Animal shelter founder charged with animal cruelty

HERRIMAN, Utah (ABC4) — The owner of an animal shelter has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly mistreating dogs that required medical treatment.

Kimberely Mikesell, 59, is facing multiple charges in relation to animal mistreatment that allegedly occurred on multiple occasions.

Mikesell is the founder and executive director of Outreach Pawsabilities. According to their website, Outreach Pawsabilities rescues animals from dire situations and works to “rescue, rehabilitate, and find furever homes for dogs in need.”

She has been charged with one count of possession of forgery writing/device, a third-degree felony; one count of obstruction of justice, a Class A misdemeanor; four counts of intentional/knowing cruelty to an animal, a Class B misdemeanor; and two counts of creating/supporting/retaining a nuisance, a Class B misdemeanor.

Charges were officially filed on October 16, 2024.

Case History

Between May 1, 2024, and August 28, 2025, officers with Salt Lake County Animal Services reportedly responded to multiple complaints regarding Kimberely Mikesell and Outreach Pawsabilities. They were also told that Mikesell was keeping an “extreme number of dogs” at her residence.

Officers reportedly visited Mikesell’s residence on multiple occasions, where they observed as many as 129 dogs being kept inside the home, garages and yard. They also observed piles of trash bags with urine and feces-soaked blankets, with a strong scent of urine and feces.

According to court documents, Animal Services officers observed that kennels were stacked on top of one another, and some kennels contained multiple dogs. They stated that “the majority of the dogs did not have access to food, water, or adequate space” and that “some kennels had feces on the doors and sides of the kennels.”

Reportedly, officers also had to yell over the barking from the dogs. A neighbor also stated that dogs barked nonstop.

An employee also reported to law enforcement that the dogs were only let out of their crates once per day, had feces matted to their hindquarters, and had nails that were so long they curled sideways.

On September 23, 2024, an animal services officer responded to Mikesell’s property for a dog bite. On that instance, Mikesell reportedly gave officers what she claimed was a copy of the bitten dog’s rabies vaccination. It was later determined that the vaccination record had been visibly altered and belonged to a different dog.

Then, on or about October 2, 2024, officers requested documentation for all animals at Mikesell’s residence. Though an officer had observed multiple filing boxes of animal paperwork, Mikesell reportedly refused to provide documentation and “became defensive.”

One of Mikesell’s clients, a former veterinary technician, asked her for help with a Shih Tzu named Walter who had a live flea infestation. The former technician reported that Mikesell never sought treatment for Walter while he was at her shelter.

The former technician took Walter to several animal hospitals and clinics, where professionals diagnosed him with Cushing’s syndrome and suggested humane euthanasia. Mikesell removed Walter from the former tech’s care but allegedly declined to seek out care for Walter when he subsequently suffered a stroke.

Later, the former tech observed a video of English Bulldog named Bogart on the Outreach Pawsabilities’ social media pages. Bogart reportedly exhibited signs of respiratory distress, but Mikesell declined to have the dog treated.

To get Bogart treated, the former tech picked Bogart up from a storage unit in West Jordan, which Mikesell was reportedly using as a makeshift quarantine facility.

Veterinary providers determined that Bogart had a severe, contagious respiratory infection. There were also several other dogs in the storage unit, all of which required medical attention.

Allegedly, Mikesell declined to seek out treatment for any of those dogs.

Outreach Pawsabilities’ Statement:

Today, Outreach Pawsabilities released a statement on their Facebook page, denying any truth to the allegations. That statement reads:

We want to take a moment to address the article in question, as it raises some serious concerns. Yes, this is an ongoing court case, and there are significant issues involved. We often take in dogs that some people feel should be put down, but we believe that not every dog deserves to be euthanized due to age, behavior, or medical challenges. Every dog deserves a chance to live a fulfilling life.

Recently, we encountered an animal control officer who shares a different viewpoint and has decided to take us to court. We are fully committed to fighting these charges and will keep you updated on our progress.

What’s important for you to know is that every dog in our care is treated like family and receives excellent attention. We manage their grooming ourselves, so they might come out looking a bit quirky at times—often like they just had a playful haircut from mom! Any dog needing a vet visit will surely go, and you can see proof of this in our posts where we ask for donations on our way to the vet. With so many dogs, routine vet visits are inevitable, especially since we are dedicated to helping those with medical issues. If we can manage their problems and help them live comfortably and happily, we will.

Sadly, there are times when we encounter a dog whose pain is too great, and we must make the difficult decision to euthanize. During those moments, we stay by their side, reassuring them of our love as we say goodbye, promising we’ll see them at the rainbow bridge.

Like any organization, we face challenges from individuals who don’t share our perspective. This issue is particularly tough because we aren’t willing to adopt dogs out to just anyone. We are very selective, as we have made a commitment to every dog that they will be cherished and will lead a happy life from the moment they arrive with us. Sometimes, prospective adopters believe they are the right fit for a dog, but it may not be the case. Our priority isn’t about pleasing people; it’s about helping dogs.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. In the seven years we’ve been operating, we’ve successfully adopted out over 900 dogs, not including the hundreds from just this year. Please rest assured that, while the situation is alarming, we are committed to being as transparent and honest as possible. The welfare of the dogs is our top priority, and they matter far more than simply making people happy.