We have had a few inquiries about who does what, and when. As far as Oreo can determine, using the information we will past below; it seems WCRAS meets the defination of Animal Shelter and is empowered by Washoe County code Chapter 55 to enforce the laws of the state. Thanks for so much guidance pet protector. I hope this is correct in my assumptions and please feel free to let me know if I take a wrong turn. I am also going to contact the persons you mentioned tommorrow. I may do a bit of copy and paste to better show the things we are dealing with presently, but will make certain we get the number of the item. I don't want to take to much out of context, but really want to deal with living conditions on Longley, specifically the non-profit which refuses to be transparent.
55.040 Animal control officer; powers and duties. An animal control officer of the county shall have the following powers and duties: 1. To enforce all provisions of this chapter and all laws of the state relating to the care, treatment, impoundment and Washoe County Code Supplement 9 January 2006
NRS 574.240 “Animal shelter” defined. “Animal shelter” means a facility:
1. For receiving and holding animals;
2. Designated by a local government for receiving and holding animals; or
3. Operated by a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, which is in compliance with the provisions of NRS 574.010 to 574.040, inclusive, for receiving and holding animals. (Added to NRS by 1993, 2145)
1. For receiving and holding animals;
2. Designated by a local government for receiving and holding animals; or
3. Operated by a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, which is in compliance with the provisions of NRS 574.010 to 574.040, inclusive, for receiving and holding animals. (Added to NRS by 1993, 2145)
NRS 574.290 “Operator” defined. “Operator” means a person responsible for the operation of:
1. A cattery, kennel or commercial establishment engaged in the business of selling animals; or
2. An animal shelter. (Added to NRS by 1993, 2146)
1. A cattery, kennel or commercial establishment engaged in the business of selling animals; or
2. An animal shelter. (Added to NRS by 1993, 2146)
Duties of Operators
NRS 574.360 Buildings and grounds; housing facilities. An operator shall ensure that:
1. The buildings and grounds at all locations where dogs or cats are kept:
(a) Are clean and in good repair; and
(b) Do not become accumulated with trash.
2. Housing facilities:
(a) Are constructed and maintained in such a manner as to:
(1) Protect the dogs or cats inside from injury;
(2) Prevent the dogs or cats inside from escaping; and
(3) Restrict the entrance of other dogs and cats.
(b) Have adequate and reliable sources of electrical power and potable water available. (Added to NRS by 1993, 2147)
NRS 574.360 Buildings and grounds; housing facilities. An operator shall ensure that:
1. The buildings and grounds at all locations where dogs or cats are kept:
(a) Are clean and in good repair; and
(b) Do not become accumulated with trash.
2. Housing facilities:
(a) Are constructed and maintained in such a manner as to:
(1) Protect the dogs or cats inside from injury;
(2) Prevent the dogs or cats inside from escaping; and
(3) Restrict the entrance of other dogs and cats.
(b) Have adequate and reliable sources of electrical power and potable water available. (Added to NRS by 1993, 2147)
NRS 574.220 “Ambient temperature” defined. “Ambient temperature” means the temperature surrounding an animal. (Added to NRS by 1993, 2145)
(c) Provide adequate ventilation at all times to maintain the health and comfort of the dogs or cats inside. The system of ventilation must provide fresh air by means of windows, doors, vents or air-conditioning, and be designed to maintain drafts, odors and the condensation of moisture at a minimum. If the ambient temperature reaches 85 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, air-conditioning, exhaust fans and vents, or other auxiliary ventilation must be provided. (Added to NRS by 1993, 2147)
6. Provide sufficient space for each dog or cat inside to turn about freely and to stand, sit and lie in a comfortable, normal position.
