LAS VEGAS, Nevada (FOX5) – It’s been two weeks since a Clark County Commissioner questioned the Animal Foundation’s call center under construction.

“We have to figure out a way to bridge all this so we can move forward as quickly as possible,” said Jim Gibson, president of the Animal Foundation. The sanctuary has come under the spotlight after numerous complaints about its acceptance procedures, including the need to make an appointment to bring in stray animals.

The goal is for owners to be with their pets, says Daryl Sprague, head of development and marketing for the Animal Foundation. Last year he had 3,000 abandoners and he expects the call center to reduce that number by 30%.

“The call center is really just a way to better connect with the community. We have a lot of animals in shelters, so we have a hard time accepting them. said Sprague.

It will cost $600,000 in Clark County, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas to get this call center up and running.they are based on the model Pima Animal Conservation Center, A successful shelter in Pima County, Arizona.

A statement from the shelter explains how call centers can be beneficial.

“We looked at different models of what we could do to make our communities better. Pima County had a very good model for call center support. The place is full, everyone is at or over capacity,” Sprague said.

Sprague said the foundation will begin recruiting and staffing as soon as funding is approved.

“If they can get the right help when they need it, that’s the end goal,” Sprague said.

At this point the model will be on site at the Animal Foundation, Sprague says.

The time is still being worked out, but it won’t be 24 hours, he said.

Copyright 2023 KVVU. all rights reserved.