Animal shelter contract request rejected

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, March 21, 2001 | 10:29 a.m.

Concerned over problems plaguing Dewey Animal Care Center, Clark County commissioners on Tuesday rejected the animal shelter's request for two five-year contract extensions.

The board instead directed its appointed Animal Advisory Committee to explore options on how to improve the county's pet services and care -- whether by allowing Dewey to build a new facility or by putting the services out to bid.

While the future of the shelter off Decatur Boulevard is blurry, what became clear Tuesday was the public's dissatisfaction with Dewey, operators of the shelter since 1985.

Last Chance for Animals leader Rita Bernier said Dewey's aging building and substandard kennels were a "black eye" for the county and said the facility is susceptible to fire.

"The kennels are dungeons, they're horrible," Bernier said.

Dog lover La Rae Hugues stood in line at Dewey for hours as she waited to adopt an 8-year-old miniature Pincher she saw on a pet adoption segment of the news. Hugues watched as potential pet owners became tired of the long wait and left. Hugues wondered how many potential pets lost their lives as a result.

"I am sorry I ever went over to the shelter," Hugues wrote commissioners. "As now I know that the animals are losing their lives needlessly."

Testimony offered Tuesday added to problems outlined in internal memos between the county's administrative offices and Dewey President Dr. Joseph Freer.

The county complained of cats being stacked in cages in the arrival area for 30 hours, wet and cold kennels and euthanasia chemicals draining into the ground rather than a septic tank.

Freer acknowledged the building is old and said the only way to improve the facility is by building a new $10 million state-of-the-art shelter.

To find the funding, however, Freer said he needed his $1.2 million a year contract extended five years with an option for a second five years. Freer's existing contract doesn't expire until 2005.

Commissioner Mary Kincaid, who once took her pets to Freer, said she proposed the early contract extension so Freer and Dewey officials would know what their future held.

"Whether or not they can build a shelter depends on whether they get this contract extension," Kincaid said.

Last summer Dewey approached the county about reinstating pet licenses to help pay for a satellite shelter. Freer argued that a satellite facility would be more convenient for pet owners in the northeast who have to drive miles to get to the shelter off Decatur near Tropicana Avenue.

The Animal Advisory Committee, which will include Dewey's plans for a new building in its list of options, is scheduled to return to the board in three months to deliver a progress report.

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