How Stevie Licks, among 100 dogs rescued from a Utah house, found her dream home

The chihuahuas sat huddled closely together, sharing beds and timidly shivering as they met the eyes of those looking into their kennels at Salt Lake County Animal Services.

Rescued from a home in Salt Lake City’s Avenues neighborhood just over a week ago, the dogs likely had never seen anything outside the house before, said Ashley Bales, animal services communications coordinator.

More than 100 chihuahua or chihuahua-like dogs were taken from the house, she said. Animal service workers also rescued a tortoise, which Bales said has been reclaimed by its owner.

Throughout the week, groups of the little dogs have been released to the adoption floor.

Krista Flink said she, her fiancé and their three daughters were able to visit the facility last week in hopes of meeting a dog that could help relieve their miniature schnauzer’s anxiety.

They initially went to meet a different dog. But they were approached by one that animal services had dubbed Vivi, though the family would soon give her a new name: Stevie Licks.

“It was clear she was the one for us,” Flink said. “It felt like the perfect opportunity to give a home to a dog who really needed one.”

According to Flink, Stevie Licks has been showing more and more of her personality, cuddling and burrowing without a sense of personal boundaries — and displaying a remarkable ability to jump into anything, including the sink or hamper.

Before dogs like Stevie Licks are available for adoption, Bales said, they first must go through a process with animal services staff and volunteers that often is overlooked by the public.

After the dogs are recovered and delivered to the animal facility, each one must be entered into the agency’s system and get a health assessment, Bales said.

The agency may also reach out to other groups for help, if needed. In this case, Bales said, the Humane Society of Utah took around 20 dogs that were rescued from the Avenues house, as well as others that had been at the shelter, to free up kennel space.

Bales said the dogs also needed to be spayed or neutered before being adopted. Agency staff were able to get 18 dogs onto the adoption floor each day, she said. The dogs are available for new families to adopt on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Big kudos to all of our staff from officers to clinic to our adoptions team,” Bales said. “And then also our volunteers and fosters, because they stepped up, I mean, in a blink of an eye to meet us here and be ready for the littles.”

The animal services facility also asks the public to help provide items, like treats and puppy formula, from its Amazon wishlist.

Bales said Tuesday said a tip from a neighbor alerted the agency to the Avenues house. She would not discuss the condition of the house when the dogs were found.

Initially, Bales said, 97 dogs and a tortoise were found inside the house. After setting some traps inside, animal services staff found more, and went back in several times to rescue them, she said.

An investigation is still going on, Bales said.

Flink said it was inspiring to see how much love and care the shelter staff gave the dogs.

“It made us feel confident that these dogs were getting the second chance they deserved,” she said.

On her first night in her new home, Flink said, Stevie Licks cuddled up with the family’s two other dogs for a nap, and woke with her tail curled and wagging. Flink said she thinks Stevie woke up hoping her new reality “wasn’t just a dream.”

Tribune reporter Samantha Moilanen contributed to this article.