The Carson City Board of Supervisors will weigh a proposed $150,000 funding increase for the Nevada Humane Society alongside several public health, administrative, and development items during its regular meeting on Thursday, May 7.
The board will also discuss a number of parks, recreation & open space items including the Mills Park Master Plan, trail naming, Sunset Park renovations and land transfers. See that story here:
Additional funds to Nevada Humane Society, Animal Control requested
The primary focus of Thursday’s general business will be an organizational update from the Nevada Humane Society, followed by a vote on whether to authorize negotiations to amend the city’s existing contract with the nonprofit. The current contract pays the agency $842,019.57 annually to provide local animal control and sheltering services. If approved, the amendment could boost that annual compensation by up to $150,000.
The Nevada Humane Society told the city it has absorbed more than $600,000 in operational and medical costs annually in recent years, driven heavily by the expansion of on-site veterinary services. Staffing a full-time medical team — consisting of a veterinarian, a veterinary technician, and two assistants — costs more than $300,000 annually, before accounting for medical supplies. The team provides crucial shelter medicine, emergency care, low-cost community spay/neuter and vaccine clinics, and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) services for community cats.
However, NHS has also faced a number of controversies and criticisms over the past few years. In 2023, its former CEO was forced to step down after allegations of fiscal mismanagement and unnecessary euthanasias among other issues that plagued the organization.
A new CEO was put in place shortly after, but another controversy surfaced last year after funding was used to renovate its Reno location’s lobby. This led to a flurry of social media posts and comments — including those made by former employees and board members — alleging a number of additional internal issues.
These included allegations of continued fiscal mismanagement and a decrease in the number of animals transferred from Washoe County Animal Services leading to the county being forced to euthanize animals due to space issues for the first time in 15 years.
It also misplaced a $750,000 donation made specifically for a dog park at NHS, which was later found after ‘Ask Joe’ requested information about its status in September 2023. Its misplacement was blamed on the prior CEO’s handling of it, but once it was found again, they said plans for the dog park would continue — but as of today, there have been no public updates made about its progress.
The Nevada Humane Society is independent from any national organization of the same name, and operates only its two branches in Reno and Carson City.
On Thursday, the board will also review the organization’s recent impact data.
In 2025, the Carson City campus facilitated 1,182 pet adoptions and responded to 1,808 humane enforcement cases. During the first quarter of 2026, the agency reported 166 adoptions and 410 enforcement cases. The shelter also achieved a 72% return-to-owner rate for dogs and 25% for cats in the first quarter, and distributed 2,100 pounds of dog and cat food through its pet pantry over the first three months of the year to help families facing financial hardship.
Other agenda items:
- Public Health Partnership: A proposed interlocal contract between the Carson City Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Nevada, Reno to enhance local public health practice, instruction, research, and workforce development.
- Landfill and Recycling Operations: The board will vote on purchasing authority for three new vehicles for the Public Works Landfill Division for a total not to exceed $584,282. Additionally, supervisors will consider awarding a contract to Universal Service Recycling, Inc. for scrap metal recycling services at the landfill.
- Airport Development: A request from Ortiz Bros Aviation NV for a tentative subdivision map to create four condominium hangar units and a common area parcel at the Carson City Airport.
- Tax Refunds: A request to correct factual errors to the personal property taxes for Rocket EMS Inc. for Fiscal Years 2024, 2025, and 2026, and authorizing a refund of $13,111.04.
- Municipal Code Updates: A presentation on the status of legislative drafting efforts to prepare proposed organizational, formatting, and technical amendments to the Carson City Municipal Code.
- Proclamations: Proclamations recognizing May 17-23, 2026, as Nevada Public Works Week, and May 2026 as Historic Preservation and Archaeological Awareness Month. The board will also present the 2026 Historic Preservation Awards.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday inside the Robert ‘Bob’ Crowell Board Room at the Carson City Community Center, located at 851 E. William St.
Members of the public can attend in person or watch a livestream of the proceedings at www.carsoncity.gov/granicus. Written public comments can be submitted to publiccomment@carsoncity.gov, and must be received by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday to be included in the meeting’s official minutes.
