For residents of Bountiful, the Animal Care of Davis County serves as a critical resource for managing lost and found pets. The facility manages a variety of services designed to reunite owners with their animals and provide care for those currently in the shelter's custody. According to the agency's own website, the organization aims to support and enhance the goals of the shelter and enrich the lives of the animals under its care.
When a pet goes missing, the agency provides a digital platform to help reunite owners with their lost pets. Residents can complete an online form that includes owner information, such as name, email, phone number, and address, alongside specific animal details. This information includes the animal's name, gender, size, age, breed, color, and hair length. The agency uses these details to populate its webpage and social media outlets to alert the public. If a pet is recovered, owners are asked to contact the agency to update records and remove the lost notice from the website.
The agency also assists those who have found stray animals. According to the agency's website, if a person is unable to promptly locate an animal's owner, they can call the facility for available options. This includes participation in the Friendly Finder program. Similar to the lost animal process, finders can submit reports online including the animal's gender, size, breed, and whether the animal is microchipped.
The facility has faced significant challenges regarding animal intake volumes. According to the agency's volunteer information page, the shelter saw unprecedented numbers of dogs entering its care in April 2023, with over 200 dogs arriving. In May 2023, the agency served over 150 medium or large dogs that were either found as strays or relinquished. These numbers are notable because the average capacity for dogs at the facility is approximately 55 pets.
Because of these high volumes, the Animal Care of Davis County relies heavily on community assistance. The agency is in desperate need of volunteers to assist with specific tasks. According to the agency's volunteer page, there is a need for assistance with dog walking, temporary caregivers, and adopters. Those interested in helping can sign up through the county's volunteer portal to support the shelter's mission of caring for the animals in its facility.
What this means for Bountiful
Bountiful residents facing pet emergencies can utilize the agency's digital tools to report lost or found animals. Furthermore, because the shelter often operates beyond its average capacity of 55 dogs due to high intake numbers, community members can directly support the facility by volunteering as dog walkers, temporary caregivers, or adopters.
