Animal Shelter News: December 2023

We couldn't resist a little play on words with our post today about all the news happening at the Boulder City Animal Shelter, but there really is a lot happening right now that the community should know. We bring you the latest. STAFFING: Sadly, the Animal Shelter recently lost two staff members to Clark County. Nik Caldera and Kasey Young's last day at the Boulder City Animal Control Shelter was earlier this month. Animal Control Supervisor stated, "We wish them all the luck in their new endeavors over the hill. We love them and will miss them." This news means that the shelter is understaffed, again. Since it takes a while for the city to replace staff, please be patient with the staff and volunteers who are doing their best to manage with the staff remaining. The shelter still requires appointments to retrieve lost animals, meet adoptive animals, etc. Please call (702) 293-9283 and leave a message. They will return the call when they are able to. If you are interested in employment with the city at the animal shelter, you can go to Human Resources in City Hall (401 California Avenue) to find out more about the process. PETS AS GIFTS: We hate that we have to remind people of this every year, but giving animals as pets is a big no-no. Please don't do it. Pet ownership is very personal and many holiday pets are mistreated or surrendered because the receiving party was not prepared for the commitment. JUST DON'T DO IT!!! DONATIONS: The shelter can ALWAYS use donations! Here are some of the things they always need and specifically request:

• Laundry detergent
• Chlorine bleach (for laundry)
• Bedding, blankets, and towels
• Soft Scrub with Bleach multipurpose cleaner
• Comet toilet cleanser (helps clean up those inevitable accidents the animals have)
• Rags for cleaning
• Purina Dog Food (check expiration dates)
• Purina Cat Food (check expiration dates)

You'll need to call ahead at the number above to drop off your donations. Alternatively, there are a number of donation boxes around town that are collecting for the shelter, including Maxx's Oasis and Creative Hair and Nails. Oh, they also need dryer sheets! The dogs will thank you for this. Apparently a blanket had to much static, and a poodle ended up looking like a sultan with a turban! Bounce makes some great dryer sheets that also repel pet hair. We personally can vouch for those! If you would like to set up an ongoing or regular donation thru Amazon, Chewy, or a similar company, the best way to address those deliveries (especially now that the Animal Shelter is understaffed) is as follows:

City of Boulder City Police Department ATTN: Animal Control Division 1005 Arizona Street Boulder City, NV 89005

Someone is available 24/7/365 at the police department so they can always receive deliveries and the Animal Control Shelter will be able to pick it up and take it back to the shelter. Ann wanted to thank the community for always being so generous around the holidays especially. Your donations help the shelter maintain its high standards of cleanliness and comfort, and helps them to remain a mostly no-kill shelter.

ANIMALS AT THE SHELTER: Speaking of the shelter, Boulder City continue to see an increase of abandoned animals. This is a very sad and dangerous situation for the dogs and cats. The numbers are still high, compared to a few years ago. Fortunately Ann and her team have been very good at finding suitable homes for these pets. FERAL CATS: An update on the feral cat program brings great news: the majority of the feral cat colonies throughout Boulder City have been humanely trapped and spayed or neutered. In past years, the shelter would see at least 12 litters of feral kittens (with each litter containing an average of 5 kittens each). These litters were a lot of animals to work with and find homes for. Through a grant partnership with Community Cat Coalition of Clark County (C5), they've been able to reduce that number to about 2 litters per year. This is a great win for the cats, and the city! You may recognize these cats in your neighborhood, because they have a clipped ear to signify they've been taken care of. RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN DOGS: You may have read some news stories about a mysterious illness going around the valley in dogs. It intially manifests with gooey, red eyes and within 12 hours, the animals are usually coughing and spitting up phlegm like material. The illness quickly progress to a more serious cough and can become pneumonia in a matter of days. It's usually treated as kennel cough first and antibiotics are provided. If symptoms persist or get worse, different types of antibiotics may be prescribed. There are also other tests like X-rays, blood tests, etc to check for other disease. Basically, this is a costly illness. Ann recommends keeping your dogs at home and away from areas where other dogs may congregate who may be infected. PET LICENSES: As 2023 comes to a close, pet tags expire as well. Make plans to get your animal's license renewed. For more information about pet licensing, visit the city's website HERE. There are penalties (fines) for owners who don't license their pets. Be a responsible pet owner and get a license. It also might be a good time to update your pet's microchip (if they have one) or consider microchipping your pet. Most veterinarians can handle this initial process for you. Microchipping your pet makes it easier for Animal Control staff to reunite you with your pet. There was a recent story about a cat that ended up at the shelter that was chipped. It turned out she'd disappeared from her home in Henderson five months earlier. We love a happy ending! PREPARING FOR 2024: Speaking of endings, 2023 is wrapping up very soon. That means people will be hosting parties, maybe setting off fireworks, and perhaps be a little impaired. It's very easy for a pet to go missing during these times. In fact Ann reports that New Year's Eve and Day are often busy days for Animal Control, as animals get frightened and run off. We would like to take this opportunity and remind you that you can purchase Doggie CBD from Dyanah Musgrave (yes, she of the famous Christmas House on Fifth Street). Visit her website HERE to purchase or call her at (702) 677-2567 for details. Here's to a happy and healthy 2024 for ourselves and our pets! Enjoy these pictures of recent visitors to the Animal Shelter.