The Independent Southern Utah Adoptable Pets Guide features adoptable pets from various animal shelters throughout southern Utah. Get a new pet today!
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is located five miles north of Kanab at 5001 Angel Canyon Road. All adoptable cats and dogs are spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations. If you have questions about a specific pet or the adoption process, please email adoptions@bestfriends.org. If you’d like to apply to adopt one of these featured pets, click the link to their bio where you will find the adoption survey.
Donkey
Donkey is a very sweet and smart dog. He is loving and gentle with people and other dogs at the sanctuary. He also knows a lot of tricks, including “sit,” “down,” “paw,” and “touch” and he is working on “spin.” He knows how to settle down, and he really enjoys relaxing with a person to lean on, but he has high anxiety in busy environments and when he is left alone. Donkey lost his previous home because he would bay whenever his family left the house. For that reason, he would do best in a home where his people are either home most of the time or are willing to take him along to join in the fun. Born in 2016, Donkey would also thrive in an active (but not hectic) home. He is currently working on crate training and loose leash walking skills at the sanctuary.
Ehu
Ehu is a cool-looking dog with a happy, positive energy. He likes to play with some dogs and with people at the sanctuary. Though he was born in 2011, he has not experienced much in life and would love for someone to show him the world. Because he enjoys water and adventures, he would love to lead people through forests, rivers, or valleys or up onto mountain peaks. Ehu came to the sanctuary from a Best Friends Network Partner shelter in Washington. He has anxiety and is shy and fearful with strangers. He’s shown some guarding behaviors, and because he will jump fences, he needs a home with secure high fencing. Ehu has a high prey drive and cannot live with small dogs or cats. He is selective with dogs his size. In Dogtown, he’s doing clicker training and having regular dog play-dates and introductions. Ehu also goes for walks with new people and has been doing basket-muzzle training. He would do best in an active and with a person or a family who has relatively good dog skills and experience.
Flynn
Flynn is active and very engaging with his people. He loves to be affectionate and to go for long walks. Silly and playful at times, he will make a great adventure buddy. Flynn likes to play with other dogs at the sanctuary and can play with all sorts of dogs. Born in 2014, Flynn came to Best Friends from another rescue organization. He has some anxiety, and he is so shy and fearful with strangers that he’ll bare his teeth at a stranger entering his space. There’s a simple routine for introducing Flynn to new people, and it must be followed to keep everyone safe. Because he’s anxious and active, he tends to chase cars as they go by. At Dogtown, Flynn is working on meeting new people nicely and has done well going on walks with volunteers. He’ll do best in an active home.
Diesel
Diesel is super friendly and will greet you as soon as you walk into his room. He’s just as friendly with all his fellow felines and even does well with dogs. Born in 2015, he came from a Utah shelter. Diesel is a confident guy who quickly adjusts to new situations. He would be a good candidate for just about any home.
Emerald
Emerald was named for her beautiful green eyes. She’s very friendly and loves getting attention from people. She tolerates other cats but doesn’t cuddle or play with them. Born in 2008, Emerald came to Best Friends from California. She does well in new environments and doesn’t seem to have any issues with change. Emerald is on medication for hyperthyroidism and to control diarrhea. Take this sweet girl home and she’d love to tell you all about her day.
Fanta
This darling little girl loves attention from people. Fanta is the first to greet you when you enter her room. She enjoys being petted and played with. She likes to just sit on a lap and be loved. She also loves to snuggle with other cats. She likes to go on walks with a harness and leash. She was born in June 2015 and came from a cat rescue group in New Jersey. Fanta tests positive for feline leukemia, so she will need to live with other FeLV cats or be an only kitty. She has been on sleepovers and would love to find a home where she can cuddle forever.
RSQ DOGS+
RSQ DOGS+ is southern Utah’s newest nonprofit animal rescue group. It is an all-volunteer group dedicated to saving the lives of animals in underserved, rural areas of Washington County. All of the animals in its care are fully vetted, including spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip, and any medical care they may need. Please contact RSQ DOGS+ for more information at (800) 897-1136 or rsqdogsutah@gmail.com, or visit rsqdogsutah.org.
