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Show Page 8 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume III, Issue IX March 1, 2001 Adopting Pets from the Weber County Animal Shelter By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Staff According to Weber County Ordinance Title 2, Chapter 7, Section 05, “It is unlawful for any person to harbor or keep within this jurisdiction [Weber County] any lost or strayed animal. Whenever any animal shall be found which appears to be lost or strayed, it shall be the duty of the finder to notify the Weber County Animal Shelter within seventy-two (72) hours. An Animal Control Officer may take the animal into protective custody.“ Apparently, Ogden Valley seems to be a nice place to drop off unwanted pets. I have found my share of unclaimed animals since living here, and so have many of my caring neighbors. But according to the law, it is unlawful to keep them, or to try to find homes for them. I hadn’t realized that I, along with my softhearted neighbors, had been violating the law! mal if they have the chip in place. Mason also noted that many people are hesitant to turn animals into the shelter because of a misplaced fear that the animal will be euthanized. Instead, they are tempted to drop an animal off where they hope someone will adopt it. In reality, dropping a pet off is very cruel and traumatizing for a pet. The animals are more likely to be injured or killed, or to die from exposure and complications from being weakened from stress, dehydration and/or starvation. Ms. Mason said that the Weber County shelter rarely has to put an animal down, unless they exhibit very aggressive behavior. Instead, the shelter has a very proactive adoption program. They keep the animals until they are able to find homes for them. It is untrue that animals are put down after only a few days if the owner is not located, or if the animal is not adopted. Adoption fees for dogs from the Trail Opportunities In the Ogden Ranger District The following are listed opportunities for trail use on the Forest Service system of trails in the Ogden Ranger District. Other trails on state, county or private lands exist. Please be aware of land ownership, respect private property, and ask permission first before using trails on private land. Any trail questions or comments can be directed to Forest Service Trail Manager Anthony Botello at 801-625-5112 or abbotello@fs.fed.us. Please be careful during winter trail travel. Know what avalanche dangers exist, carry a snow shovel, probe pole, and beacon. Do not travel in the backcountry alone, and be sure to tell others where you will be and when you will return. TrailheadsCurrently the Forest Service or Weber County plows the following trailheads for winter trail use. North Ogden Divide, North Arm, Pineview, Wheeler Creek, Art Nord and Snowbasin’s Olympic Parking (maintained by Snow Basin Ski Area). Trails- Etta Baker of Valley Vet prepares to inject the Avid chip into Abby. The chip is about the size of a piece of rice, and is placed in the shoulder area. A call to Animal Services set me straight. According to Diana Mason, Office Manager for the Weber County Animal Shelter, the law is in place, primarily, to protect pet owners. She related an incident where a resident from Roy had been missing his dog for two years. Apparently, someone had found his straying dog and had decided to keep it. Almost two years later, someone else found the dog after it had again wandered off. This time, the dog was turned into the shelter. Staff quickly identified the appropriate owner through an identification chip that was implanted under the dog’s skin. According to Mason, it was a very happy reunion. Most veterinarians can implant computer chips for identification purposes into pets just under their skin. It is a simple procedure that runs about $25.00 to perform. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice, and is placed in the shoulder area of the animal. Animal shelters can scan the area for an identification number. The number is stored in the Avid Computer Bank— the company that manufactures and distributes the chips—along with the owner’s information. Any animal shelter within the United States can identify the owner of a misplaced ani- shelter are $85 or $30, depending on if the canine has already been neutered. The price includes the cost of required shots and an identification chip. Cats are $65 or $30 depending on if it has already been neutered. An identification chip is also placed in felines. If your dog is impounded at the shelter, there is a $20 fee for its release, a $30 fee if the animal has not been neutered. Rates increase for each infraction within a 12-month period. Animals from Ogden Valley that are impounded are taken to the Weber County Animal Shelter, located at the Weber County Fairgrounds, 1373 N. 750 W., just inside the north gate of the fairgrounds, north of the Utah State University Extension Service building. For more information on adoption or lost pets, contact shelter staff at (801) 399-8244. The shelter is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ogden City’s animal shelter facility is located at 1490 Park Boulevard, west of the Timbermine Restaurant and the Dinosaur Park off of the River Park Way Pathway. You can contact staff at this facility by calling (801) 629-8244. Staff at the facilities invites the public to come by and adopt a pet. Wheeler Creek- Main Wheeler Creek trail is packed and groomed for cross-country skiing from its beginning at the Maples Road approximately 4 miles to Art Nord trailhead. This trail is heavily used and only groomed once a week (usually on Fridays). Often snowshoes flatten the set ski track by the weekend. Snowshoeing is permitted, but all users are asked to preserve the ski track, walk or snowshoe on the outside edge of the packed trail. This trail is scheduled to be groomed by Friday 2/23/01. This trail is accessed by Art Nord Trailhead or Snow Basin’s Olympic Parking. Art Nord Drive- This is that portion of the Wheeler Creek Trail from Wheeler Creek Trailhead to Art Nord Trailhead. This trail is not groomed for winter use, but receives moderate traffic, therefore packing the surface. This trail is in a deep canyon and usually stays very icy and of marginal quality for skiing, but very good for snowshoeing and winter hiking. Please be particularly aware of avalanche danger in this canyon, as it is susceptible to slides. This trail is accessed by Art Nord or Wheeler Creek Trailheads and is one way in and out, approximately 3.5 miles. Maples- The road from Snow Basin Ski area into the Maples campground is currently packed and groomed by Snow Basin. This trail is groomed to 20+ feet wide and a corduroy skating surface as well as two traditional ski tracks are maintained almost daily. This is an excellent trail for snowshoers, skiers, skate skiers and winter hikers. This trail is accessed by Snow Basin’s Olympic Parking, and campground loops can make a 4 mile round trip. Skyline- Skyline trail is used by snowshoers from North Ogden Divide either north or south. This trail is not groomed or maintained in the winter, but excellent vistas of the Ogden Valley and the Wasatch Front can be had from this trail. Access from North Ogden Divide Trailhead. North Ogden- The new trail from North Ogden Divide Trailhead west toward North Ogden was groomed and packed early in the season, but has not been groomed since late December. Additional grooming is planned. This trail leaves the Trailhead and heads west approximately 1.5 miles to a service road at the bottom. From here a nice loop can be made by heading back east on the service road and returning back to the trailhead. Three miles total loop. Pineview West- This trail has been packed and groomed approximately once a week (usually on Fridays) since early winter. This is a 3-mile, one-way trail from North Arm to Pineview trailheads. This trail is closed to equestrian use in the winter to preserve packed ski tracks. This is a very popular trail and can be accessed on either end by a plowed parking lot. Dispersed RecreationA winter warming Yurt is open for public use on the Wheeler Creek trail. This Yurt is first come first serve for day use but reservations must be made to use it for overnight. Please call Anthony Botello for reservations or for more information on the location of the Yurt at 801-625-5112 or email abbotello@fs.fed.us. THINK OF THE FUTURE The Ogden Valley Land Trust a non-profit organization For more information Call (801) 745-2048 EDEN 745-4663 2595 N. HIGHWAY 162, EDEN UT FOR ALL YOUR OGDEN VALLEY REAL ESTATE NEEDS dickd@wardleygmac.com Dick Dixon Branch Broker 940-4040 Visit www.dickdixon.org WE MAKE IT HAPPEN ! |