Utah
Northern Utah wildlife rehabilitation center forced to relocate
Estimated learn time: 3-4
minutes
OGDEN — “It simply appeared like a nightmare.”
That is what DaLyn Marthaler mentioned when she came upon the Wildlife Rehabilitation Middle of Northern Utah, the place she is the manager director, was given six months to vacate their facility and discover a new one.
The nonprofit has occupied 1490 Park Blvd. in Ogden since 2010. The middle takes in about 4,000 injured animals yearly, together with round 150 totally different species, and has handled greater than 34,000 wild animals since its inception in 2009.
Marthaler mentioned six months is not almost sufficient time to relocate as a result of doing so will contain discovering a brand new property, making use of for a business mortgage and ensuring the property is zoned correctly. Volunteers can even want to search out or construct a facility that’s animal-ready, then bear a facility inspection for presidency approval.
“All these issues can not occur in 180 days. It is simply not doable,” Marthaler mentioned. “This is not one thing the place we will simply get out to a warehouse and be effective. … There is a course of to this, and folks simply do not perceive that.”
Marthaler first heard concerning the relocation from Jay Lowder, Ogden Public Companies director, on the finish of February. Lowder mentioned he was “sure” he may give the middle a minimum of a yr to maneuver out, Marthaler mentioned.
She requested him for 2 years, saying it wasn’t doable to soundly relocate the animals inside only one yr.
Then, in early March, the middle obtained a letter giving it till Sept. 6 to vacate the premises. The middle might be bulldozed so the neighboring George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park at 1544 Park Blvd can create a 144-stall parking zone and a storage facility.
“We had been fully surprised. It simply appeared like a nightmare,” Marthaler mentioned. “Why does it need to occur now? Why was this by no means communicated to us beforehand that this was coming?”
Lowder mentioned the middle’s residency was all the time meant to be short-term.
“The town gave them an settlement for an interim location in our facility till they may discover one thing extra everlasting,” Lowder mentioned. “We’re exercising our rights beneath their settlement. They’ve had 12 years to search out one thing everlasting.”
He mentioned the coverage has “all the time” been that the middle would solely obtain six months discover to vacate.
“I am going strictly by the settlement,” Lowder mentioned.
He additionally mentioned the dinosaur park has “all the time” deliberate to increase, however building was delayed due to COVID-19. The park has now raised sufficient funds to start out the primary part of their enlargement, which is why it’s occurring now.
Marthaler’s understanding when her staff initially signed the settlement was that it was “merely a formality.” She mentioned they had been instructed that these contracts are sometimes made and that after just a few years of occupying a constructing, they might have established residency there.
“Ogden actually would not owe us something,” Marthaler mentioned. “However they’ve allowed us to remain right here with that understanding for this lengthy. If they need us gone, that is OK — we simply want the time to do it with out animals dying.”
Marthaler mentioned if her staff cannot set up a facility for the animals in time, hundreds of them must be euthanized.
Subsequent steps
Marthaler is asking Ogden officers to rethink their timeline, not just for the well-being of animals presently being handled on the rehabilitation heart, but additionally so they do not have to show away future animal sufferers.
April by means of September is often their busiest season, she mentioned, with 79% of their sufferers arriving throughout these months.
Lowder mentioned an extended extension is out of the query, however his committee can be keen to contemplate a minor change.
“There’s not so much to do to combat it. They’re fully inside their authorized rights,” Marthaler mentioned. “Can they do it? Sure. Ought to they do it? No. Was it executed correctly? Completely not.”
Nonetheless, she is asking the general public to point out assist for the middle.
“Attempt to persuade the mayor to vary his thoughts,” Marthaler urged. “Attempt to get them to place off this parking zone. I do not see why it has to occur proper now, and with out giving us time.”