They've been abandoned, and now their shelter's been abandoned, too.
But the Humane Society of Utah says Lehi's decision to quit using its animal shelter is a move in the right direction.The shelter in Lehi has been inadequate for years, said Chief Inspector John Paul Fox, who routinely investigates cruelty complaints and inspects community shelters. Complaints go back to 1972 about the wire pens and shed at 7550 N. 7800 West, ranging from discovery of a carcass of a destroyed dog outside the shelter to a "lack of tactfulness" on the part of some animal control officers.
Originally, animals were kept in a series of wire pens on the land by the old sewer plant and shot and buried on the property. In later years, the animals were also housed in a storage building nearby, but cats were either immediately killed or put in with the dogs because there were no separate facilities for felines.
Fox said the society at one time took Lehi's animals into its shelter in Kearns at no cost and that it's offered more than once to train Lehi animal control officers in lethal injection methods to replace shooting.
The latest complaint was made in writing to Lehi Police Chief Karl Zimmerman in 1994 over poor sanitation at the shelter and inadequate heating. Inspections showed that animal feces were being washed down the stairs into the basement at the shelter and animals were basically left on their own most of the time. Fox said the society was concerned about disease control as well.
Zimmerman consequently appealed to the City Council in August of 1994 to demolish the shelter, citing "desperate need" of replacement.
Fox said he was informed after that time that regular cleaning was taking place and overcrowding was being controlled.
Tuesday, Orem officials agreed that animals without a home in the Lehi area can now go to Orem's shelter. Lehi will pick up the bill for a share of the costs instead of trying to maintain a local shelter.
For $997.46 a month, Orem will accept up to 800 animals a year from Lehi and house, feed and euthanize them as appropriate.
Proposed contracts have been going back and forth between the cities since last September.
The final document assigns Lehi officials the responsibility of notifying the owners of any animals brought into the Orem facility and the job of transporting animals to Orem.
The monthly fee is subject to revision each year as the contract comes up for renewal.
Zimmerman said the shelter Lehi has been using was "temporary 20 years ago." Zimmerman said the change will benefit the city and the animals.
The cities of Lindon, Alpine and Highland already contract with Orem to take care of their strays. Pleasant Grove City is working on an agreement, officials said.
Orem Police Chief Jay Carey told the City Council on May 6 that the Orem shelter takes in 4,000 animals annually.
Carey, who's stepping down in two weeks as chief, said the costs to operate the shelter are fixed, so the fees from outside cities represent a net gain for Orem.
"This won't cost our taxpayers a thing," Carey said.
"At present, the additional animals won't require an expansion of the facility either," he said.
Fox is afraid Orem is underestimating the demand that will be placed on the Orem shelter. "I think it's going to create a bigger burden than they think," he said. "I really think there needs to be a north Utah County facility built."