North Las Vegas finalizing switch to Lied Animal Shelter

Thursday, April 8, 2004 | 9:48 a.m.

North Las Vegas is moving toward finalizing a change in animal shelters that will land the city's unwanted and runaway pets in the Lied Animal Shelter, the same facility used by other Las Vegas Valley governments.

The North Las Vegas City Council received an update Wednesday on the city's move toward finalizing a contract with the Animal Foundation, which runs the Lied shelter, and an agreement between the North Las Vegas, Las Vegas and Clark County, which would all use the shelter.

City Manager Gregory Rose said the council will probably be asked to vote on the agreement with the other governments sometime next month. He did not say when the contract with the Animal Foundation would be presented to the council for adoption, but said it would be soon.

Under the proposed contract, North Las Vegas would pay $250,000 a year for five years, then $200,000 a year for the following five years, according to the Wednesday staff presentation.

Currently, the city sends found pets to the Dewey Animal Shelter. The city's $180,000-a-year contract with Dewey expires in April 2005. That contract has been in place for 10 years.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith said she was happy with the proposed change in shelters.

"This is really a step forward, a step in the right direction," she said.

The County Commission's decision to award the county contract to Lied last July came after terse debate between supporters of Lied and those who wanted the county to stick with Dewey. The two sides criticized each other's operations.

Janie Greenspun Gale, a member of the Greenspun family, which owns the Sun, is a member of Animal Foundation board of directors.