News

Actions

Woman says animal shelter placed her dog with new owner without her permission

Posted at 9:36 PM, Aug 01, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-02 17:50:51-04

UPDATE: The Orem Police Department contacted Fox 13 on Wednesday and they tell us Mindy’s story has some inconsistencies.

Mindy claimed she was in the hospital for two weeks during this ordeal however, officers said Mindy was only in the hospital for three hours and that she was actually in jail for two weeks on felony charges.

Fox 13 also spoke to the shelter which said it would not give any information and that Fox 13 had to talk to the director but that he was not available.

The animal shelter and the police department are providing us with an update Wednesday afternoon.


LINDON, Utah – A woman is fighting and pleading to get her best friend and dog back.

“I miss her greatly and I know she’s wondering where her mommy is and why I haven’t been able to get her yet,” said Mindy Moon.

The woman from Washington State says her dog was adopted out from Utah Valley Animal Shelter without her consent.

“My life she is everything to me I’ve had her nearly 8 years I’ve taught her to say ‘I love you’ she’s been by my side everywhere I’ve gone 24/7,” Moon said.

Mindy Moon came to Utah with her dog, ‘Baby,’ but while here she says her boyfriend abused her.

“I had a traumatic head injury and staples to my head and I was beaten pretty bad,” Moon said.

Baby rode in the ambulance to the hospital with Mindy.

“While I was there the animal service shelter guy, Jeff is his name, came and took her out of my arms and I was freaking out about it and said it was going to be okay, ‘we’ll take care of her,’” Moon said.

Mindy was without her dog for two weeks. She thought Baby was being taken care of at the Utah Valley Animal Shelter.

“When I was released I contacted them and they said your dog has been adopted out,” Moon said.  “Needless to say I had a panic attack.”

Mindy says she doesn’t understand why they would adopt Baby out.

She claims she called the shelter begging to know where Baby was.

“The supervisor said she contacted the adoptive parents and they said no they would not give her back they don’t want to,” Mindy said.

Mindy has this message for whoever has Baby: “Please give her back, please I know she misses her mommy.”

Now Mindy is working to get support and raise awareness.

“I’m not stopping I’m not giving up until I get my dog back,” Mindy said.

Fox 13 spoke to the hospital Mindy went to about their policy when dogs are brought into the ER with a patient and they say they would never call a shelter.

We also reached out to the Orem Police Department to see if they called the shelter to get the dog, but did not immediately hear back.

The Orem Police Department contacted Fox 13 on Wednesday and they tell us Mindy’s story has some inconsistencies.

Mindy claimed she was in the hospital for two weeks during this ordeal, but police tell us that Mindy was only in the hospital for three hours and that she was actually in jail for two weeks on felony charges.

Fox 13 also spoke to the shelter.

It said it would not give any information and that Fox 13 had to talk to the director but that he was not available.

The animal shelter and the police department are providing us with an update Wednesday afternoon.