MARK WAITE / PVT Denise Davis, president of Southern Nye County Friends of Animals, cuddles a newly-arrived puppy at her kennel on Nye Road while in the background her daughter Michelle feeds treats to "Buddy," an 11-year-old German shepherd. Advertisement

Denise Davis, president of Southern Nye County Friends of Animals, clutched a newly-arrived puppy, while she looked down at an 11-year-old German shepherd named "Buddy" at her New Leash on Life kennel on Nye Road in the northwest Pahrump Valley.

"I don't have the heart to put him down," Davis said of Buddy.

Davis plans to try to get Buddy adopted through German Shepherd Rescue of Las Vegas.

While county officials applauded the noble intentions of Southern Nye County Friends of Animals, neighbors have been baying in protest since the kennel opened. Davis said they have been at the Nye Road location since May 31; the first citation was received June 1.

Neighbors showed up in force at the Aug. 22 Nye County Commission meeting.

"They made us sound like we're criminals," Davis said afterwards. She said some of the surrounding neighbors have horses in corrals without any shade.

"This is too close to people. Who would've thought?" she asked.

Davis said she had about 55 dogs in the kennel as of last week. Some were excitedly barking when she walked through the kennel. There were some smells of animal manure, but also the smell of bleach disinfectant in the air.

The organization picks up from the county shelter excess dogs due to be put to sleep, keeps them in pens long enough to take them to the veterinarian to get their shots and be spayed or neutered, then takes them to Pet Smart stores in Las Vegas on weekends for adoption.

County commissioners, however, described a deluge of complaints, including a video email message to Nye County District II Commissioner Joni Eastley, who supervises the district. The owners were also in justice court, where they agreed to plead guilty to one count of excessive barking, one of 35 counts in the citation.

Eastley told the Nye County Planning Department to research land use violations for that property. She said she couldn't find an application for a business license. Further, the building permit was issued for a garage for residential use only. Eastley said there's no residence on the property, only a motor home hooked up to utilities, which could be a code violation.

"In my opinion, this operation does not meet the requirements for a kennel," Eastley said as she argued to revoke the kennel license. "I understand neighbors are calling animal control every day regarding the nuisance barking.

"I think this is a worthy operation. I'm an animal lover. I love animals. I don't like to see animals suffer or being abused," Eastley said. But she added, "This is not the right location for that operation. I have a number of concerns about the animals. I was there in June and July, probably when Pahrump was at its hottest, and I just don't see how you can keep dogs outside in cages, whether you have tarps on them or not.

"I just think it's in the wrong location. The neighbors have made it perfectly clear the excessive barking has disturbed their quality of life."

There was a sense of urgency to do something about the problem. Nye County Commission Chairman Gary Hollis added, "It's unreal the amount of conversations that I've had over this one property."

"There are people who have put their homes up for sale because they can't stand it any more," Eastley said.

Nye County Facilities Manager Bob Jones suggested using a building that was initially intended for the animal shelter. Commissioner Patricia Cox suggested putting the building on county property at the east end of Mesquite Road as a home for the kennel.

Jones suggested using four acres that were originally given to No to Abuse near the present animal shelter, which the organization won't be using. But Eastley said that would require getting appraisals and putting the property up for bid. Plans to use a county building and property appeared dead by Wednesday.

"We need some relief, the noise is unbearable," Cox said.

Cheryl Beeman, assistant director of the Nye County Planning Department, said the county can't regulate how many animals are on a property, a suggestion that drew a very negative reaction from many Pahrump residents. She said people can build a garage on their property and use it for storage, adding it's difficult to gauge what qualifies as residential use in this situation.

Nye County Animal Control Officer Debbie Pemberton said the county has had barking issues before with New Leash on Life. She said they moved from Quarterhorse Avenue, where there were complaints.

"The folks in that neighborhood opted not to cite them because of the noise issues, because they knew they were leaving shortly," Pemberton said. But she added, "They help animal control and the shelter out tremendously over being able to place the animals the shelter can't place."

Neighbor Lily Burns, 2170 W. Ambler St., said the property owner, former Nye County Friends of Animals President Vy Keller, could sell the property and put it in a more appropriate area. All the volunteers could take some dogs home with them until they found a new home, she suggested.

Donna Paulson said the barking has "been a nightmare."

Neighbor Joe Burns sent commissioners a video by email of the barking at 6:30 a.m.

"I kind of wonder how many animals my life is worth," Burns said. "I have to listen to that every time I go outside, and it's driving me crazy."

Veterinarian Dr. Suzanne Zervantian said she visits the kennel several times each week, volunteering to help the organization. She said there's barking on nearby lots as well. While the dog runs wouldn't be appropriate for dogs to live in, Zervantian said they are only temporary and are an alternative to being euthanized at the shelter.

"There's many places in Pahrump that are worse," Zervantian said. "It may not be ideal but I don't think they are suffering."

Zervantian said there's a way to work something out with the county, as other communities have done.

Davis told commissioners she and her husband had plans to buy the property and devote their lives to the rescue of animals.

"Currently, I'm getting nervous about being on this property, getting attacked by neighbors. Certainly the dogs do bark, and these neighbors are upset, and I'm new to Pahrump. I see a vision to where our family on this land can be a community resource," Davis said.

"I have a dream that it can evolve into an educational center to work with the Boys Club, the Girl Scouts, 4-H, for dog and puppy training," she said. "Teach the children of Pahrump what it means to have responsibility for a pet. All the pets are in the shelter because someone has not taken responsibility for them."