History & Mission

No More Homeless Pets in Utah began in July 2000 thanks to a generous grant from Maddie's Fund, The Pet Rescue Foundation. From 2000-2005 Best Friends Animal Society acted as No More Homeless Pets in Utah's parent organization, providing financial support and mentoring so that No More Homeless Pets in Utah could become the life-saving force that it is today. An independent, non-profit 501c3 organization, No More Homeless Pets in Utah fulfills its mission by placing a strong emphasis on increasing the numbers of both adoptions and spay/neuter surgeries throughout the state. We also focus heavily on collaborating with other Utah shelters, rescue groups, veterinarians, and local governments all working to save animal lives.

No More Homeless Pets in Utah’s Mission is: To end the euthanasia of homeless dogs and cats statewide and to promote humane alternatives for feral cats.

No More Homeless Pets in Utah’s programs and 2008 goals include:

• The Big Fix mobile spay/neuter clinic- 5,000 surgeries
• Utah County Clinic- 4,000 surgeries
• Feral Fix- Trap/Neuter/Return- 2,500 surgeries
• Free Fix- Free Spay/Neuter for low-income residents- 700 surgeries
• No More Homeless Pets in Utah Adoption Program- 525 adoptions
• Super Adoptions - 750 adoptions
• Community Development- Working with local governments and other stakeholders to implement statewide collaborative, life-saving sheltering programs.

 

Program Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is No More Homeless Pets in Utah?
A. No More Homeless Pets in Utah is working to end euthanasia of homeless dogs and cats statewide. We do this via a number of various programs (link) which focus on spaying and neutering, adoptions, and creating collaborative partnerships with other agencies. The No More Homeless Pets in Utah name also refers to the paid staff and volunteers who manage and administer the program.

Q. What is No More Homeless Pets in Utah’s relationship to Best Friends Animal Society?
A. Although No More Homeless Pets in Utah is a separate non-profit organization, it maintains close ties to Best Friends Animal Society. No More Homeless Pets in Utah was formed thanks to the efforts of Best Friends and Best Friends does continue to support the program.

Q. What is No More Homeless Pets in Utah’s relationship to the California animal welfare foundation Maddie’s Fund?
A. For the first five years of its existence (ending July 2005) No More Homeless Pets in Utah received extremely generous financial support from Maddie’s Fund. Grants totaled over $9m. over the five year period. No More Homeless Pets in Utah now receives no support from Maddie’s Fund. During the grant period Madddie’s Fund required No More Homeless Pets in Utah to achieve specific goals for increased adoptions, reduced euthanasia, etc. These goals were consistently met by No More Homeless Pets in Utah.

Q. What is No More Homeless Pets in Utah’s relationship to other animal organizations in Utah?
A. During the period of the Maddie’s Fund grant, No More Homeless Pets in Utah distributed monies to qualifying independent, no-kill animal rescue agencies in Utah. Monies were distributed based on the organization’s ability to increase their adoptions during the grant period. Since the end of the Maddie’s Fund period these organizations no longer receive direct support from No More Homeless Pets in Utah.

Q. Is No More Homeless Pets in Utah trying to put pet stores and breeders out of business?
A. While we do take issue with the practices of many pet stores and breeders, we know that there are those who are reputable. However, in order to achieve the goal of ending euthanasia of homeless dogs and cats in Utah, it is necessary to aggressively promote adoption of animals from sources working to solve the problem of pet overpopulation. Because there are a finite number of good homes available to any animal, consumers can choose not to add to the demand supplied by breeders and puppy mills by choosing to open their homes to shelter pet. Taking away the demand for more puppies and kittens, will also begin to eliminate much of the irresponsible, careless, and inhumane breeding that is contributing to the tragedy of pet overpopulation.

Q. If the spay/neuter efforts are successful, is there a risk of creating a shortage of puppies and kittens?
A. Utah shelters handled more than 85,000 homeless animals in 1999, of which nearly 46,000 were euthanized. Though this number has been greatly reduced, many kittens and puppies are still euthanized annually in Utah. When No More Homeless Pets in Utah reaches its goal of finding homes for all the homeless animals in the state, while simultaneously slowing the birth rate, there will always be animals in other areas needing help. It is unlikely that a shortage of available animals will ever occur in Utah.

 

 

 

 

Our Progress

Annual Statistics

Before we began No More Homeless Pets in Utah in 2000, over 46,000 animals were euthanized in shelters throughout the state (1999 baseline). Today, that number has decreased by 30%.*

2008 Year To Date Statistics
January thru October 2008
Euthanasia reduced by 37%
Adoptions Increased by 26%
E-Metric 13.3*

2007 Statewide Adoptions
1999 = 18,137
2007 = 24,009
A 32% INCREASE!

2007 Statewide Euthanasia
1999 = 46,010
2007 = 32,776
A 29% DECREASE!*

These Statistics reflect the life-saving trends occurring statewide. No More Homeless Pets in Utah could not effectively gather and track these statistics without the efforts and assistance of many Utah municipal shelters and adoption agencies.

* NOTE: The population of Utah is increasing at approximately 2% per year. This obviously results in an increase in the number of dogs and cats in the state, and a proportional increase in the pet overpopulation problem. To get a better gauge on progress No More Homeless Pets in Utah tracks a statistic widely used as a measure of progress made in affecting pet overpopulation -- the number of animals euthanized each year per 1000 human population. We call this the E-Metric (see below).

What is the E-Metric?

The E-Metric represents the number of homeless dogs and cats euthanized in Utah's shelters annually per 1000 human population.

• In 1999, our baseline year, the E-Metric stood at 21.7
• Now it stands at 12.2 (end of 2006)
• Our goal is to bring it to 5.0, a number which represents animals euthanized only for reasons such as terminal illness/injury

The significant drop has come about through the dedicated work of many people, including many of you who are reading these words. You have achieved this by putting more energy and creativity into finding new, loving homes for stray and abandoned dogs and cats. You have achieved it by spaying and neutering more and more animals to reduce the breeding. You have achieved it by doing more than ever to let Utah know about the problem and what can be done about it.

We still have some way to go. We are more than half way to our goal. It is of course tragic that so many healthy animals have to be put to sleep daily, simply because homes are not being found for them. At No More Homeless Pets in Utah, we will continue to do everything we can to work with rescue groups, shelters, veterinarians, volunteers, and animal lovers in Utah to change this.

 

 

Employment Opportunities

Veterinarian:
Seeking a full time veterinarian for a high volume spay and neuter clinic in Orem, Utah. Exceptional opportunity to provide high quality medicine while helping to control the pet overpopulation. Fast paced low cost high volume clinic with dedicated support staff. Competitive salary, health insurance, CE allowance, association dues, license fees, paid holidays and vacation. For more information on No More Homeless Pets in Utah visit www.utahpets.org. Send resume: fax 801-364-0374, email Kalinda@utahpets.org. For more information, call Kalinda Solbes at 801-364-0370 ext 17.

 

 

Staff

Contact Info

No More Homeless Pets in Utah
324 South 400 West, Suite C
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

info@utahpets.org

Also, you can find phone numbers and e-mail addresses for specific staff members here.