OPEN, OPEN!
WASHOE COUNTY'S NEWEST ANIMAL FACILITY
By Dr. Michelle Williams, NHS Executive Director

It could be called the un-pound. Say “pound” and you think dark and depressing, but stepping into the new Washoe County Regional Animal Services Center (WCRASC) is an experience of light and hope. You’ll tear the word “pound” right out of your mental dictionary. Skylights, vaulted ceilings, and open courtyards create a friendly, esthetically pleasing environment for human visitors and offers two important stress reducers to the animal residents—fresh air and natural light.

The WCRASC was designed accommodate two separate and distinct entities, while allowing for common areas to increase efficiency and reduce duplication of services. Animal Services and the Nevada Humane Society (NHS) have not “merged” in either function or direction, but will share areas of the facility that relate to public education and community outreach. Adoptable animals will now be under one roof, instead of two. Both agencies can maintain open communication about the true status of the animal overpopulation problem in our area, and work together with the common goal of ending unnecessary animal euthanasia in our entire community.

The NHS will hold a long awaited Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, March 25, 2006. While both agencies expect to be operating from their respective portions of the building by mid-February, the public celebration has been scheduled for spring in order for the staff to settle in, finish some final touches, and (hopefully) have a better chance of good weather.

Some of the most critical details of the new facility often go unnoticed due to the awesome, overall first impression. Dog runs have individual drains to eliminate the splashing of potentially contaminated material from kennel to kennel, and separation of the runs into small groups, or “pods,” helps contain the spread of disease. Special epoxy-coated floors and walls allow thorough cleaning and disinfection. And modern cleaning equipment allows kennel areas to be maintained more efficiently for a healthier, more pleasant environment.

The housing areas allow the public to readily view the animals, but not necessarily be touched. Touching is pretty irresistible, no matter how many signs are posted, and one of the biggest disease spreading mechanisms of all. By touching an animal that might be coming down with an illness, then touching another, that illness can be spread to another animal. It’s also a common way disease can enter from the outside world. Since many viruses can survive for a long time on hands, clothes, shoes, and other objects, they can easily “hitch a ride” into the shelter. A little distance can be lifesaving!

From outside, the WCRASC looks like a new high school, except for the fenced runs, and contains around 65,000 square feet. Three prominent entrances face the public parking area; one for Washoe County Regional Animal Services, one for the NHS, and one for the NHS Veterinary Clinic. The name “Link Piazzo Animal Shelter” at the NHS entrance honors this well-known philanthropist and pillar of the Reno community, whose generous donation to the NHS helped to make this dream come true. Many donors and supporters will be honored inside the NHS areas, some with an entire area bearing their name. Centrally located in the NHS entrance lobby will be the “Donor Wall.” A gift and book store with information and basic necessities for adopters and their new pet is in the lobby—with profits benefiting ongoing programs and operations of the NHS.

The view down the first main hallway is functional and inviting, with both “condo” and “colony” type housing for cats, an entire room dedicated for treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife, get-acquainted rooms, adoption counseling rooms, and two puppy “romping” pens. Take a left, and the next long hallway leads past two “featured dog” rooms, more cat “condo” housing, with courtyards flanking the glass hallway on both sides, and four more rooms for the small mammals; rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, rats, and other small fuzzy wuzzies.

The four major courtyards from the main hallway offer the best overall views of the adoptable dogs and keep the travel path simple. Indoor viewing areas are available also, and the NHS’ staff will escort you to the right area and help match personalities with lifestyles.

The Animal Services side of the building houses the stray animals, hoping to be reunited with an owner. While the style and construction follows the NHS area, the layout is a bit more straightforward, with the main hallway leading left from the entrance lobby providing viewing of the majority of the dogs. Staff will attend the reception area to help owners locate their lost pets, and a side area will accept stray animals found by the public. This portion of the building also contains courtyards and similar opportunities for fresh air and sunshine.

The WCRASC is community friendly, and offers vastly improved animal housing. In fact, only one other house could be any better— yours!

The Nevada Humane Society is now located inside the new Washoe County Regional Animal Services Center at 2825 Longley Lane, Reno, NV 89502. NHS may also be reached by calling them at their new phone number 775-353-8999. Stop by and consider adopting a new pet!

