Some are brought in by tearful owners who can't afford to keep them or who are moving to apartments that don't allow four-legged residents. Others are left at the door at night with a note asking that someone find the animal a good home. Some are simply abandoned in apartments by evicted tenants.
As a result, the South Salt Lake Animal Shelter is bursting at the seams and trying to adopt out its 62 cats and 22 dogs to make room for new arrivals.
"We're having to put animals in places we don't usually put them," said animal-services officer Stephanie Hyden-Leek. "There's a lot of animals coming in and a lot not being redeemed. We're thinking it's got to be the economy."
Dogs and cats have filled all the regular cages and overflowed to kennels in the lobby, the playroom and the garage. Some have been there a few days or weeks, while others have been awaiting new homes for months.
Generally, healthy, adoptable animals are not euthanized, said Hyden-Leek.
In the past, animal-rescue groups helped keep the shelter population down by putting some of the pets with their volunteers, but those organizations also have hit their limit.
Autumn Wagner, of No More Homeless Pets in Utah, said her group has so many animals in foster care - including previously adopted pets that have been returned - that it has stopped going to shelters to pick up more. Volunteers already are taking care of more than 100 cats and 30 dogs, she said.
"We've gotten a lot of returns because people are moving, and they're moving to places that don't allow animals," Wagner said. "A lot of returns are people who are suffering economically."
Ladybug, a basset hound, was returned recently by a family that adopted her five years ago but was moving and couldn't afford to keep her, she said. Cats Wyatt and Coco are in the same bind, brought back by a woman who no longer had the ability to support them after six years of ownership.
At the South Salt Lake shelter, technician Kim Record-Favor said she has found three sets of cats left at the door. Another pair, 6-year-old brothers Teddy Bear and Buddy, were recently turned in by their owner, who was moving.
And Wiggles, a tan pitbull that had been previously adopted, showed up at the door by himself earlier this month. The owner could not be traced, and the dog is available once again.
In addition to tough economic times, adoption efforts are hindered by the shelter's limited hours, necessary because the facility is short-staffed, and its location, accessible only by 2100 South and 2700 South.
While they wait for adoptions, staff members and volunteers name each animal and treat them as their own.
Most of the animals love attention. Cheeto, a calico who has lived in the shelter since April, frequently swats food onto the floor because he knows someone will come to clean it up. Dogs perk up whenever visitors walk by, wagging their tails when called by name.
Although the animals get good care at the shelter, they need to be in homes, Hyden-Leek said.
She added, "Everyone who works here has adopted their limit."
