Weber County Utah
Animal Services | Posted 03-05-2025
Weber County Animal Services (WCAS) has partnered with Best Friends Animal Society to improve efficiency and disease prevention while prioritizing the safety of staff and animals.
As a no-kill animal shelter, WCAS is proud to be a network partner with Best Friends, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting animal welfare and pet adoption. Now, after an assessment of the animal shelter in November of 2024, that partnership is evolving to collaboratively address prevalent issues, such as an increase in animal intake and sickness.
“We anticipate that Weber County’s partnership with Best Friends Animal Society will greatly benefit our staff and the animals in our care,” Sharon Bolos, Weber County commissioner, said. “Best Friends has resources and expert procedures to provide additional veterinary care and transfer animals in and out of the shelter more efficiently, which will reduce the burden on our staff.”
Best Friends is working with WCAS to improve procedures for animal evaluations and intake quarantines so they are available for adoption sooner, which can decrease overcrowding and the risk of disease exposure and transmission. Best Friends’ procedures for “fast track” animals also identify pathways for animals that could be adopted or transferred quickly out of the shelter.
Additionally, WCAS and Best Friends are looking at ways to reduce the feral cat intake at the animal shelter by increasing spay and neuter services.
"Utah is so close to becoming the first no-kill state in the West, and by partnering with Weber County Animal Services we can ensure they're supported to achieve their lifesaving goals," Holly Sizemore, Best Friends Animal Society chief mission officer, said. "We know that collaboration is the key to success. The procedures the team is already working to implement will impact how the shelter operates moving forward to help the shelter positively impact even more cats and dogs."
Weber County has responded to numerous concerns regarding the animal shelter and is working diligently to address these concerns. The County appreciates the community support to provide the best possible care to the animals at the shelter. The County is also committed to better communication about the animal shelter and its purpose in the community.