Two hundred and fifty families applied to adopt these dogs. The shelter stopped accepting applications.
And still, not one Westie has gone home.
What Police Found on August 31
Marysville police seized 42 West Highland White Terriers from a utility trailer on August 31. The dogs ranged from four weeks to four years old. Not one was spayed or neutered.
Officers found kennels stacked on top of each other with makeshift partitions between them. Most dogs were matted and soaked in urine. Community Service Officer Joie Mette described it as a “breeding, breeding-hoarding type situation.”
Every Single One Has Something Wrong
All 42 dogs were taken to the Everett Animal Shelter, where staff gave them vaccinations, microchips, and clean housing.
One young female developed suspected parvovirus and had to be hospitalized. She recovered, but the scare triggered a full quarantine of all 42 dogs. That quarantine is expected to lift September 21, after which staff will clear each dog individually.
Mette put it plainly: “They all have something wrong with them. Every single one of them has something, but all of that can be taken care of with time.”
The dogs had never been properly handled. When officers reached for them, they froze.
250 Applications and Still No Adoptions
As KOMO News reported on the charges and the rescue, more than 250 adoption applications came in quickly enough that the shelter stopped accepting new ones.
None of the dogs are currently available. They are being held as part of an active legal case, and the shelter will notify people when any dog becomes eligible. That timeline depends on how the legal process unfolds.
Mette submitted 43 counts of second-degree animal cruelty and one additional breeding-related charge to the Marysville Prosecutor’s Office.
“There’s nothing OK about this,” Mette said. “It’s just a situation where I think it got out of control and he did nothing about it.”
If you want to help right now, the Everett Animal Shelter is accepting donations and welcoming volunteers and foster families for other animals in their care.
What would you do if you found out a hoarding case was happening near you? Tell me in the comments.
Why This Matters
These 42 dogs are not rare cases. According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s animal hoarding research, up to 250,000 animals in the U.S. are victims of hoarding every year, and recidivism rates are near 100% without mental health intervention. Removing the animals rarely stops the behavior.
Community events make a real difference for shelters carrying this kind of load. The Del Mar Dog Surf-a-Thon raised over $20,000 for shelter animals this year, proof that local attention moves the needle when shelters need it most.
Accountability in animal care doesn’t always come quickly. A Cedar City family is still waiting for answers after their dog was allegedly given the wrong injection during a routine vet visit, a reminder that legal processes take time and outcomes aren’t guaranteed.
That last part matters here too. The charges have been filed. But what happens after the case closes will determine whether this happens again.
Key Takeaways
- 42 Westies were seized from a Marysville trailer on August 31 and are at the Everett Animal Shelter.
- Quarantine lifts September 21, followed by individual medical clearances.
- No adoptions are possible yet due to an active legal hold.
- 43 counts of second-degree animal cruelty and one breeding-related charge have been filed.
- To help now: donate to Everett Animal Shelter or foster another animal in their care.
The Dogs Are There. The Families Are Waiting.
Quick action by officers made all the difference here, just as it did when Tempe police rescued two dogs from a canal with no way out. The right response at the right moment changes everything.
The shelter will update when the dogs can go home. That day is coming, just not yet.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Details are based on public reports and may change.
[…] investigations don’t always move quickly. The 42 Westies rescued from a Marysville trailer are still waiting for the legal process to close before they can even be […]