Editorial: Lease on life for dogs

Monday, July 25, 2005 | 9:23 a.m.

After years of planning and hosting fund-raisers, operators of the Animal Foundation's Lied Animal Shelter two weeks ago partially opened their new, $16 million wing that will hold as many as 1,000 dogs. The new facility, 655 N. Mohave Road, will feature 44 comfortable bungalows enclosing roomy doghouses when fully constructed.

The Lied Animal Shelter serves Clark County, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. The need for the expansion is evident in the growing number of animals that are being brought to the shelter by Animal Control officers or families that had to give up their pets. Last year the shelter took in 23,800 animals and the pace this year is on track to exceed that number. With the expanded facility, the shelter, hopefully, will be able to increase its adoptions and decrease the number of animals that must be euthanized.

We welcome the expanded space for dogs awaiting adoption. It's a state-of-the-art facility that will make adopting a dog a more pleasant experience. A thousand dogs is a lot of dogs, and staff at the shelter are in the process of bathing and moving them into their new quarters. Volunteering to help would be a good way to see this latest improvement to the Las Vegas Valley. Anyone interested may call 384-3333.