Community Stories

On October 6, South Salt Lake Animal Services officers responded to a call from a nearby construction site about a stray dog hiding beneath a work truck. When officers arrived, they found the dog in critical condition, with a severely injured leg, infested with lice, and in a state of shock. She was transported to urgent care, where veterinarians performed a partial amputation of her leg. 

Following surgery, the South Salt Lake Animal Services team shared the story of this dog, who they named Poly, putting out a call for donations to help offset the extensive medical costs. The community response was heartwarming. Within hours, we recieved enough donations to completely cover the cost of surgery, and then some. 

After her surgery, Poly went on ABC4's Pet of the Week segment where our Animal Services staff were able to thank our supporters for their incredible generosity. 

Poly lived at the South Salt Lake Animal Shelter for several weeks after her surgery, stealing the hearts of our shelter staff with her gentle nature while receiving daily lice baths, bandage changes, and extra care as she recovered from her injuries. Once she was stable enough, she was transferred to All Paws Count Animal Rescue to continue her healing journey. The leftover donations we received were donated to All Paws Count to help pay for care and supplies while Poly was in foster care healing.

A Second Miracle

Not long after Poly went to All Paws Count, they reached out to our shelter staff to share a happy surprise: Poly had been pregnant and is now a mother to six.  Through her rescue, surgery and recovery, her pregnancy went unoticed. 

It really was a second miracle for Poly--living through extensive leg wounds and making a full recovery post amputation, and then after all of that giving birth to six healthy puppies! 

Poly is a powerful reminder of perseverance and the will to survive. She has proved to be a wonderful mother, and our Animal Services staff feel lucky for the time they were able to spend with her.  We are so happy that Poly will get to spend the rest of her life in a loving, nurturing home!

The National League of Cities hosted their annual City Summit conference in Salt Lake City on November 20-22, 2025. Each year, City Summit brings together city leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the nation to explore pressing urban issues, share best practices, and collaborate on solutions that enhance community well-being. Over 3,000 leaders came to Salt Lake City for the premier event that fosters collaboration and inspires new ideas. 

South Salt Lake made a splash at the conference with Mayor Wood and two city staff presenting to attendees on the impact our Promise South Salt Lake 'Cradle to Career' programs and framework can have on the youth and families in a community.

• South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood joined former Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini and Tempe, AZ Mayor Corey Woods for a panel discussion showcasing how partnerships between city hall, school districts, community- and faith-based organizations, and business leaders can create local solutions that improve outcomes for children, youth, and families in their cities. 
• Edward Lopez, Promise South Salt Lake Deputy Director, presented to members of the National League of Cities Human Development Committee about how South Salt Lake has built a thriving community learning and co-working space that bridges workforce development, lifelong learning, and other community services. The Promise South Salt Lake Co-Op demonstrates how cities can turn facilities into dynamic opportunity hubs that strengthen local connections and expand access to education, employment, and collaboration.
• Bonnie Owens, Promise South Salt Lake Deputy Director, presented to participants about how high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs have shown to address multiple municipal priorities such as public safety, workforce development, and high-performing schools.

Promise staff also hosted city leaders and staff from Fayetteville, North Carolina, including their City Manager and City Council Members, who came on a site visit to see the programs in action. They were excited to learn about how we work to remove barriers for community members and how we collaborate with other city departments to improve programs and services. They were especially interested in how we collaborate with our Police Department to serve our community. It was a true showcase of how cross-sector collaborations and diverse funding streams allow us to provide free programs and services that offer crucial support for working families. Collaborative work that is changing lives!

A humble thanks to all the dedicated and compassionate Promise city staff who work each day to change lives and provide opportunities for South Salt Lake youth, and to the many community partners who help make this work possible, especially our backbone partners Promise Partnership Utah and the Granite School District.

Last month South Salt Lake staff from two different departments presented at national conferences to share big ideas that are impacting our community. Innovation in our city extends far beyond our city boundaries, and communities across the country are taking note. We don’t just react to keep up. We work proactively, constantly finding new ways to uplift our community and residents in an ever-changing world. That’s what it means to be a ‘City on the Move’, and we’re proud of all our staff who embody that mentality each and every day. 

RECREATION - 5x5x5 Softball

Dustin Permann, our Recreation Coordinator, traveled to Orlando for the National Recreation and Parks Association Conference to present on SSL Recreation’s 5x5x5 Softball Format. This unique softball format involves three teams playing at the same time: one at bat, one infield, and one outfield. This allows for smaller teams of 5-7 players, making it more accessible for small groups of friends, coworkers, or families. It also means more chances at bat for each player, and more opportunities to try different positions on defense.

The premise of three-teams-at-once was found online, but no other information was available. Dustin showed true innovation by developing a rule book and rotational system that allowed for fair matchups and maximum fun. Since developing the format, Dustin has presented it to multiple audiences and worked with Recreation Departments from 23 different states to help them adapt the format to work in their own communities.

Time spent outside is a key component to health and wellness, and by making adult softball accessible for different communities across the country, our team has helped countless people to stay happy and healthy and form new friendship bonds. 

PROMISE SSL - Baby &  You

At the beginning of the year, Promise South Salt Lake launched a program for new parents called Baby & You. This program consists of a 9-session course that teaches new and expecting parents about their child’s social, emotional, and developmental needs. The program provides free childcare during each session, and brings in expert presenters each week to discuss different areas of child development. Baby & You creates a structure for lasting connection, not just among members of a family, but among all who participate. It isn’t just a workshop series - it’s the beginning of a lasting support system for families on their journey from diapers to diplomas.

Several members of the Promise Baby & You design team and one participating parent went to Atlanta, GA to speak on a panel at the StriveTogether annual conference “Cradle to Career Convening”. The session explored the gaps and challenges of the early learning space and helped audience members to identify if the Baby & You model could be a solution in their communities. Attendees from around the country were excited to learn about how they may be able to bring this program to their residents.