LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The City of Las Vegas is using social media to catch backyard breeders through a Department of Public Safety Initiative called “Operation Pawsitive Change.”
It’s one of the initiatives newly-elected Mayor Shelly Berkley says she’ll use to tackle the animal welfare crisis in the Las Vegas Valley.
“Operation Pawsitive Change”
Department of Public Safety Lieutenant Timothy Mullins says their team goes undercover online, using social media and online marketplaces like Craigslist to find people who are selling animals illegally.
“We’re looking to see what these individuals are posting, the frequency of that, and the type of animals that they’re putting out there as well,” Mullins says.
He says then, they’ll organize a meeting at a public park. Surveillance and tactical units are already in place.
Once they confirm the identity of the person they’ve been communicating with, marked patrol units move in to detain them, issue a citation and seize their “contraband.”
Mullins says, throughout the five meetups “Operation Pawsitive Change” has organized since late October, they’ve made four arrests and issued 30 citations for violations like breeding without a permit, and selling dogs younger than eight weeks.
They’ve also recovered four firearms, and rescued 13 dogs, including french bulldogs, exotic bullies, and yorkies. They’ve also made four arrests, and rec
“What we want to put out there is, this is illegal, it’s an illegal operation, and it’s not going to be tolerated,” Mullins says. “Just, for these individuals to know that, if they keep doing this, at some point they’re going to meet us.”
He says they’ve seen a significant decline of online listings for illegal animal sales in the city, and that the operation will continue into next year.
The Mayor’s Animal Welfare Crisis Plan
Mayor Berkley says tackling the animal welfare crisis is a top priority for her administration, as it continues to worsen in the Las Vegas Valley.
She says she’s started by setting up meetings with City Staff to gauge what the city is doing, what improvements have been made, and what can be done better.
Next, she says she will speak with animal support groups.
“I want to re-establish those relations, and hear what they have to say now that I am in office,” she says.
Then, she’ll visit the Animal Foundation to see for herself what the challenges are
“What I suspect they are is just an overpopulation, you have a foundation that accepts every animal that comes to its door, and that is a challenge in itself,” Berkley says.
The shelter is shared by North Las Vegas, Clark County and the City of Las Vegas. FOX5 asked the Mayor about the possibility of building a new one.
“If I had the money, if the city had the money, we would do it tomorrow,” she says. “Perhaps we could work collaboratively to build another shelter on the other side of town.”
She also commented on her decision to suspend the process to revive the city’s Animal Advisory Committee last week.
“I am not for it, and I’m not against it, I want to know more about the challenges we have before we create another committee,” Berkley says.
After a couple of months, she says she’s certain she’ll have a “better handle” on the problem.
In the meantime she says she’ll tackle backyard breeding through projects like “Operation Pawsitive Change.”
She’s also encouraging the community to spay and neuter, and microchip their animals.
“There’s a lot to do, a lot the community can be doing, and I can assure you while I’m mayor, we’re going to be doing everything we can as a city to take care of our pets and our animals,” Berkley says.
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