Monday, March 3, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
It was a dog party. A big dog party.
Big dogs and little dogs, black dogs and white dogs and more than 400 of their human sidekicks visited Oasis Gateway Apartments this weekend during its first-ever dog fair.
The complex near Vegas and Torrey Pines drives is one of the first in Las Vegas to permits owners to keep dogs of up to 75 pounds on the property.
"This was not built to be a dog property," manager Deborah Loughlin said. But when management began receiving a flood of calls from dog owners, they made a few changes.
Dogs enjoy the complex's enclosed dog runs and cement dog washes. Pet owners are grouped into certain areas and must sign a two-page list of pet guidelines before moving in.
About 50 percent of Oasis Gateway's 360 two-bedroom apartments have been set aside for pet owners.
"It's just beautiful here," said Mary Moore, who moved in on opening day. "I looked for months for a place that takes dogs, and I couldn't find one. I have a Dalmatian mix, and I wasn't going to give her up."
Las Vegas Humane Society Vice President Karen Layne said about half the animals in her group's foster homes are turned in by apartment dwellers.
"We've got so many people turning in their pets, because their management changes or they didn't read their lease, and they aren't allowed to have pets," Layne said. "They are given 48 hours to get rid of the animal, so the standard thing they'll do is abandon the animal before they take it to the pound."
The Humane Society places as many of these strays as possible. But "we are reluctant to take in large dogs unless we know someone is looking for one, because they're hard to adopt out," she said.
That's one reason the Humane Society has worked closely on pet rules for the complex. Among the rules: All pets must be spayed or neutered "to keep pet populations down," Loughlin said.
Spaying or neutering also "increases the life span of the animal and reduces hormone-related problems later in life," said veterinarian Douglas Gensel.
The dog fair received much community support. Gensel did more than 50 free pet exams Sunday. He will also give a 10 percent discount on house calls to Oasis Gateway residents.
Little Caesars at Cheyenne Avenue and Rainbow Boulevard donated 24 pizzas. Big Dog's Hospitality Group donated 450 hot dogs, and KXPT 97.1-FM did a remote broadcast.
"We consider this to be a big success for a first-time event," Loughlin said Sunday. "A lot of people who came yesterday came back to sign leases."
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