Cache County Sheriff Chad Jensen checking out a dog recently cleared for adoption at the new County Animal Shelter, April 7, 2023. (Photo: Will Feelright)
LOGAN — After years of planning, months of construction and some lengthy equipment delays, the Cache County Sheriff’s Office new animal impound facility is open. The building, just east of the Sheriff’s Office Complex, will shelter all animals impounded by local city and county officials.
Sheriff Chad Jensen said the facility is long overdue as the county has grown. Plans for the building started after the Cache Humane Society announced three years ago that they would stop taking impound animals.
“The cities are all a part of the making and creation of this facility,” said Jensen. “All the animal control officers are bringing their impounded animals to this facility. So it will be one place for the public to go find their dogs. We are already doing a great job with adoptions, people can come find pets if they want to adopt. It is just going to be one central location valley-wide that every community is going to be a part of.”
The 11,000 square-foot facility houses administrative offices and kennels for impounded dogs and cats. It also includes medical treatment facilities, staffed by New Vision Veterinary, a non-profit organization.
The county broke ground on the facility in 2021. It was projected to open last May but experienced several delays. Construction crews struggled to get an HVAC unit for the building and concrete for the parking lot. There was also delays locating utility appliances.
Jensen said they picked the wrong year to build something, but after 10 months of delays they are now open for the county. He said this will hopefully simplify the process of impounding animals and returning them to their owners.
“The public is always welcome to come down and take a tour. We want everyone to know what we are about and what we are doing. We are an impound facility, we are not a shelter or rescue. The sheriff’s office and the county part of this is to provide a public safety impound facility.”
The facility will primarily house impounded dogs and cats, however animal control officers have recently been called to collect other animals, including goats, a parrot and exotic pets.
Director of the facility, Charlotte Smith said once an animal is impounded, they will be checked out by medical staff and then housed for at least five business days.
“Our website will have a list of the lost animals where people can see if their dog is here and they can always come down and check. If the animal is microchipped, we will do everything we can to locate the owner and call them right away.”
If the animal is unclaimed after the state mandated, five day period, it will become property of the county and will go up for adoption.
Jensen said their goal is for the facility to be self-sustaining. They are already looking at adding a corral behind the building for larger farm animals that deputies often deal with.