LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Paws Patrol LV, a local pet rescue organization, is raising awareness about the growing issue of abandoned animals in the valley, a problem that is exacerbating with the rising summer temperatures.
Renan Toro, a dedicated volunteer with Paws Patrol LV, reports a disturbing increase in the number of animals being abandoned at various sites around Las Vegas in recent months. “Basically, they just leave them to die; there is nothing out here,” Toro said.
Since the beginning of the year, calls for service regarding lost or abandoned pets have surged, becoming almost a daily occurrence. Toro describes the situation as dire, with animals being abandoned in the streets and deserts around the city. “It’s going, I would say, by the week; by the day, people are dumping dogs everywhere in the street, the desert. It’s hard to keep count because I wouldn’t be surprised that right now if we see a dog that is just walking by here because they usually come here at night, and they just dump them,” he explained.
Tragically, volunteers recently discovered at least one deceased animal at one of the many sites from which they have rescued dogs. Toro identified several primary dumping grounds, including desert areas near Hollywood View, Lake Mead View, Frenchman Mountain, Clark County Wetlands, Red Rock, and Mt. Charleston.
“We search the area, we use drones, we walk the areas, we put feeding stations, and once we have sightings of the dog or the dogs, then we basically start setting up a trap, and we monitor the trap. We don’t leave traps unattended because it’s dangerous,” Toro added.
The escalating temperatures add another layer of urgency to the situation, as abandoned animals struggle to survive in the extreme heat. “It’s definitely getting hotter, and people are dumping here in the desert. There is no water, there is no food, they are not going to survive,” Toro emphasized.
For rescued dogs like Rex, the organization collaborates with local adoptable rescues such as the Lost and Found Animal Foundation. These partnerships aim to find experienced foster homes and permanent, loving families for the abandoned animals.
Paws Patrol LV continues its mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome these vulnerable animals, appealing to the community for support and awareness to combat this growing issue.
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