(Added to NRS by 1993, 2148)
NRS 574.400 Floor space of primary enclosure. An operator shall ensure that a primary enclosure in which a dog or cat that is at least 6 months old is kept has a minimum amount of floor space which is calculated by finding the mathematical square of the sum of 6 inches plus the length of the dog or cat measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, and dividing that amount by 144, to arrive at the minimum amount of square footage required for the floor space. (Added to NRS by 1993, 2148)
(Added to NRS by 1993, 2148)
NRS 574.400 Floor space of primary enclosure. An operator shall ensure that a primary enclosure in which a dog or cat that is at least 6 months old is kept has a minimum amount of floor space which is calculated by finding the mathematical square of the sum of 6 inches plus the length of the dog or cat measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, and dividing that amount by 144, to arrive at the minimum amount of square footage required for the floor space. (Added to NRS by 1993, 2148)
NRS 574.430 Sanitization. An operator shall ensure that:
1. Insects, ectoparasites and avian, mammalian and reptilian pests are kept under control.
2. Supplies of food and bedding material are stored in facilities that afford adequate protection from infestation or contamination by vermin.
3. Excreta are removed from primary enclosures at least once daily to prevent contamination and to reduce to a minimum odors and the risk of disease. A primary enclosure must be disinfected at least once daily and before placing another dog or cat in the primary enclosure. If a hosing or flushing method of cleaning is used, all dogs and cats must be removed from the primary enclosure and adequate measures must be taken to protect the dogs and cats in other primary enclosures from being contaminated with water and other wastes.
4. Other enclosures are cleaned, washed and disinfected at least once every 2 weeks to prevent any accumulation of debris or excreta and to reduce to a practical minimum substances and organisms injurious to the health of animals or humans.
5. Pens or runs with hard surfaces, and cages and rooms, are sanitized at least once every 2 weeks by:
(a) Washing them with water of a temperature not less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit and with soap or detergent;
(b) Washing all soiled surfaces with a safe and effective disinfectant; or
(c) Cleaning all soiled surfaces with live steam.
6. Pens or runs with gravel, sand or dirt surfaces are cleaned as often as necessary by removing and replacing the soiled gravel, sand or dirt.
7. Sewage, solid wastes, soiled bedding, dead animals and debris are removed from housing facilities regularly and disposed of properly.
8. Facilities for disposal are maintained in such a manner as to reduce to a minimum odors and the risk of disease or infestation by vermin.
9. Adequate facilities, such as washrooms, basins or sinks, are provided for the cleanliness of persons handling animals.
(Added to NRS by 1993, 2149)
NRS 574.440 Program to control disease and care for health. An operator shall, with the approval of a veterinarian, establish and maintain a program to control disease and care for the health of dogs and cats. As part of this program, an operator shall ensure that:
1. Each dog and cat is observed daily by the person directly responsible for its care, or by someone else under that person’s direct supervision. 2. Blind, lame, injured, ill or diseased dogs and cats are provided with the appropriate veterinary care that is consistent with the purposes for which a dog or cat is being kept or humanely euthanized.
1. Insects, ectoparasites and avian, mammalian and reptilian pests are kept under control.
2. Supplies of food and bedding material are stored in facilities that afford adequate protection from infestation or contamination by vermin.
3. Excreta are removed from primary enclosures at least once daily to prevent contamination and to reduce to a minimum odors and the risk of disease. A primary enclosure must be disinfected at least once daily and before placing another dog or cat in the primary enclosure. If a hosing or flushing method of cleaning is used, all dogs and cats must be removed from the primary enclosure and adequate measures must be taken to protect the dogs and cats in other primary enclosures from being contaminated with water and other wastes.
4. Other enclosures are cleaned, washed and disinfected at least once every 2 weeks to prevent any accumulation of debris or excreta and to reduce to a practical minimum substances and organisms injurious to the health of animals or humans.
5. Pens or runs with hard surfaces, and cages and rooms, are sanitized at least once every 2 weeks by:
(a) Washing them with water of a temperature not less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit and with soap or detergent;
(b) Washing all soiled surfaces with a safe and effective disinfectant; or
(c) Cleaning all soiled surfaces with live steam.
6. Pens or runs with gravel, sand or dirt surfaces are cleaned as often as necessary by removing and replacing the soiled gravel, sand or dirt.
