Nevada Humane Society Files: A New Beginning for Animals in Carson City

It’s hard to believe that nearly two years ago we began a partnership with Carson City, as the city selected Nevada Humane Society to lead Carson City Animal Services. Our tasks would not only include pet adoptions and animal sheltering, but the animal regulation services too.

It was an adventure and one that would ultimately increase lifesaving and overall animal welfare in Nevada’s capital city. The partnership had a goal to provide Carson City citizens expanded levels of service and further expand Northern Nevada’s leadership position in animal stewardship.

Since then, we’ve come a long way. We’ve established a caring and progressive Animal Services team. We pride ourselves on service, helping to keep pets in homes, reunite them with their owners if they go missing, and promote healthy, responsible pet ownership.

Innovation helped us transform Washoe County into a leader for animal welfare and it was a no brainer to make Carson City the next big thing. From day one we accomplished this and now, as our brand new animal shelter is nearing the final stages of construction, we’re excited for the next phase of lifesaving.

Construction broke about a year ago, and the new shelter replaces the current shelter on Butti Way, which was built in the 1960s. It will be about 10,000 square feet, with space for 97 dogs, 106 cats and several exotics — much bigger than the current shelter. It will also include a veterinary clinic, so we can soon extend low-cost spay and neuter, as well as vaccines to locals.

Licensing, lost and found, and other services will also be on site. Funding came from a sales tax, donations from Nevada Humane Society and Carson Animal Services Initiative (CASI), as well as generous grants from Maddie’s Fund and Petco Foundation. It’s a project that the citizens of Carson City demanded, and one that we are proud to lead.

We’ve watched our community grow in Washoe County, and by grow, I mean we’ve watched animals get second chances and more people welcome pets into their family. More people are involved, with everything from volunteering to donating to opening their homes temporarily as foster families.

People love pets, and as we continue to educate the world on just how important this is, and the positive impact having a four-legged companion does for us, it will only continue to grow. We’re excited to have Carson City on board with this lifesaving mission, and we truly hope to one day make Nevada a no-kill state.

As we welcome this brand new, beautiful, lifesaving addition to Northern Nevada, we hope you will too. Join us on Saturday, October 8, from 10am to 6:30pm, and Sunday, October 9, from 11am to 6:30pm, for an open house. Of course we’re hoping to see dozens of pet adoptions, but we’ll also have giveaways, shelter tours, photo opportunities and more.

Our new animal shelter is located at 549 Airport Road in Carson City, literally around the corner from the current one.

We know big things are coming and we can’t wait to share them with you. We hope that as we grow, you grow with us — and you help us build lifesaving to extend across Nevada. Our pets matter.

And, if anyone ever asks me why I do what I do and why I got into animal welfare, my answer is always the same: They don’t have a voice. I am their voice. I am their second chance. Now, I challenge you to think along those same lines, adopting and increasing your household to add another pet, saving more pennies to donate to the animals, and encouraging everyone around you to do the same. Together, we’re going places, and Carson City is only the second step in the bigger picture.

— Kimberly Wade is the Senior Manager of Communications and Events for Nevada Humane Society. She has been with the organization for nearly 6 years but has had a lifelong passion for animals. Kimberly lives with her husband, 3 cats (one pictured), 3 dogs and a fish.