The Lovelock Animal Shelter is currently housing more dogs than it has available kennels, as overcrowding continues to strain animal shelters throughout the region, according to a letter presented during Wednesday’s Lovelock City Council meeting.
Mayor Rodney Wilcox read a letter from the Lovelock Animal Shelter outlining current conditions and the challenges staff face in placing dogs.
According to the letter, the shelter has 16 indoor kennels and five outdoor kennels, but is currently caring for 23 dogs.
Staff said they continue working with rescue organizations and partner shelters to place animals, but many of those facilities are also at or beyond capacity, limiting transfer opportunities.
The letter states that shelters throughout the region have experienced a significant increase in the number of dogs surrendered, contributing to overcrowding and making it more difficult to find permanent placements.
Despite those challenges, the shelter remains committed to operating as a no-kill facility. They consider euthanasia only in cases involving severe, untreatable medical conditions or when significant behavioral issues pose a safety risk to people or other animals.
According to the letter, dogs may remain at the shelter anywhere from a few weeks to over a year.
The shelter’s longest-term resident is Sadie, a Staffordshire mix, who has been there since March 2025. Another longtime resident, Thunder, a Dutch Shepherd mix, has been at the shelter since August 2025.
While the shelter does occasionally house cats, staff said they are eventually transferred to the SPCA, a no-kill shelter in Reno.
Their message to the community was simple: If you’re considering adopting a dog, please give one of the shelter’s dogs a chance.
After the meeting, shelter staff shared a message for residents considering adding a pet to their family.
“The staff at Lovelock Animal Shelter would like to ask its community to give our animals a chance if they’re looking to adopt instead of going to a breeder. We have some amazing animals with really great personalities. We just want them to have the best chance at a loving home, a loving family and a second opportunity at life.”
The Lovelock Animal Shelter is located at 700 S. Meridian Road in Lovelock. They can be reached at (775) 273-7297. Contact the shelter directly for more information.
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