7. Sewage, solid wastes, soiled bedding, dead animals and debris are removed from housing facilities regularly and disposed of properly.
8. Facilities for disposal are maintained in such a manner as to reduce to a minimum odors and the risk of disease or infestation by vermin.
9. Adequate facilities, such as washrooms, basins or sinks, are provided for the cleanliness of persons handling animals.
(Added to NRS by 1993, 2149)
NRS 574.440 Program to control disease and care for health. An operator shall, with the approval of a veterinarian, establish and maintain a program to control disease and care for the health of dogs and cats. As part of this program, an operator shall ensure that:
1. Each dog and cat is observed daily by the person directly responsible for its care, or by someone else under that person’s direct supervision. 2. Blind, lame, injured, ill or diseased dogs and cats are provided with the appropriate veterinary care that is consistent with the purposes for which a dog or cat is being kept or humanely euthanized.
Oreo had serious concerns about the length of time the cats are kept in " rooms" not meant for live storage, ventilation is a biggie, the general crowding and overflow issues. The animals already exceed anticipated numbers and this needs to be checked and supervised.
Pictured is Oreo at her retirement party..
6 comments:
We appreciate you putting this up Oreo. expetcop has several pieces of good information that my wife is trying to understand. I don't understand it at all, but I do see the connection between no kill and crowding in the shelter. Under current Nevada law is the county the one to enforce on say the SPCA or NHS or a private rescue if there is a complaint ? That is the way this post reads. Thanks for not putting links, I am not very good with that. By the time I get back I have forgotten what I was looking for. Lucy came across a grouch at the park tonight, she and Riley were running and knocked this terrier over. The owner got ticked and started to yell at Riley. Told me to get my pitbull out of there. Guess I need to get used to hearing the P word. after we talked for a few minutes he explained that he had been attacked by untrained " foster" dogs and was damn tired of it. we assured him we had adopted Riley and all his shots were current and by the way, his dog bit Riley. We ended up having a good laugh at the situation, but tensions are high if your dog looks pit. we will keep a close eye on him, but I think he is fine, just a puppy being rowdy.
Reading the NRS leaves plenty of room to wonder what the heck they are thinking. The temperatures are much higher around the cat congestion areas, so even if it seems pleasant 3 feet away the cages are hot around the cats.
Also talking to my uncle a WC engineer, the air exchanges are set for humans not animals so it's really messed up.
I am sorry Oreo, but if I showed up at the commission Diane would have me for lunch. They have a zero tolerance policy for people who care about the animals. If I get kicked out of here there is nobody to keep the watch. i am not exactly tripping over other volunteers here.
Hi Priss !
I find this all very informative, not like California. It seems so odd that the numbers from NHS cannot be found. How can they claim things with out proof? I should know, after all I did do work for a similar set up. they don't provide numbers because they don't keep current statistics. I will be in Reno again next week, I will go look the shelter over and maybe I will bump into you and Priss at a park. Have you contacted the state vet? That would be my first stop.
I keep looking back at this, there is a lot of things that don't match what we have seen. How many dogs are supposed to be in a pen, and how do they enforce that? Have there been any dogs killed from fighting during the night? How do the cats walk after sleeping in their food dish for weeks on end, and why isn't somebody doing something about it.
Non profit shelters are not subject to public records requests. That's why we can't get the truth out of NHS. Look at Philly, all was great there according to the numbers they released but it wasn't. Finally the SPCA went in and now PACCA is being investigated for cruelty/abuse and is being audited. I say we need to approach legislators about some laws regulating these non profits that take taxpayer money for shelters. They need to be accountable to the public.
That was almost to long a post Oreo! One of the more intersting things to me was the law about blind,lame animals, there was a lot of discussion about the number of special needs dogs they had up for adoption. they have a featured dog right now in the newspaper that says something about can see a little bit. How are they treating that. A phone call was not returned. That must be how they handle things, they adopt them out and warn you about the care they need to be comfortable, but they don't do it?
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