City of Henderson Animal Protection Services — Local services in Henderson

One-Star Review for City of Henderson Animal Care and Control

My experience with this facility was disheartening, to say the least, and left me deeply upset. Their lack of empathy and adherence to unnecessarily strict policies made an already difficult situation even worse. Let me explain.

A few days ago, I went to Lake Las Vegas to view homes in the $1.4 to $2.8 million range. I am an African-American male with a distinct sense of style, which may have drawn some attention. While I was viewing homes, my two dogs, Mercedes and Benzo, were in my car. Due to ongoing probate issues that have affected my finances, I currently live out of my car with my dogs. Unfortunately, someone broke into my car and stole my dog, Mercedes.

When I discovered this, I immediately asked the location if they had security footage that could help identify who entered my car without my permission. They apologized but said they couldn’t provide an answer, leaving me with no leads. I filed a police report with the Henderson Police Department, but the response was far from helpful. Instead of treating me as a victim of theft, I was interrogated as if I had committed a crime. They implied I had abandoned or neglected my dog, which was deeply upsetting.

Despite this, I remained focused on finding Mercedes. After waiting over the weekend, I called the City of Henderson Animal Shelter on Monday. I was relieved when they confirmed they had my dog and told me I could pick her up. However, that relief quickly turned to heartbreak when I arrived.

On November 27, just a day before Thanksgiving, I was met with unnecessary hostility from the shelter staff. They aggressively demanded my ID and then informed me I needed additional documents to reclaim my dog. To make matters worse, they insisted that Mercedes would be forcibly spayed, microchipped, and tagged, claiming it was required by law (citing NRS 574.600–574.680, which applies to shelter adoptions but not theft recovery). I explained that I did not consent to these procedures because I planned to breed my dog and that Mercedes is a service animal, with official ID to prove it. Despite this, they refused to acknowledge my service dog documentation or any of my objections.

When I voiced my disagreement, the staff escalated the situation by calling animal control officers. I felt intimidated, as if I was being treated like a criminal for trying to recover my stolen dog. They demanded that I provide extensive veterinary records and threatened not to release my dog without them. After scrambling to locate the required documentation before the shelter closed, I was also hit with $130 in fees, which I was forced to pay despite my objections.

I felt targeted and discriminated against throughout this ordeal. The entire process was unnecessarily complicated and lacked compassion for someone in my situation. As a disabled individual relying on my service dog, I expected better treatment and understanding from this facility. Instead, I was made to feel as though I had done something wrong, even though my dog was stolen.

While I will continue pursuing this matter with the shelter’s supervisors, I cannot recommend this facility to anyone in good conscience. Their staff needs to be better trained in handling sensitive cases like mine, especially when dealing with theft victims and service animals. I urge the City of Henderson Animal Care and Control to review their policies and approach so future experiences are more compassionate and...

In December of 2024, my father passed away, leaving my mother alone in her house after more than 50 years. As a child, i grew up with and helped raise both cats and dogs a plenty. Animal lovers will attest to the fact that there is no greater love than from that of your pet. Now, July 2025, my mom was ready for some much needed company and a loving companion. At about 4 pm on Thursday, July 10, 2025 her and I drove to the City of Henderson Animal Care and Control Center at 300 E Galleria Drive with the intent to find a match. We looked at cats. We looked on the "private" wall of dogs. Then, we decided to go and see the "outside" dogs within this facility's play yard of sorts. About 3/4 of the way down of the line of cages we saw and immediately were drawn to a dog called DASH. A young, energetic and smiley pup that my mother and I both agreed we'd love to see. It was decided. Being the only people in the yard at that time I walked back to the office area to ask an employee to let DASH out so that my mom and I could spend personal time with him. Before I reached the doors, I noticed that someone had come to help my mom. I was relieved and then walked over happily knowing that we could see DASH up close and interact together. To my shock, this man, a VOLUNTEER called Timothy Tyler decided for himself that DASH was not a good fit to adopt because "her BACKYARD wasn't big enough". WHAT??? I said, "Uhh don't you know what the houses are like in Henderson/Las Vegas? Nobody has a huge backyard." To make matters incredibly worse, Timothy Tyler, the VOLUNTEER then openly and audibly laughed in my face and informed us that he would NOT be letting DASH out of his CAGE so that we could visit with him. WHAT!? We came here to adopt and RESCUE. You won't allow him out of his CAGE because OUR BACKYARDS are too small!? Do you live on a ranch, Timothy Tyler? You'd rather keep an animal in a dirty shelter cage than allow for DASH the chance to be in a forever home where he would be LOVED & SPOILED beyond your simple minded, discriminate imagination. What you did to my mother and I today was absolutely illegal, discriminatory, immoral and just plain TERRIBLE from one human being to another. DASH should be home with us right now. If I'm allowed, if my mother is allowed, we will gladly give DASH the best life he deserves. I will now fight for your removal from and prevention from any city wide VOLUNTEER or PAID position ever again. FREE DASH! FREE DASH! FREE DASH! To those of you who were there during this atrocity this afternoon including, Timothy Tyler VOLUNTEER, Brett MANAGER and Bridgette FRONT DESK ---- SHAME ON...

I’m appalled! I responded to an “urgent need” post for a dog that had been in the shelter for months that they were really trying to find a home for. I went there and visited with the dog with the intent to take her. During the visit she pooped twice within 30min and I brought it to their attention that she had some minor digestive issues going on. They assured me that I could bring the dog into their in house vet within 10 days if the digestive concern didn’t subside. I ended up having the dog for 2 weeks and she never had a solid stool that whole time. I called the shelter after 6 days and they were very rude to me. I told the lady on the phone that I had been assured I could see the vet. They told me the ONLY option was that day at 2 or the next day at 2…. I cant call off work for my dog and they refused to work with me to get her into the vet, insisting I just go to my regular vet. They told me on the phone that day that she had an ACTIVE ear infection that they neglected to tell me about on adoption day. I asked to speak to a manager and one NEVER called me back. A few more days went by and the dog developed more medical concerns. She was rubbing her butt on ground constantly and had developed some sort of urinary issue. She would be standing there and pee would just leak out. Or laying on the couch or bed and pee would leak out. She then started developing skin allergies and bit her skin off in 3-4 places. I took her to the vet after 13 days of ownership to find out that she had FIVE DIFFERENT medical conditions that needed treatment and over $1,000 in expenses for JUST round 1/day 1 of treatment…. I am a single mother and teacher. I can’t take on that type of responsibility. I called the shelter bc I fully believe they KNEW these issues and just neglected to tell me. They admitted they didn’t tell me about the ear infection. How was she at the shelter for MONTHS and didn’t have skin allergies so badly she bite her skin off? How did she just spontaneously develop bladder issues within 13 days of adoption? She also clearly has ongoing digestive issues. I had her for 13 days and she NEVER had a solid stool….

I took her back to the shelter with the $900 vet invoice and asked if they could take care of some of the things. I didn’t want to surrender her back to the shelter. I wanted them to help me with her medical diagnosis and treatment plan. A volunteer from the shelter said she could possibly help with the medical issues and then I never heard back from her.

I’m so disgusted, dismayed, and broken hearted. Not to mention my two small children cried for days. What...