Proposal on animal measures rejected

Greg Harman

Wednesday, April 26, 2000 | 10:51 a.m.

A Boulder City resident hoping to toughen the city's animal control measures to prevent neglect and abuse was opposed by more than 30 members of the Boulder City Horse Corrals, who suggested the proposed changes were unreasonable and unnecessary.

At a Boulder City Council meeting Tuesday night, Millie Arrangio emotionally recounted her horror stories: a horse which nearly bled to death because of a botched castration performed by its owner, a horse unable to walk because of overgrown hooves and an animal chained without access to water.

But Arrangio agreed with the president of the corral committee -- who dismissed the need for tougher laws -- that these types of occurrences have not been happening lately.

"Some of these things did happen a long time ago," Tim Sharp, president of the corral committee, admitted.

But only three cases of possible neglect have been reported in the last six months, he said.

"I think -- and Millie agreed -- the BCHA is in good shape," Sharp said.

The council agreed that changing ordinances may not be the answer.

"I strongly support the idea that people who own pets should have opportunity to run their own operation," City Attorney Dave Olsen said. "But I don't want anybody to think they should ignore any abuse or neglect that they see in the future."

Buried in the debate over animal abuse was a hint that help for the city's sole full-time animal control officer is on the way.

In an examination of the budget, local officials discovered $18,000 that could be used to raise a part-time animal control officer to full-time status.

Greg Harman covers Henderson and Boulder City for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-8814 or by e-mail at harman@lasvegassun.com.