Columnist Victoria Sun: Charity tournament to help fund pet sanctuary

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, April 11, 2001 | 10:27 a.m.

Victoria Sun's golf column appears Wednesday. Reach her at 259-4078 or victoria@lasvegassun.com.

Her passion for golf parallels her passion for animals and she needs your help.

Nicole Dutt-Roberts, golf teaching professional at Spanish Trails and the president of Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary, is holding a charity golf tournament on June 20 at the Rhodes Ranch Golf Club with proceeds benefiting the construction of a 20-acre safe haven for unwanted animals.

"I love animals," Dutt-Roberts said. "Since we were little kids we always brought home stray animals. Once, I had to go to the animal shelter to get my friend a new dog and I didn't realize how horrible it was for the animals there. That was 14 years ago.

"Two years ago I had to go to the shelter and I noticed how things haven't changed at the shelters -- it has gotten worse."

Heartbroken by what she saw, Dutt-Roberts and fellow animal lovers Harold and Rachel Vosko, Pete Larez and Sharon Seltzer founded the Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary Board a year ago. The sanctuary board has helped save more than 100 animals through various adoption programs.

Still, the board feels it's not enough -- which is why it decided it needs to build a sanctuary to save pets about to be euthanized at area shelters.

Dutt-Roberts estimates that about 20,000 pets, if not more, are killed annually at shelters. Pets that are unclaimed at shelters after a certain number of days are usually euthanized to make room for incoming pets and prevent overcrowding.

"Our goal is to take all of the 'last day on earth' pets off of death row, hours away from being killed," Dutt-Roberts said. "Our sanctuary is going to have dog parks and walking paths. It'll be a beautiful place for our animals to live. And they will live in little animal condos. Absolutely no cages. When you cage an animal for many days, it affects them and makes them unadoptable."

The proposed location for the sanctuary is the corner of Tenaya and Alcorn.

Dutt-Roberts conceded raising $8 million will require a lot of effort, but she believes it is a realistic goal.

"I know there are a lot of animal lovers in the world, and in this area, who have the means to support our vision," Dutt-Roberts said. "We want to be the best animal sanctuary in the world.

"Once people see what we're doing and what the sanctuary is going to look like, I think they will want to help provide a better life for many helpless animals."

If you're a golfer and would like to help, the best way to start is by entering the golf tournament.

It is a four-person team event with a two-best ball format including player handicaps and an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

Registration will begin at 7 a.m. and includes a silent auction and putting contest. At 1 p.m., golfers will enjoy lunch, an awards ceremony and raffle.

Unfortunately, golfing in Las Vegas isn't cheap, but if you enter the tournament, it is for a worthy cause.

The cost is $225 per person and $800 for a foursome. The fees include all of the festivities and other tee prizes.

Auction items include a video poker slot machine, tickets to various shows and a foursome of golf including Atlanta Braves pitcher and Las Vegan Greg Maddux.

Call 255-7930 to register or for more information.