By Breven Honda

Mesquite has evolved beyond its “small city” image, having been named Nevada’s fastest-growing city in recent years.

That growth has led to a variety of renovations and improvements throughout the community. Back in March, the Mesquite Animal Shelter became the latest city facility to receive major upgrades, providing an improved experience for both pets and visitors.

On March 5, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the newly renovated shelter building at 795 Hardy Way.

“It was great. The reaction from all the people who have adopted from us and come through has been, ‘Wow, this is just great,’” said Animal Control Manager Joe Macias. “It’s so much more functional.

“People come in and say, ‘It doesn’t even feel like an animal shelter.’ It’s nice and open, and that’s where I’ve seen the biggest impact — making it flow much easier and better for the public.”

Since the renovation was completed, upgrades have been made throughout the property.

Meet-and-greet rooms were added for potential adopters. Quarantine and isolation rooms, along with the laundry room, were upgraded. A conference room was also included for meetings and staff training to improve communication and education among shelter employees.

Among all the improvements, Macias said the new lobby stands out the most.

“When people come in, it’s not so congested,” Macias said. “It’s easier to take people back to see the dogs or cats, and we now have true quarantine and isolation areas for the cats.”

The added space has also allowed the shelter to better accommodate a variety of animals.

Macias said animals previously had to be placed wherever space was available, including in the lobby.

“Before, we were sometimes putting them wherever we could,” he said. “Having those designated areas has been really nice for us. We even have a designated room for pocket pets when we get gerbils or rabbits. In the past, we sometimes had them in hallways or crates because we had no room. So it’s been super nice.”

One adjustment Macias and his staff have had to get used to is the quieter atmosphere created by the new kennel layout.

“Because our offices are over in the new area, we were so used to hearing the dogs barking right next to the kennels,” Macias said. “Now we can barely hear it, so the quietness has been kind of weird.”

The upgraded shelter has already faced a major test. On May 15, Mesquite Police Department and Mesquite Animal Control officers responded to a property containing 77 dogs. The number later increased to 81 after one dog gave birth to four puppies.

Macias said the renovations demonstrated the shelter’s ability to handle a large influx of animals.

One of the key contributors to making the project possible was Mesquite City Council member Pattie Gallo.

“We’re thankful the City Council realized we needed it,” Macias said. “Councilwoman Gallo has been a volunteer for almost 10 years, so she’s seen the need because she’s there volunteering all the time. I think when she ran for council, this was one of her focuses. She saw the need and helped make it happen for us.”

The renovated building is just one of several recent accomplishments for the shelter.

In 2024, the Mesquite Animal Shelter was named Agency of the Year by the National Animal Care and Control Association.

Prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen also presented Macias, on behalf of the shelter, with a Congressional Recognition honoring the facility’s growth and impact on animal welfare.

“When we got the Agency of the Year award, it showed the teamwork we’ve built,” Macias said. “We’re trying to make things better not only for the pets, but also for the people coming to adopt or reclaim their animals. We work really hard. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime award in my career, so we’re pretty proud.”

Even as staff members continue adjusting to the renovated facility, the mission remains unchanged.

“Our goal is the same: to provide the best care we can,” Macias said. “This just makes it easier to do that. It’s nice. It’s not chaos.”