Aztec
Aztec is a fabulous 2-year old Pyrenees mix who came to us nearly 60 pounds underweight. RSQ DOGS+ is working hard to get him up to weight, but he still has a ways to go. He loves to go on adventures and loves people. He may be big, but he’s really a puppy at heart. Will he be your puppy?
Ellie
Ellie is the queen of the center. She loves people and wants to be with them all the time, and she’s been known to jump a six-foot fence to get to them! She’s cattle-dog mix who needs lots of mental and physical stimulation to keep her happy and out of trouble. She’s picky about her canine friends, and her prey drive is a little active, so she would do best as an only pet or with calm animals larger than herself. She has been at the RSQ Dogs shelter for eight months! She is potty trained, knows commands, loves to hike, and bonds quickly with people.
Mazy
Mazy is a beautiful 4-month old Great Pyrenees mix who just wants to snuggle and play. She is mild tempered and just all-over adorable! She will be a very big, fluffy dog when she grows up, perfect to cuddle with!
The City of Mesquite Animal Shelter
The City of Mesquite Animal Shelter is located at 795 Hardy Way and is open for adoptions Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. Please call (702) 346-7415 during these hours to speak to the front desk, or visit mesquiteanimalshelter.petfinder.com. Animal Control may be reached by phone or voicemail at (702) 346-5268. Adoption fees include spaying or neutering and a one-year rabies shot. Mesquite residents only receive one-year city pet licenses.
Kia
Kia is a Dachshund/terrier blend. She was found in an outside cage at the shelter. She is under a year old. Kia is a very sweet girl. She does well on a leash and loves people and other dogs. She does have some separation issues, but as long as you are with her, she is comfortable and happy. Her adoption fee is $60.
Layla
Layla’s owner could not keep her. She is a Rhodesian ridgeback. She is a shy, quiet girl approximately 4 years old. She is very friendly and easily handled. She has old scars on her back from an unknown injury. She is housetrained and does well on a leash. Her adoption fee is $60.
Laurel and Lily
These sister kittens are black and white. They are so friendly and people oriented. They were in a foster home for 6 weeks and have wonderful personalities. They play and play, then take a nap and start the playing all over again. It would be great if they could be adopted together, but they will adopt separately. Their adoption fees are $40.
Katy
Katy was turned in with her daughter Sissy because her family had too many cats in the home. She is a little shy but super friendly and easily handled. She loves being held and cuddling in your lap. Her adoption fee is $40.
Sissy
Sissy came to the shelter with her mother because her family had too many cats. She is a beautiful bright-colored calico. Sissy is a quiet cat who just loves attention. She is easily handled. Her adoption fee is $40.
Because Animals Matter
Because Animals Matter is dedicated to reducing animal abuse and neglect through education. It offers fully vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and microchipped animals for adoption through a network of foster homes and the Because Animals Matter Center, a transition facility. It also welcomes volunteers for a variety of activities and needs foster families for animals awaiting their forever homes. Please contact Because Animals Matter at (435) 773-5209 or visit becauseanimalsmatter.com for more information.
Pippin
Pippin is a sweet boy but very lonely. He had some buddies his size, but they got adopted, and now he’s the only little dog there and doesn’t have anyone to play with. Pippin is a lap sitter, a cuddler, a walking buddy, a watching-TV-with-you pal, and a traveler in a car or RV. Pippin loves to be wherever his people are. To meet Pippin, call (435) 773-5209 and arrange an appointment, or drop by That BAM Place between 10 a.m. and noon any day but Sunday. His adoption fee is $125.
