The Boulder City Animal Shelter staff does more than just corral wayward dogs and cats until their owners can be located. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that many residents aren’t aware of, but should be! The pandemic highlighted some of their efforts as people who visited some of our local food pantries found. There was food available for pets as well!
Animal Control Supervisor Ann Inabnitt joined forces with both the Boulder City Senior Center and Emergency Aid of Boulder City to make sure that people experiencing trouble putting food on the table, also weren’t forced to make hard decisions about their pets too. Supervisor Inabnitt and her staff made sure that each location also had dog and cat food available for residents to take home for their pets, as well.
Supervisor Inabnitt and her staff, Animal Control Officer Brendan Hanson, Animal Control Officer Rebecca Schuster, and Boulder City Police Department Volunteer Anna Willison, receive donations from members of the community on a regular basis, which makes participating in these types of programs an easy decision. “The truth is, many people are afraid to ask for help feeding their pets,” Supervisor Inabnitt says. “By providing the food to the Senior Center or Emergency Aid, they don’t have to ask. It’s there for them to take.” Some of the donations made to the shelter are specifically earmarked for this purpose by the person or group sending the donations.
On a recent tour of the shelter, Supervisor Inabnitt pointed out the areas where they keep their food donations, in order to redistribute them to those in need in our community, especially senior citizens. Supervisor Inabnitt likes to make those donations personally, to check in with elderly residents, as well as their pets. This way, she’s able to connect residents with other community resources they may need, like help with paying utility bills or having small repairs done. She’s also able to see the condition of the animals to make sure they’re staying well during these hard times.
In addition to the food donations, the Animal Shelter has seen a wonderful response to its occasional request for materials like towels, blankets, cleaning supplies, collars, leashes and more. People in Boulder City are very generous as evidenced by the supply rooms at the shelter. Some of these supplies have come in especially handy now that the shelter has a litter of puppies! Yes, there’s a mama and seven adorable puppies currently at the shelter. Sorry folks, all puppies have been claimed for adoption as soon as they’re old enough to leave!
The Shelter, due to pandemic regulations, is only open by appointment. You can call (702) 293-9283 to make an appointment to see the other animals available. They’re all so cute and ready for “fur-ever” homes! To request an adoption application, click HERE.
With the upcoming holiday fast approaching and all of its normal activities, Supervisor Inabnitt reminds families that their dogs don’t want to attend events like the Damboree activities down at Veterans Memorial Park, especially the fireworks. Dogs can’t relax in large crowds full of hundreds of people, other dogs, strange sights and smells. Every year, dogs get spooked and run away during fireworks and can be injured or worse. If possible, leave pets safely at home, preferably inside where it’s air conditioned and they are less likely to be bothered by loud noises. Supervisor Inabnitt suggests putting on a movie with explosions to acclimate the animals to loud noises so that the fireworks later aren’t quite as frightening.
Another thing families with pets should remember is that going to the lake is fun for people, but not necessarily for dogs. Riding in the back of the truck while it’s hot out is not appropriate. the bed of the truck can be too warm for dogs, even with a bedliner present. many dogs do enjoy swimming, its true, but with lake levels at their lowest, bacteria in the water can cause stomach and intestinal distress for them. They may also wander away and become lost. It’s best to leave them safely, at home, where they have cooler air temperatures, and access to appropriate food and clean water.
It is illegal to leave your pets outside without shelter from the heat. You must also provide fresh, clean water in a non-metallic bowl that is protected from the heat. Dogs and cats do best indoors, away from the elements and predators. One way to make this work for your family is to crate train your animals. Crate trained animals learn to stay safe in their crates, while inside their homes, with access to food, water and safe places to toilet. Ask your veterinarian for appropriate crate training resources for your pets. It’s never too late to teach and old dog (or cat) a new trick!
The Animal Shelter accepts donations year round. if you would like to donate food to either the animals at the shelter or those in need in the community, Supervisor Inabnitt prefers Purina brand food. The shelter also accepts prescription diet foods for pets. To make arrangements to drop off donations, please call (702) 293-9283. Please note that staff are often responding to calls dispatched throughout the city, so it may be necessary to leave a message. They will return your call as soon as possible.
