Letter: County needs its own shelter

Monday, March 3, 2003 | 8:53 a.m.

The current shelter contract battle between the Animal Foundation and Dewey Animal Care Center does not provide a meaningful choice, as both are rife with problems that are built into the current system and will only escalate without proper management and accountability. Clark County should build its own shelter, hire competent and accountable management and avoid "rent" payments to contractors.

The wasteful program of using taxpayers dollars to build shelters that contractors own or will own must stop. If the county had built a shelter with the rent paid over the years it would now own its own shelter and not be in its dilemma. Most people are unaware the building referred to as Dewey is owned by a developer who for years has been receiving $30,000 a month rent for the building. The same mistake should not be repeated. If the county does not own its own building, it has very little bargaining power when problems develop with the contractor as there would be no place to put the animals if the contract is canceled.

A few years ago Henderson built the best shelter in the state. Reno and Washoe County are together building a $10 million-plus shelter and Boulder City is beginning the process. It's time to "bite the bullet" and make a decision that will save future taxpayer dollars and prevent county commissioners 10 years hence from facing the same problem the commissioners are now facing.

JUDITH RUIZ Editor's note: The writer is president of the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society.