Activist to continue fight for combat dog monument

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1998 | 11:30 a.m.

A proposal for a monument to combat dogs at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City has been turned down, but the local animal rights activist behind it says she is not giving up her fight.

Rita Bernier said she will return to the drawing board and figure out a new strategy to turn her dream into a reality.

"I just feel that I have let down hundreds of military veteran dog handlers and thousands of four-legged soldiers by not getting the monument at the veterans cemetery, where it belongs," said Bernier, a Henderson resident.

The only monuments allowed inside the cemetery honor veterans groups. The Coast Guard is to unveil its monument Wednesday at a Veterans Day ceremony.

Officials said that by allowing a dog monument -- even outside the cemetery -- the door be opened for monuments to other combat animals including, horses, mules and carrier pigeons.

Several cemetery board members have suggested that a more proper site for a canine combat monument are Boulder City's Veterans Memorial Park, which is not affiliated with the veterans cemetery, or Las Vegas' Dog Fancier's Park.

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