A female pit bull came to Salt Lake County Animal Services in September 2022 after her owner was charged with animal abuse.
Two and a half years later, that dog has spent more than half her life at the shelter, because Utah law views animals as property and requires pets to stay at local animal shelters until animal cruelty cases are resolved.
But under HB461, sponsored by Verona Mauga, D-West Valley City, a judge could allow pets at the center of abuse cases to go to foster families or be adopted by new owners, easing overcrowding at animal shelters across the state.
“We think this is a great bill; it gets the animals out of the shelter faster that are victims of animal cruelty or those types of crimes,” Salt Lake County Animal Services Executive Director Talia Butler said during a County Council meeting last month. “Way better for our staff; it saves money.”
Mauga’s bill would also hold convicted animal abusers accountable for the expenses associated with the seized pet, such as medical bills and food costs.
Shelters and taxpayers currently foot the bill for mistreated animals, Mauga added. And at a rate of about $20 a day per animal, one animal can cost $7,300 per year, said Brett Robinson, a senior attorney at the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
“It’s a sad day when the shelter is a better environment than a person’s home,” Salt Lake County Animal Services field manager Karl Carpenter said. “We’re trying to empty the shelters; these prolonged stays … it’s not good for the health or well-being of the animal, which is our priority.”
HB461 passed through the House on Friday and has not yet been voted on in the Senate.
