76°F
weather icon Clear

Animal shelter called ‘model program’ by chief

Conditions have changed dramatically at the Boulder City Animal Shelter since 2015 when an employee called police to tell them that the person who then ran the shelter was refusing to provide care for a badly hurt 11-week-old pit bull.

That call led to a police investigation and Animal Control Supervisor Mary Jo Frazier resigned days after the investigation was complete. Eventually, in 2017, she pleaded guilty to a single count of animal cruelty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and four years of probation and forbidden by the court to own or interact with any animals.

And the employee who made the call, Ann Inabnitt, who was then an animal control officer, has been the supervisor ever since.

In his annual report to the City Council, Police Chief Tim Shea said that the shelter was an area where he is “particularly proud of our folks.”

“You all know what it was like up there just a few years ago, and the staff up there has turned into just a model program,” he said Tuesday night, noting that, with a euthanization rate that holds steady at between 3% and 4%, the shelter is considered “no kill.” (In order to qualify as no kill, a shelter has to keep its euthanasia rate to under 10%.)

“We don’t just kill animals because they are a nuisance. We don’t kill them because we are overcrowded,” he reported. “The ones that we have to euthanize usually fall into two categories. One is they can’t be saved or they are such a vicious animal that we can’t even take them to secondary places where we would take animals that are questionable.”

In 2022, 358 domestic animals came through the shelter. Owners were located and the animals returned in 237 of those cases and another 116 animals were adopted out to new homes.

One area where the shelter in Boulder City may differ from more urban areas is the number of wild animals dealt with - 127 were captured and relocated in 2022, according to Shea.

“The number of wild animals has gone up quite a bit, according to Ann,” Shea reported. “We have lots of snakes and ring-tail cats and now we are seeing raccoons.”

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Search for Central Market tenant continues

It’s been just short of two months since of a trio of friends, who are also longtime local property and business owners, made an announcement that piqued the interest of many in Boulder City.

About 83% of students feel safe at BC schools

Councilwoman Sherri Jorgensen was full of praise regarding a recent all-schools event at the high school.

Local aid groups get fed grant funding

The city has approved disbursement of almost $255,000 in federally-supplied community development block grant (CDBG) funds to three local entities: the Senior Center, Emergency Aid and Lend A Hand.

Planning commission approves Tract 350 variance request

Toll Brothers bettered their record in front of the planning commission to 2-1 last month when the developer got approval for a variance request related to the width of lots in Tract 350.

Kicking Off the New Year

Boulder City High School held its traditional back-to-school assembly this past Friday. School spirit and enthusiasm filled the gym as classes competed against one another to hold the coveted Spirit Stick. Aside from games, members of the fall sports teams performed to songs.

BC Electric’s Medo makes accusations about e-bike/scooter law

While the great majority of public comment surrounding the issues of unsafe usage — often by juveniles — of e-bikes and electric scooters was firmly on the side of the city “doing something,” not everyone is onboard.

So where does that RDA money come from?

It wasn’t all about donuts or whether super bright pink is an appropriate color for a building in the historic district. In addition to donuts it was about, well, dollars.

King to participate in essay contest

Last week, it was announced that fourth graders throughout the state are invited to participate in an essay contest, with the winner receiving the honor of lighting the 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.

Really better buy that helmet

With a couple of significant amendments, the city council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance regulating the use of e-bikes and e-scooters in Boulder City. The ordinance passed unanimously Tuesday and will take effect on Sept. 18.