MARY BALDASANO / Special to the PVT This black and white goat has an owner, somewhere, and the staff at the Nye County Animal Shelter hopes he or she will come by to claim it. Or the owner could call 751-7020. Advertisement

Lynette Schlager is a true animal lover, to the point that when she visits the Nye County Animal Shelter, she usually ends up taking a pet home.

Schlager recently donated over $1,000 worth of computers, had a Web site created for the facility, and contracted with Master Tech to keep them running.

Schlager promised to provide this service during the 2007 Ms. Senior Golden Years pageant. Although she ended up as second runner-up, fulfilling her promise was still a priority.

She advised, "You can't use a search engine to find the Web site, you just type in the site name - www.nyecountyan-imalshelter.com."

The site also links with the lost and found site, so you can add your own pet there.

Schlager also said she plans to "get covers for those animals kept outside and try to help make the shelter a no-kill facility." Another goal she has is "to save animals and maybe connect the shelter online site to other sites for travelers and residents. Helping temporary residents find their animals is very important as well."

The shelter site adds animals brought in by Nye County Animal Control and those in the shelter every Saturday. Photos are taken of the animals the minute they are brought in.

"It's just wonderful," Debi Wormald, shelter director, said. "We are so grateful to Ms. Schlager for her contribution. The results have just been remarkable. We've had as many as eight animals returned to owners in one day. Each listing includes the date and area where the animal was found."

Terre Desjardins, volunteer, manages the Web site and said, "I absolutely love managing the site from our end. I feel like I'm helping the animals by making sure every avenue is used to help people find their animals. I also serve as a foster parent to the animals that are too young to be adopted, or while they're waiting to be adopted."

The Web site is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When viewing the pages, one can see a larger photo by clicking on the photo of the animal being viewed.

Wormald reminds people that "we are an animal shelter, which means strays are brought in daily. We have no idea if these animals have disease and are put in quarantine before they can be adopted, but there are times when the incubation of the disease may not end until after the animal is adopted, or picked up by the owner; the animal can die while in our facility."

A recent incident involved a puppy turned in by Animal Control that had "parvo," canine parvovirus, a deadly intestinal virus.

As a result of exposure to this animal, 20 dogs had to be euthanized.

Wormald reminds everyone that "vaccinations are essential to every animal, as is spaying and neutering. Without them, they can be exposed to and die from several diseases."

The shelter, in addition to local veterinarians, provides low- or no-cost spay and neuter services. Services are also available to the elderly in the event their pets get lost. The shelter also has a lost and found book that people can use to report a missing animal; they can call and check on their pet as often as they wish.

The shelter has a white hackney pony that was found in the desert, is diseased and cannot walk. This animal cannot be euthanized until the owner is located as special rules apply for large animals.

The shelter asks that the owner contact it as soon as possible.

The shelter has also acquired a small male black and white goat. It is believed that this goat is the loving pet of a local resident. The shelter asks that the owner contact it as soon as possible so he can be returned.

If you have questions about using the computerized system, about the shelter in general, or about the above identified animals, call 775-751-7020.