize we need to socialize our dog better before we get another dog. That said, you'd think the staff would know enough about dogs to recommend not using treats or at least be able to help us make the dogs comfortable. I asked if they would get used to each other and the staff wouldn't even look at us and stormed off with the puppy. Sorry we adopted a dog that was abandoned and probably abused for the first few years of her life. She needs a friend and the staff here treated us and our dog like monsters. We are getting her some more training but we expect far better expertise and customer service from this place. (see picture for a peek at our vicious...