Las Vegas council rejects creation of city animal advisory committee after hours of testimony

The Las Vegas City Council on Feb. 19 voted to deny an ordinance (Bill 2024-41) that would have created a city animal advisory committee to advise council on animal welfare policies and programs.

Supporters urged the council to approve a formal advisory body that they said would give rescues, veterinarians and animal-welfare volunteers a way to compile recommendations and improve coordination with city departments. “This program is going to be very good serving to the city and also being a very good representative for the city, showing the model of how animal rights should be done,” said Stephanie Lofredo, executive director of Courtroom Critters, during public comment.

Proponents — including volunteers from local rescues and advocacy groups and therapy-dog program leaders — described problems they want the committee to address: shelter intake and euthanasia rates, enforcement of existing animal-related ordinances, illegal breeding, and access to low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary care. “There are 55 animals scheduled for euthanasia as of this morning,” said Tracy Paz, a local rescue volunteer, listing several animals at imminent risk at the city shelter to illustrate the urgency she said advocates feel.

Opponents, including some council members, argued the issue should be handled regionally and warned that a city-only committee meeting quarterly would duplicate work or create another layer of bureaucracy. Mayor Shelley Berkeley said she supports action to help animals but said the problem “is a Southern Nevada issue, and we all have to address it in concert with each other,” and that a single-city advisory body with limited authority and infrequent meetings would be insufficient.

Councilwoman Victoria Seaman moved to approve the ordinance after public testimony and discussion; that motion failed on the council floor. After debate the city attorney suggested an alternative motion to remove the item from the agenda and the council then voted to deny the ordinance (motion to deny carried). The council did not adopt a replacement regional or interjurisdictional mechanism at the meeting.

The discussion included numerous public speakers and representatives from local rescues, veterinarians, and volunteers who urged the council to keep looking for ways to reduce shelter intake and increase enforcement of existing rules. Several speakers asked for enforcement against illegal breeders and for more low-cost veterinary and spay/neuter capacity.

Council members emphasized differences of view about scope and scale: some insisted a city advisory committee could be formed later if regional work lagged; others said the council should pursue multi-jurisdictional coordination first. No binding new animal-policy program or funding was adopted at the meeting.

The council action leaves the city without a new municipal animal advisory committee; proponents indicated they would continue advocacy and urged further talks with neighboring jurisdictions and city staff.

For the record, the ordinance under consideration was Bill 2024-41, described in the agenda as “an ordinance to amend LVMC Title 2 by adding a new chapter 2.67 to establish the animal advisory committee and to provide for related matters.” The council vote to deny was recorded at the Feb. 19 meeting minutes.