Animal Foundation plans second site

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002 | 11:13 a.m.

Despite a tumultuous year that included the demotion of its president, the Animal Foundation is moving forward with plans to build a second campus that would include a veterinary school.

The proposed campus, on six to eight acres of city land near Mojave and Bonanza roads, would be built adjacent to the Lied Animal Shelter and include an extended-stay adoption center, a medical facility, a clinic for low-income pet owners and a special events community center.

The foundation already has a 50-year land lease from the city of Las Vegas for the property that houses the existing shelter on North Mojave Road. Its members are now asking the city for the same agreement on the nearby parcel.

Last month the City Council directed staff members to negotiate with the foundation for the land lease. Councilman Gary Reese, who represents the area, said that he is in talks with Clark County and North Las Vegas to build the complex as a regional facility.

"It's going to be bigger and better," Reese said.

The shelter opened its doors in 2001, but over the past year it has been hit by criticism of the board's former president and by a city audit.

The audit found no evidence of fraud or financial misconduct in relation to the foundation's contract with the city.

But it did find that animal licensing data was incomplete, thousands of dollars had been stolen by a former employee and unauthorized employees had access to controlled substances, including sodium pentobarbital and ketamine, both powerful sedatives popular with recreational drug users.

For months foundation President Mary Herro was the subject of criticism by animal lovers and former employees for various problems at the shelter. Although she had been overseeing daily operations at the shelter, in July she was reassigned to oversee licensing.

Robert Hillman was hired last month as the new executive director overseeing day-to-day operations at the shelter.

Diane Orgill, board member and vice president of the foundation, said much of the controversy involving Herro was blown out of proportion.

"Most of the issues with animal (facilities) get overblown," she said. "Every facility like this has problems, they have detractors. For some reason, animal issues are very emotional, and we don't expect we've seen the last of that. But we're very happy with the way things are going and it's business as usual."

Orgill said Herro is still serving as foundation president.

Judith Ruiz, president of the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society, said the community needs more than just buildings to house animals. More must be done to address pet overpopulation, she said.

"You can build shelters to the moon, but it's not going to solve the problem," Ruiz said. "I don't know that building more cages is the answer. We need to require all animals be spayed and neutered. Some of the largest sanctuaries in the world are not able to take animals ... because they don't have enough space."

According to the foundation's proposal, the campus would be paid for through fund-raising efforts.

One of the components -- combining a clinic with the veterinary technical school at the Community College of Southern Nevada -- may be the first of its kind, Hillman said.

The foundation is proposing to house the school, which would allow students to do their internships at the clinic while they are taking classes.

Traditionally, Hillman said, the students would not begin an internship at a veterinary hospital until after graduation. It then takes them another six months to a year to become proficient to work with a doctor in surgery, he added.

"The clinic would offer veterinary students an internship where they can live there at the facility and learn surgeries," Hillman said. "In turn it will help our community because we will have an additional number of interns to help take care of the injured, the sick and the animals that need surgery."

The community college appears willing to work with the foundation.

John Cummings, a lobbyist for the community college, said trained veterinarians are in high demand. The university has a two-year associate's degree in veterinary technology, and a one-year alternative program for students who have 4,000 hours of experience as a veterinary assistant. Graduates then serve an internship with a licensed clinic.

Cummings said there are still not enough resources available for the university to meet its goal.

"CCSN is looking at ways to develop partnerships in the community to build a facility that would become a national, accredited school of veterinary technology," Cummings said.

The extended-stay adoption center was included as an attempt to address overcrowding by allowing animals to stay as long as needed until shelter staff members find them a good home.

The new adoption center would house the majority of the shelter's animals, leaving room for other municipalities -- such as North Las Vegas and Clark County -- to operate their services in the existing 35,000-square-foot shelter, according to the proposal.

The wellness clinic would provide services to low-income people who might otherwise pass up treatment for their pets.

Future projects include a special events pavilion and a pet boarding facility.

Hillman said he is hoping to break ground in one year.

Reese said the shelter is a welcome addition to the area, which includes schools, a park, a police substation and a fire training facility.

"What would be better than having a nice animal shelter there?" he said.