Bindi
Bindi is a border collie blend believed to be around two years old. She spent one night in a foster home after being pulled from the shelter to come to us. The foster parent wrote: “She loved my little boy and loves to explore the house. She did well in the crate last night and did pretty well with my dogs. She takes treats nicely and, surprisingly, she is very confident. I bet she’d make an amazing agility dog. She is very loving with people but seems to want to do her own thing around other dogs and doesn’t seem playful. I hope she finds a great home!” Bindi is a typical herding dog and will require an owner with experience. She is not good for a first-time pet owner. If you are interested in doing dog sports, they believe Bindi would excel at that. BAM is taking applications at this time for Bindi and she will be available to be placed once she is spayed. Go to BAMutah.com and you will find the application embedded in the text under the Adopt section. You can download it, fill it out and send to J@BAMutah.com or call (435)773-5209 to find out more about her. Bindi’s adoption fee is $125.
Chief
Chief is adorable. At the shelter, they said he was terrified, but Chief has taken BAM by storm, playing with the other dogs, lap sitting, giving kisses, learning how to go for a walk, and just being cute. Well, he really didn’t have to learn how to do that. He just had to take a little bit to know it was okay. Chief is only 9 months old and is available for adoption. You will not want to miss out on getting this little guy. For an appointment to meet Chief, call Julie at (435) 229-5703. Chief’s adoption fee is $150.
Walt
Walt is approximately 8 years old. He would like nothing better than to go on a walk with you, go for a run in the desert, be your companion, and then lay down at your feet at the end of the day (or in your lap … he likes laps a lot). Older children would be best for him, and he would also be a great pet for an older couple. Walt is well behaved in a house, and although he is crate trained, he prefers to live in close proximity with his humans. Walt’s foster mom says he is a great dog and he deserves a home of his own. Walt’s only problem is that nobody wants to adopt him because he has stage 1 kidney failure and requires a special diet. The vet says he could live a couple of years, or more, or less. There’s just no telling, but if you’ve seen the videos of him running in the desert, you would know he’s not ready to cash it in yet. Everyone who knows Walt believes he deserves a family. Are you a family that is willing to give love and be loved, even if it is time-limited? If so, call Corinne at (435) 760-3414 and set up a time to meet him. You will fall in love with him … everyone does!
Sabrina
After being hit by a car, little Sabrina spent 8 weeks in a cast while her bones healed. She’s 10 years old but loves to adventure by car, trail, or river. Snuggles are her favorite, but she’s not a couch potato. Sabrina lives with several big dogs and enjoys their company. Never once have they heard her bark. Sabrina would be great in any home but, even with her cast off, she will still need tender care until her bones are strong. Sabrina does require daily medication for an enlarged heart but nothing stops this little dog from living life to its fullest. They are still working on house training, but the process is slow due to her broken bones. Sabrina sleeps through the night without urinating and does not urinate on the carpet but will on tile. Her cast may be at fault, and now with it removed, she’ll be more agile and move more easily. To meet Sabrina or find out more about her, contact Andrea or A.J. at (612) 756-2374. Sabrina’s adoption fee is $100 and she is also eligible for their Seniors Helping Seniors Program.
Providing Animals With Support (PAWS)
PAWS Adoption Center is located at 1125 W 1130 N in St. George. Please submit an application at dixiepaws.org. Call (435) 688-9748 or email officepaws@gmail.com. All pets are microchipped, spayed or neutered, and current on vaccinations. Below are the pets currently available for adoption from the shelter.
Bently
Bentley is a fun-loving 5-month-old border collie mix. With lots of smarts, he loves to play fetch and games. He gets along with other dogs and kids. His adoption fee is $200.
Tilly
Tilly is a cute little 4-year-old min pin. She is good with children and other dogs and will make a wonderful addition to your family. Her adoption fee is $125.
Diego
Diego is a 3-year-old DLH. He is a little bit shy but affectionate. He loves to play and gets along with other cats. His adoption fee is $75.
Calvin
Calvin is a beautiful 3-year-old Norwegian forest tabby cat. He is playful and fun and gets along with other cats. His adoption fee is $75.
Coraline
Coraline is a 3-year-old Norwegian forest calico cat. She has a lovely mellow personality and gets along with other cats. Her adoption fee is $75.
