Jerry Harvey, a resident of Beatty, has sent numerous e-mails to the Pahrumo Valley Times expressing concern about dogs in the area that he feels are not controlled by their owners.

Harvey has stopped contacting the Nye County Sheriff's Office about these concerns because, as one of his e-mails states, "I consider them to be a 'gang' who protects only their own and their buddies."

In a phone interview, Harvey went on to say, "I have stopped speaking to Lt. (Frank) Jarvis."

Harvey's concerns focus primarily on two incidents. One concerns a large Akita, which Harvey asserts attacked him and his own dog several months ago, and the other concerns dogs owned by the Revert family, whom Harvey feels are not kept on the Revert property and are potentially dangerous.

Harvey maintains that the Akita was seen loose Sept. 6 and that the Sheriff's department would not assist him. Harvey did not call the Sheriff's Office to report the dog; instead, he informed Deputy Pineau (who was approached by Harvey at a casino while looking for the dog's owner) that the dog was loose and should be returned to its owners or contained.

While speaking to Harvey, Pineau was dispatched to address a jack-knifed tractor trailer on SR 374 and informed Harvey that he would not be able to respond to Harvey's complaint immediately.

Jarvis said the Akita had been reported as missing to the sheriff's office earlier that day and that the owners were looking for it.

There have been no other complaints from Beatty residents about the Akita, who has changed owners and is currently believed to be at that residence, as it has not been seen loose around town lately.

Also in the e-mails, Harvey asserts that he saw a motorcyclist attacked by the Reverts' dogs, whom Harvey feels are allowed to roam off of private property and are potentially dangerous.

The motorcyclist himself did not contact the Sheriff's Office, nor were there any ambulance calls involving a person attacked by an animal.

In his response to emails from Harvey, Jarvis informed Harvey of the deputy being dispatched to another call and that there were no calls to the Sheriff's Office by the motorcyclist. Jarvis also stated that the Reverts' dogs were on private property and in the control by their owners.

According to Harvey, "That's a bold-faced lie; they do not control their dogs."

There have been no other complaints from any other residents about the Revert's dogs filed with the Sheriff's Office, according to Jarvis.

Also in the email to Harvey, Jarvis offered to issue the owner of the Akita (who at the time was unknown) a citation should Harvey find it loose again and report it to NCSO's dispatch office.

Harvey said has no intention of doing so because he believes it would be futile.

"I have stopped speaking to Lt. Jarvis," said Harvey.

Harvey believes that the reason there have been no other complaints is because "the people are scared of the Sheriff's Office and they're scared of reprisal."

In the reply email, Lt. Jarvis also informed Harvey about Animal Control officers that patrol the area on almost a weekly basis. Harvey asserts that he was unaware of these patrols until receiving the email from Jarvis, but that he would not contact Animal Control because of a previous incident with it when he was not assisted.

"It's a waste of time, and I don't waste my time anymore," said Harvey.

Harvey also is unwilling to file any kind of civil suit because he feels that the current judge is just another member of what he calls the "boys' club."

Jarvis said that there are very few calls for animal complaints in general.

In lieu of calling in a complaint to the NCSO or filing a civil suit, Harvey has instead elected to email "selected persons" about his concerns, including District Attorney Robert S. Beckett. Harvey has also written to his friends "to warn them of continuing violations."