If you would like to contribute to the community by helping the abandoned, homeless or abused animals in the city, this is how to do it.

The Las Vegas Valley Humane Society (http://www.lvvhumane.org/) is a non-profit organization that rescues animals which they then foster until they find loving new homes. Another priority is to educate the public about pet care, over population, and abuse.

They hold adoptions for cats at:

• The PETCO store at 2091 North Rainbow Blvd on the northwest corner of the intersection with Lake Mead. Here, adoptions are held from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday every weekend
• The PETCO store at 7731 W Tropical Parkway near Centennial Pkwy and U.S. 95. on Saturday and Sunday every weekend from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• The PETCO store at 2340 E Serene Ave near Eastern and the 215 beltway every other Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• The PETCO store at 3890 Blue Diamond Road at Interstate 15 on opposite Saturdays of Serene from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Adoptions for dogs at:

• The PETCO store at 7731 W Tropical Parkway near Centennial Pkwy and U.S. 95. on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• The PETCO store at 2340 E Serene Ave near Eastern and the 215 beltway every Sunday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

If you go on their site (http://www.lvvhumane.org/) you will find pictures of some of the animals they have for adoption.

Here you can become a volunteer, that’s if you have some time to spare, or make a donation to their cause.

If you witness a a case of animal abuse/neglect you should report it to the Animal Control office in your jurisdiction. Here are some useful numbers: (the  Las Vegas Valley Humane Society - (702) 434-2009 , 2250 East Tropicana Road Ste. 19)

• Clark County Animal Control  455-7710
• City of Las Vegas Animal Control  229-6348
• Henderson Animal Control  565-2033
• North Las Vegas Animal Control  633-1390
• Boulder City Animal Control  293-9283
• Clark County Health District  385-1291 

The NEVADA SPCA is also a nonprofit organization that operates a no-kill animal sanctuary. Their website is http://www.nevadaspca.org/ and they also have pictures of the animals they have for adoption.

The Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park (http://www.lasvegaszoo.org/) , managed and operated by the non-profit Nevada Zoological Foundation,tries to educate children and the general public about endangered species and habitat protection. Here you can adopt a zoo animal for a small fee, and you receive a certificate of adoption with your name on it (and the species name of the animal you’ve adopted), nature notes and personal history of your special friend. You can adopt a tiger for example, and make it an interesting gift to somebody (tell your boss that you got him a tiger for his birthday, and if he doesn’t believe you show him the adoption certificate with his name on it). You can also become a volunteer, of course, or participate in one of their other programs.

Other organizations in Las Vegas are:

• Adopt A Rescue Pet (3850 E. Flamingo, 89121, 702-798-8663, website: www.adoptarescuepet.org/)
• American Emergency Rescue Organization (1117 Desert Lane,89102 ,702-940-0949, email: rsenvinvmt@aol.com)
• Animal Foundation - Lied Animal Shelter (655 N. Mojave Road, 89101, 702-384-3333, email: execdir@animalfoundation.com, website: www.animalfoundation.com/)
• FLOCK - For Love Of Cats & Kittens (P.O. Box 94917, 89193, 702-615-4198,email: webmaster@flock.zzn.com , website: www.flockcats.com/ )
• Gilcrease Bird Preserve (8103 Racel Street, 89131, 702-422-4224)
• Gingers Rottie Rescue (2428 Valparaiso Street,  89108, 702-645-8294,email: grrvegas@aol.com , website: www.grrvegas.com/)
• Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary (P.O. Box 30158, 89173, 702-227-5555, email: hvosko@hcws.org,  website: www.hcws.org/)

For more information you can visit : http://www.animalshelter.org/shelters/Nevada.asp , where you can find more organizations in Las Vegas.

If you want to help the animal population of Las Vegas, you can donate your time to volunteer, donate money or food, toys, anything a shelter can use, adopt a pet, tell your friends about the pets in need of a home, trap the cats in your neighbourhood and take them to Animal Control to neuter them, report animal abuse, take part in fund raising activities, etc.

The articles that will be written here will focus on ways to improve the lives of those living in (or visiting) Las Vegas.

There might be a desire to help the community, especially for those living in Vegas, but also maybe for those that visit often, have familly here, or, why not, maybe got married here or just have wonderful memories of the city and would like to help in some way.

For all of you out there that feel good when you help someone, maybe a neighbour, a child, a homeless, a dog, or the entire community, I will post articles here about how you can do it.

In the following articles you will find ways to help even if you got very little time available, no money to spare, or maybe no idea who to address.

There are so many good causes out there to get involved in or lend a helping hand. I want to help you discover what would you be interested in and start making the world a better place by making Las Vegas, the community you live in, a better place.