Salt Lake County shelter workers say $1.6M grant will save pets' lives

SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds more kittens and puppies will find loving homes in the upcoming months thanks to a $1.6 million donation from the Boyce Foundation, Salt Lake County officials announced Tuesday.

The Ronald N. and Coral Darlene Boyce estate donated $750,000 in January to create a pet adoption endowment fund for Salt Lake County Animal Services. Tuesday's surprise disbursement of $825,000 brings the total donation to approximately $1.6 million.

The money will cover staffing and expenses such as adoption programs at the animal shelter — all with the goal of finding responsible owners for pets.

"This is such a large donation," said Shawni Larrabee, Salt Lake County Animal Services director. "It really increases the possibilities."

Ronald Boyce was a federal judge who lived in Salt Lake City. He passed away in 2007, and Coral Darlene Boyce died in 2008.

The new endowment fund will be funneled into any program that helps animals leave the shelter alive, including adoptions and reuniting pets with their owners.

Larrabee said the funding is appreciated even more in this time of economic challenges. The county's animal services budget has been tight during the past two years, yet live release rates have been maintained, Larrabee said.

"We're dealing with animals' lives," she said. "There is a harsh negative outcome if we can't achieve our goals. That puts a lot of pressure on us."

Through May, the county animal services' live release rate for dogs is 89 percent — up 8.5 percent from 2008. The state average through May is 80 percent, compared with 76 percent in 2008, according to data gathered by the Best Friends Animal Society.

For cats, the county shelter's live release rate is 68 percent since May, up 79 percent since 2008 when the rate was 38 percent. The state average through May is 41 percent, up from 34 percent in 2008.

Salt Lake County Animal Services takes in between 10,000 and 11,000 animals each year, including about 5,000 cats and 5,000 dogs. Other animals taken in include rabbits, birds and reptiles.

The county shelter is at 511 W. 3900 South. For more information, call 801-559-1100 or go to www.adoptutahpets.com.

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