Utah Senate Bill 201 would reduce the unnecessary euthanasia of pets in state’s animal shelters

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Senate passed Senate Bill 201, a newly proposed law aimed at reducing the number of dogs and cats unnecessar­ily dying in animal shelters by ensuring reasonable alterna­tives are pursued prior to euthanasia. The bill, which passed to­day, will now move on to the Utah House of Representatives. Utah-headquartered Best Friends Animal Society, a leading na­tional animal welfare organization whose goal is to end the kill­ing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters and take the country no-kill, applauds this statewide pet lifesav­ing effort.

Local Utahns want to see more action sur­rounding saving dogs and cats lives. That means state legislators supporting policies de­signed to save dogs and cats in local shelters. Additionally, the bill is widely supported by more than 20 animal welfare groups from across the state.

S.B. 201, sponsored by Senator Keith Gro­ver (D-23), would de­crease the number of dogs and cats unnecessarily euthanized in Utah’s shelters and establish universal protocols for animal shelters across the state, requiring them to pursue all reason­able alternative out­comes for a dog or cat before it is euthanized.

“This bipartisan bill will be instrumen­tal in helping Utah achieve no-kill,” said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. “Best Friends has long known that it takes community support to save every healthy and treatable pet. By having clear policies and proto­cols to help pets get out of Utah’s shelters and into loving homes where they belong, we can ensure every dog and cat has an equal shot at a second chance.”

In February 2024, Governor Spencer Cox demonstrated his sup­port in saving the lives of dogs and cats in Utah when he signed a “No-Kill Shelter Year” proclamation - the first proclamation of its kind for the na­tional organization. Since then, 22 other Governors have issued similar proclamations.

“Saving the lives of Utah’s dogs and cats is something we know constituents deeply care about,” said Sena­tor Keith Gover. “We believe S.B 201 will give our residents what they want and our pets what they deserve – a better chance at find­ing loving homes and ending the killing of dogs and cats in Utah animal shelters.”

Data from Best Friend Animal Society shows 57 of 59 of Utah’s animal shelters are currently no-kill. The state is under 1,200 pets away from sav­ing the lives of every healthy and treatable pet. S.B. 201 will play a vital role in making no-kill a reality in Utah.

To learn more about how to help take Utah no-kill, visit best­friends.org.