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- Two men face hundreds of misdemeanor charges following the removal 157 dogs and 11 cats from their Ogden home.
- The charges, all misdemeanors, include multiple counts of cruelty to animals and maintaining unlicensed animals.
- Most of the animals have been sent to shelters or animal rescue organizations.
OGDEN — Two men who lived at the home where authorities found and removed more than 150 dogs last month now each face several hundred misdemeanor counts in the case.
Ogden city prosecutors on Wednesday filed 633 charges against Miguel Salgado-Vargas, 73, related to mishandling and mistreatment of animals, according to a press release from the city of Ogden. Salgado-Vargas' nephew Ramon Cano Aispuro, 50, faces 336 charges, the city said. The charges are all class B misdemeanors, filed in Ogden City Justice Court.
Ogden and other animal services officers removed more than 150 dogs from Salgado-Vargas' home in the 3000 block of Jefferson Avenue on April 15 after receiving a report of possible neglect. Charging papers don't offer any sort of narrative about the removal or what led to it, and representatives from the Ogden City Prosecutor's Office didn't immediately respond to a query seeking comment Wednesday.
However, in a statement on the turn of events Thursday, the city offered updated figures on the charge counts and on the critters removed — 157 dogs and 11 cats, or 168 animals in all.
Ogden police have said the animal owners cooperated when authorities removed the dogs and relinquished ownership. In 2012, Ogden authorities removed 149 dogs from Salgado-Vargas' Jefferson Avenue home, where the dogs and cats were discovered on April 15. He didn't face charges at the time.
"This case has deeply impacted our community, and we recognize the emotional and mental health challenges that may contribute to animal hoarding behaviors," the city's statement said. The statement referenced the 2012 matter, saying both Salgado-Vargas and Aispuro were involved.
According to the city, Salgado-Vargas now faces 168 counts of cruelty to animals, 168 counts of public nuisance for failing to properly maintain an animal, 148 counts of failing to get a rabies vaccination for an animal, and 148 counts of maintaining an unlicensed animal. He faces a single count of maintaining a kennel on his property without getting a permit. Charging papers don't identify an attorney for Salgado-Vargas, who will make his first appearance in court on the case on July 15.
Aispuro, also listed in court papers as a resident of the Jefferson Avenue home, faces 168 counts of cruelty to animals and 168 counts of public nuisance. He'll appear in court on July 15, as well.
Class B misdemeanors are punishable by up to six months in jail and fines of up to $1,000.
As for the animals, they were initially housed at the Weber County Animal Services shelter in Ogden. The city said all but 13 dogs have been taken by other animal rescue organizations and shelters for care and possible adoption. The Humane Society of Utah took 45 of the critters the week after they were removed from the Ogden home. "No animals required euthanasia," the city said.
All the dogs removed — which included smaller mixed-breed Chihuahuas and poodles — were found to be in fairly good health, according to Weber County Commissioner Sharon Bolos, whose portfolio includes the county-owned animal shelter. The dogs still at the shelter need more socialization to get them used to being around people.
The influx of animals initially overwhelmed the Ogden shelter, but Bolos said operations are normalizing. In fact, the publicity surrounding the removal of the 150-plus dogs caused an uptick in adoptions and the shelter is now operating below capacity. "A lot of people have come to the shelter and picked up a new pet. Our numbers are down, so that's been helpful," Bolos said.
Ogden Police Chief Jake Sube lauded the coordination between the varied agencies involved in removing the animals from the Ogden home and caring for them. "This case is a reminder of the importance of community reporting and regional cooperation," he said in a statement.