"WHAT'S IT LIKE TO RUN A ZOO?"
A CONVERSATION WITH A ZOO KEEPER
By William F. Schley, Reno NV

Reno has just about everything you might want in a community: great living, weather you and your pets mostly love but sometimes hate, and all that is common to a modern city. But did you know that Reno also has its own zoo? And virtually right across the street from Sierra Safari Zoo resides our largest wildlife sanctuary, the Animal Ark.

Dale McDaniel began work with Sierra Safari Zoo over 15 years ago as its co-founder. Now that the zoo has transmogrified to a non-profit organization, McDaniel serves as a board member.

“We serve as a home for many fascinating species,” McDaniel said, “so we offer visitors a chance to experience many kinds of exotic animals.”

McDaniel explained that Sierra Safari Zoo purchases or trades animals with a number of small zoos so the selection may vary each time you visit. Its current site covers just over four acres, but the zoo offers an up-front view of 180 animals from over 40 species. The facility opens April 1 and is open daily until November 1. Visitors enjoy such species as leopards, monkeys, African antelope, Siberian and white tigers, hyena, and a lion-tiger cross called a liger. Unlike their neighbor, Animal Ark, the zoo receives few donated animals other than boa constrictors, pythons, and some African parrots.

“We host many field trips during our open season,” McDaniel said, “and we provide some passes to charitable organizations like Ronald McDonald House.”

When asked about the most difficult aspect of running a northern Nevada zoo, McDaniel answered, “It’s sort of sad, but the most difficult part of running a zoo is still getting enough donations to make it work.”

Volunteers make up the entire staff of the zoo, and new volunteers are always necessary to maintain this important attraction. Even during winter when the zoo is closed the work volunteers do remains a vital part of the organization’s success.

Great information on volunteering opportunities can be found at Sierra Safari Zoo’s Web site at www.sierrasafarizoo.com

“Our original vision for Animal Ark was to not only provide a sanctuary for wildlife, but a nature center for people, too,” said Diana Hiibel, co-founder of Animal Ark.

Visitors to the Animal Ark can enjoy a pleasant educational stroll about the animal habitats and then end their visit with a picnic lunch in the shade of a native Nevada juniper.

“Animal Ark has, for 25 years, maintained its original vision of displaying rescued and donated wildlife in habitats as close as possible to the critters’ natural settings. For example, the bears live in a habitat equipped with numerous crannies and hidey-holes where ark volunteers hide their food. Searching for their dinner allows them to act in a manner natural to wild bears,” Hiibel said.

Hiibel added that providing such natural environs for their “guests” and giving them a diet similar to what they would eat or pursue in nature keeps the ark’s animals well adjusted and helps them avoid stress and nervous behaviors like pacing.

On its 38 acres, the ark’s animals thrive in comfortable surroundings and adjust well to the presence of visitors and volunteers. Most of the animals cannot be returned to the wild either due to injury, abuse by former owners, or being imprinted with humanity to the end that they have lost natural survival skills.

Animal Ark houses wolves, tigers, several forms of predatory birds, bears, cheetah, and many other species. The ark is proud to be an accredited member of the American Animal Sanctuary Association.

“We offer Animal Ark memberships and animal adoption programs,” said Hiibel, “and we sponsor adoptive parents’ pot lucks where we allow our animals’ “parents” to bring foods their adopted “kids” can enjoy!”

Sierra Safari Zoo and Animal Ark provide venues which teach children and adults about the humane housing and treatment of animals. These non-profit organizations maintain clean and hospitable living quarters for their zoo animals and wildlife in enclosed areas that allow human visitors to enjoy a close-up experience with living things we might otherwise only see in photos. Both attractions benefit animals that need loving homes and extensive care, but they also offer much needed chances for personal growth through educational and volunteer programs.

Both of these animal friendly sites can be reached just off U. S. Highway 395 at the Red Rock Road exit. Enjoy visiting both sites on the same day and make it a family outing. For more information on Sierra Safari Zoo call 775-677- 1101, or visit www.sierrasafarizoo.com. For more information on Animal Ark call 775-970-3111, or go to www.animalark.org. Driving maps to both sites can be located at the Web sites.

