By Julia Partain | [email protected]

Imagine wandering the fields around the outskirts of Herriman, lost and hungry. Now what if this was your pooch, scared and alone? What do you do? 

Last October, Herriman residents noticed a skittish black and white female, Akita, roaming around a field for several weeks. Concerned residents circulated information on social media to raise awareness for this lost dog and people began leaving food and water out with hopes to catch it and find its owner. After a few weeks, Herriman Animal Services Coordinator Debbie Pedersen was contacted to help in the effort.

“We set up a dog trap in the area, with food, water and a blanket and checked it several times throughout the day with no results,” said Pedersen. “Eventually, she finally went into the trap, which began the journey of us being able to help her.”

Pedersen works for Animal Services promoting responsible pet ownership through education and enforcement. Staff members are dedicated to no-kill principles, recognizing every animal is an individual with a life worth saving. Pedersen said this pup was definitely worth saving.

Lucky, her new name, was understandably scared.

“We worked with her for several weeks, and slowly she came out of her shell, although she was still nervous,” Pedersen said. “The transformation was incredible! It shows what can happen with a little love and time.”

Animal Services coordinated with A Passion For Paws Rescue, Inc. (http://apassionforpaws.org/), an Akita rescue group based out of southern California that was willing to take her. 

“Lucky took a car ride to Las Vegas, where A Passion for Paws met us,” Pedersen said. “From there, she was transported to California to join the Akita ranch.”

Not long after, an Akita-enthusiast from Colorado, made the trek to California and adopted Lucky, now renamed to Yukii. She found her furever home, thanks to Pedersen.

For over 18 years, Pedersen has worked in this field and helped establish two no-kill animal shelters, first in South Salt Lake and second in Herriman. The no-kill shelter does not kill healthy or treatable animals even when the shelter is full, reserving euthanasia for terminally ill animals or those considered dangerous to public safety.

“We bring veterinarians in to work with the sick or injured,” she said. “Dog trainers come in to work on behavioral issues with canines like Lucky, and we work with rescue organizations to help elderly pets find a home.” 

Since the Herriman Police Department added the Animal Services unit in 2019, Pedersen has enjoyed her time with Animal Services as her department helps pets and their owners reunite, rescue injured animals and facilitate adoptions. She has worked with animals of all kinds. Dogs, cats, rabbits, goats, ducks—you name it, she has probably saved it. 

During their first few weeks with the department, Pedersen and fellow service officer Charlotte Fenstermaker were called to rescue a family of baby ducklings from a storm drain. After some quick thinking and ingenuity, they were able to rescue the ducklings and find a new home for them.

“A day in the life of an animal services officer differs from day to day,” Pedersen said. “And that’s what makes the job.”

When an animal goes missing, social media is often used to spread the word about the lost pet. Residents will call Animal Services to report the missing pet and send a photo and information for them to post on its lost and found Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/HerrimanAnimalServices. 

“This is really an effective way for getting these guys back to their families,” Pedersen said.

Case in point: Zuzu.  

“Zuzu was found and reported as a stray feral cat, but when we picked her up, she was so sweet and wanted to 'hug' you while you held her,” Pedersen said. “She didn’t have a microchip, so we held on to her hoping an owner would call in.”

No one called and Zuzu was listed on PetFinder when she became available for adoption.

This is where the story turns. Zuzu had an owner, and the owner's sister saw her on PetFinder and called the owner to let her know.

“The owner was unaware of Herriman Animal Services, although she had checked with other places,” Pedersen said. “They came down, identified her and were happily reunited after three weeks.”

Animal Services operates a short-term shelter located on the south side of J. Lynn Crane Park and a long-term shelter is located in South Jordan at 10882 South Park Rd. As the community is rapidly expanding, there is a need for a bigger shelter. A new, bigger no-kill/adoption/holding center is in the city’s plans to keep up with the growing population. 

Another addition to Herriman is a 5-acre dog park, slated to open summer 2021. It will be dedicated to the police K9s that were killed in the line of duty.

“We are really excited about the new dog park being built this summer,” Pedersen said. “This gives owners the chance to exercise their pets in a safe and contained environment.”