Cameras proposed to monitor activity at the animal shelter
Surveillance cameras could soon be in place at the Nevada Animal Shelter to monitor activity there, according to Police Chief Christine Keim.
Since the shelter closed unexpectedly in January, after what authorities say was a suspected outbreak of canine parvovirus, there have been instances of people dropping animals off at the closed animal shelter and other undesirable activity that Keim believes would be discouraged with the advent of monitoring.
"We could keep an eye on the shelter and since the shooting range is right there we could see it as well," Keim said.
Cameras would enable the police to see what is happening at the facility and who might be involved. Cameras are already in use in other city facilities and have proven themselves useful.
The closing of the animal shelter has upset many people and feelings are running high. A recent example of activity that raised the need for cameras happened Monday. Pat Houser called the Daily Mail to report that four puppies had been dropped off outside the shelter and said a call to the city had produced no results.
When questioned about the incident, Keim said that when officers responded to the call there were seven vehicles in front of the fence around the shelter and the puppies were in cars.
"When we went to see about the puppies people there wouldn't let officers have them," Keim said. "They said, 'You're going to kill them' and wouldn't turn them over."
Keim said actions like that took officers away from patrolling the streets and their other duties and cost the taxpayers money.
"It's not fair to taxpayers or to the officers to tie them up like that," Keim said.