Making a foray into the world of retail, the Nevada Humane Society has opened an adoption center at Sierra Marketplace Shopping Center on Virginia Street at Moana Lane.
The 750-square-foot space situated near a former Smith's grocery store location will house about three dogs and 18 cats and kittens, says Bonney Brown, executive director.
Each evening, the dogs will be returned to the Humane Society's main shelter on Longley Lane. The cats, better able to fend for themselves, will stay overnight.
To outfit the retail space for its four-footed tenants, Brown says the humane society tore out the carpeting and moisture-sealed the concrete floor. The cat colony room is outfitted with cages and climbing trees, specially discounted by Pet Edge, while Tholl Fence donated a gate to secure the dogs.
The three-month pilot project was funded by the Helen Close Foundation and mimics similar attempts elsewhere to situate animal adoption centers in areas with easier access with more traffic. Those resulted in an average of 25 percent more adoptions per week, says Brown.
Volunteers will work on-site to socialize with the animals and help people select pets.
Bruce Breslow and Jennifer Johnson of Commercial Partners of Nevada represented the shopping center owner, Biggest Little Investments LP, in its lease negotiations with the humane society.