Bill Schley is a freelance writer and entrepreneur living in Reno, NV, and serves as ’s business editor. Benny, a large black Labrador, is his third guide dog. He says he can only visit animal shelters on rare occasions, lest he fill his small home with rescued friends. Visit Bill’s Web site at www.williamschley.com

FELINE CONSERVATION FEDERATION
By Tim Stoffel, Reno NV

There are a lot of cat owners whose interest ranges from casual to serious. But some have chosen the significant challenge of owning or working with some of the 37 species of exotic cats.

For these people, there is the Feline Conservation Federation (FCF); remarkable people working with everything from four-pound cats to 1,000- pound ligers. Some work at zoos, sanctuaries, or veterinarians; and some have taken these special animals as a companion animal. They all believe the future of exotic cats is strongly tied to responsible captive husbandry, along with conservation where it is still practical.

For years I studied African lions and in 2000, fate moved me to Reno, where fate also made me neighbor to the Sierra Safari Zoo. I volunteered and now work mainly with the cats, especially the big cats, on my day a week as a zoo keeper. The future of our exotic cat species is strongly tied to responsible captive husbandry.

A main message of the FCF is that if you want to work with these magnificent animals (even the small cats) you must be prepared for the job, which involves significant time, finances, education, and in some cases, working through the legal requirements of owning an exotic cat.

The FCF offers an Exotic Feline Husbandry Course at their convention and across the country each year. If you have any interest in owning or working with an exotic cat, I can’t recommend this course enough—even government agency people take this course to learn about exotic cats.

I attended my first FCF convention in 2002 in Wichita, KS, then in Cincinnati, OH, Las Vegas, NV, and last year in Miami, FL. It has become an annual pilgrimage for me.

The convention starts Wednesday with the husbandry course and Thursday is board meetings, or a day for some to explore the host city. Friday is a highlight day where FCF members visit animal facilities in the area, which often include behind the- scenes tours rarely given to anyone else.

In Florida, we visited the Everglades Outpost, a sanctuary with exotic cats, where we enjoyed a lion cub we got to “spoil,” a cougar, a pair of tigers, and a show with some really amazing snakes; and the Everglades Alligator Farm with alligators in all stages of their life cycle and a demonstration of how handlers work with these challenging animals, along with an airboat ride to observe alligators and other reptiles in the wild.

We then visited Parrot Jungle—a zoo with many birds out in the open you could hand-feed if you wanted to and a show with very unusual birds including a cassowary, a bird similar to the ostrich and closest living ancestor to the dinosaurs having descended from (are you ready for this?) the velociraptor. Parrot Jungle treated us to an exclusive showing of “Wild Encounters,” a notable exotic cat show by Dr. Bhagavan Antle who also runs T.I.G.E.R.S (The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species) in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Dr. Antle has some very rare tiger subspecies— one of which was a “golden tabby” tiger, a striking cat with reddish stripes on an orange background. Extinct in the wild, only a small handful survive in cat facilities around the world. We enjoyed a few tigers, a cougar, a playful pair of leopards, and an impressive pure white tiger.

The best was saved for last: Hercules, the liger! Like all ligers, this cat was immense, already 900 pounds at the age of three. For me, the thrill was seeing another of the few ligers in this country; Reno can boast Hobbes, our liger here at Sierra Safari Zoo!

Saturday was filled with talks related to exotic cats and cat-keeping. Ron Magill, Miami Metro Zoo, spoke of his “animal ambassador” program created with cheetahs when they were almost unheard of in the United States. Dr. Mary Moore, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) spoke about USDA policies towards exotic cats and licensing cat facilities. Jeanette Williams, sister of famous circus animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams, gave a candid account of what it’s like to travel around the world with a menagerie of exotic animals. And, Gary Lynch, Mazuri Feeds, an exotic animal diet producer, discussed pros and cons of available alternative diets.

