Living Las Vegas

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Rescue Me: Adopting a Pet in Las Vegas

People looking for pets in Las Vegas have many options besides breeders and pet stores. The valley is home to quite a number of shelters and rescue organizations that offer dogs, cats and other animals for adoption. To learn more about the choices and the process, I spoke with my favorite local Dog Whisperer: Charles Richey. Richey is a webmaster by profession (LVREalty.net, LasVegasNV), but he and his wife, local Realtor Jacqui Richey, share a passion for animal welfare. They volunteer with several local shelters and rescue efforts in Las Vegas, and they provide foster care for pets in need on a continuing basis.

Here are just a few of Richey’s tips for successful pet adoption and pet ownership in and around Las Vegas.

1. Be ready to make the sizeable emotional and financial commitment that comes with pet ownership. Do plenty of research before you decide what kind and breed of animal to adopt, and learn the licensing requirements for your specific area. Dog licenses are required, for example, in the City of Las Vegas but not in the unincorporated county areas, while certain shots and vaccinations are required everywhere. Contact a vet for information specific to your neighborhood.

2. Understand the impact of desert climate. Pets must stay indoors as much as possible during the summer months, and they must always have access to water. “Two hours in the summer heat without water can kill a dog or a cat,” warns Richey. Leaving an animal in a car — even for a few minutes — can also result in death, he says, even when the outside temperature is only 80 degrees.

On the plus side, the desert climate means that fleas, ticks and other pests are almost nonexistent here — unless, of course, you take your pets up to Mount Charleston; the alpine climate at 10,000 feet is completely different from the valley floor. If you’re planning a mountain hike, Richey recommends talking to your vet about pest prevention and treatments.

3. When you’re ready to adopt, your first stop should be the local shelters. “A lot of people think that the shelter is full of nothing but pit bulls, but that’s not true,” Richey says. In fact, there are plenty of purebred dogs of all sizes and types available. Most of the local rescue groups post their currently available pets on PetFinder.com; it’s a great place to browse. Also on the Web are a list of groups that rescue and place particular breeds of dogs and links to shelters and other pet resources.

One local rescue organization, Heaven Can Wait, has developed a training program to help make nice dogs even better candidates for adoption. The program, which is conducted in the two local women’s correctional facilities, teaches rescued dogs basic obedience and indoor living skills.

To get an idea of what it’s like to adopt a pet, I visited the Lied Animal Shelter on the north side of Las Vegas. The facility is large, attractive, clean and new. The kennels housing the adoptable dogs are easily the nicest I have ever seen anywhere, even in private boarding kennels.

Adoption counselors greeted me and explained that if I wanted to adopt a pet, I’d need to fill out an application. The form asks for basic personal information and includes questions about pet care and ownership. If I had completed the process, a counselor would have interviewed me to ensure I would be able to care for an animal properly. He then would have assisted me with selection.

Prospective owners can interact with the animals they’re considering in one of several fenced enclosures. You can even bring a dog you already own to see how it gets along with a prospective playmate. I watched a golden retriever frolic with a shaggy white sheepdog while a family with two small children observed them.

Once you make a choice – a tough proposition, given all those thumping tails and beseeching eyes – the appropriate fees are assessed. At the Lied shelter, adoption fees range from $75 to $150 depending on size, age and type of animal. When you return the next day for pickup, your new pet will have been spayed or neutered, a service that is included in the adoption fee. In addition, every animal is up to date with all shots and vaccinations, has had an identification microchip implanted under the skin, and has received a clean bill of health from a staff veterinarian.

Those who’d like to acquire a dog in true Vegas fashion should consider attending the annual fundraising and adoption event called “Best in Show.” It is sponsored by the Lied shelter and held every spring at the Orleans Arena. The show, which this year takes place on Sunday, June 1, is a popular spectator event featuring 60 dogs in need of homes. The dogs rated in a variety of categories by AKC-registered judges and are auctioned off to the dog lovers willing to bid the most. Last year, all 60 dogs were adopted — several for thousands of dollars. Even if you aren’t in the market for a new pet, “Best in Show” is great fun for the whole family, and it supports an excellent cause.