Central animal shelter urged

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Nov. 9, 2001 | 9:35 a.m.

The inconvenience pet owners endure bouncing from one animal shelter to another in search of lost pets could be abolished if Clark County follows recommendations made by its Animal Advisory Committee.

The county's animal control staff is reviewing costs associated with building a centrally located shelter that's easily accessible to all Las Vegas Valley residents.

"We've done a lot of research," Joe Boteilho, manager of the Animal Control division, said. "Now, we're looking at what it would cost to build and what it would cost to staff."

The proposal, and a second suggestion to work collaboratively on pet adoptions with pet stores, came from the commission-appointed advisory committee, which has been studying the county's animal services since March.

If the recommendations are followed, the county's lengthy relationship with Dewey Animal Care Center could end when the contract expires in 2005.

Dewey President Dr. Joseph Freer has urged commissioners to extend his 20-year agreement beyond 2005, saying if he is guaranteed the county's financial support for the next decade he can move forward with a new state-of-the-art facility.

In March board members rejected Freer's proposal for an extension, citing poor conditions. Internal memos between Freer and county administrators listed wet and cold kennels and said that animals were left in stacked cages for hours.

Boteilho said Thursday that conditions at Dewey, off Decatur Boulevard near the Las Vegas Beltway, have improved over the past six months. He declined to say whether Dewey would be involved in the operation at the new shelter.

County officials hope Las Vegas and North Las Vegas -- which also has a contract with Dewey -- would join them in the animal shelter venture.

"We need to see what the other cities' needs are since it's a more global conversation," Boteilho said. "It makes sense to put it all together and everyone be a part of it so it's more of a community resource rather than everyone doing their own shelter and their own adoption."

Under the existing setup, owners of lost pets have to stop at the city's Lied Animal Shelter on North Mojave Road near Pecos Road, Dewey on Decatur and the city of Henderson's animal shelter.

"When you're looking for a lost dog, you want to go to one place to look," Boteilho said. "One central location helps citizens and helps the pet reclaim rate."

Freer asked why the county would have to build a facility large enough to accommodate about 30,000 animals. Rather than spending $6 million to $12 million on a building, he said, the county should invest in adoption and feral cat programs.

Freer said his facility, which he claims is centralized because of sprawling development during the past decade, is on 45 acres and, with an expansion, could easily hold up to 45,000 animals.

"Dewey, with no capital expense to the county, can build brand new kennels on that site," Freer said. "All we want is a 10-year extension."

Boteilho said he expects to present his findings on the cost of a new shelter and go back before the commission by the end of the year.