Lastly, Tracy Wilson, FCF, spoke on the federation’s main conservation project—the Playa de Oro Wild Cat Sanctuary in Ecuador; a 25,000- acre facility home to six species of wild cat, including the jaguar. The FCF runs research and education in the reserve and arranges trips to the reserve for interested people combining hard work and research with some incredibly relaxing times in one of the world’s great natural paradises. I may be going down there in a year or so—one of the wonderful perks of being an FCF member.

The convention closed with a banquet and fundraising auction and the announcement that the 2006 convention will return to Cincinnati, OH, home of The Cincinnati Zoo with perhaps the world’s finest collection of exotic cats and the year-long wait for the highlight event of a cheetah run with world-renowned cheetah expert Kathryn Hilker.

With enough interest, the convention “could” come to Reno!

Tim Stoffel is a local resident and member of FCF who invites you to join the FCF, or to learn more about the organization by visiting their Web site at www.thefcf.org

REPTILES AS PETS
THEY MAKE GREAT PETS -WITH CAUTION
By Victoria Ceretto-Slotto, RN, Reno NV

You’ve heard it before: “Mom, I’ll take care of it, I promise.”

Demographics
In the United States, between seven to 11 million households provide care for reptilian pets. This is a long-term commitment as the average life expectancy of reptiles is 10 years. Are you ready to be in it for the duration?

Economics and Environment
Profit is often the driving force in the reptile market, overshadowing concern for the pet. Exotic reptiles, considered trendy, are imported and sometimes illegal. The sad fact is, up to 50 percent of these animals die during transport. Another 50 to 90 percent succumb during the first year of captivity.
Reptiles kept as pets thrive best when provided with an environment that is similar to their natural habitat. Study their requirements and evaluate your ability to assume the expense of providing and maintaining ideal conditions for its survival.
Temperature and humidity regulation is essential. Reptiles do not produce their own body heat but depend on an outside source. They require ideal conditions to digest food and fight disease.
Abandoned reptiles, released into surroundings unnatural to their species, have little chance of surviving. In addition, reptilian pets may have acquired numerous bacteria during transportation. Released reptiles can spread disease to native species.
There are reptiles with simpler environmental requirements. Factor these needs into your decision before bringing a pet into your home.

Nutrition
Snakes and larger lizards eat small whole animals. It is more difficult to meet the nutritional needs of herbivorous reptiles, which require mineral and vitamin supplements.

Why Not?
Numerous Web sites tout the “cons” of reptilian pets, based on experiences of uneducated, impulsive buyers. Their concern is driven by the high percentage of failed relationships between humans and reptiles. While not promoting reptile ownership, they do want to promote caregiver education and responsibility.
Consider:
• Reptiles often carry the Salmonella bacteria without showing any evidence of disease.
• In the United States, around six percent of human cases involving Salmonella are related to reptiles or amphibians. Persons with compromised immune systems should not handle reptiles.
• Globally, capture of reptiles outpaces their reproductive ability, leading to endangerment of some species.
• Owners may not recognize the symptoms of illness in reptiles kept as pets. In addition, few veterinarians are trained in caring for the specialized needs of these animals.

Okay, Why Should I Say Yes?
Members of www.reptilians.org helped me answer that question. Defenders of reptiles, they concur these pets are not for everyone and encourage prospective owners to understand the time and effort of keeping them.
Consider:
• Reptiles are an intelligent and personable species and can learn to recognize their primary caregiver.
• They don’t make noise and are suitable for persons allergic to dogs and cats.
• Owners dedicated to reptiles participate in education, promoting understanding of these creatures so often stigmatized by society.

Recommendations
Have you made your decision? I hope not. Here’s some more homework.
• Do more research, including species-specific inquiries.
• Purchase animals bred in captivity to avoid depletion of species from their natural habitat.
• Locate veterinarians with reptile experience.
• Prepare your home and family for your new pet.
If you choose to adopt a reptile, accept the responsibility and recognition that comes with it. In the words of one owner, “These snakes are so magnificent and awe-inspiring. I did go through the “cool” stage when I was younger. I’m mature now but have to admit, there is a healthy bit of “cool” that’s mixed in with a lot of respect.”

Victoria Ceretto-Slotto is a former hospice care nurse, local resident, writer, and animal person who submitted this thought-provoking article to . Thank you, Victoria!