Thursday, Sept. 11, 1997 | 10:58 a.m.
The problem of Dalmatian dumping in Southern Nevada ranges from spotty in some areas to alarming in the city of Las Vegas.
"We had 49 Dalmatians brought in all of last year, but that has risen to 130 so far this year," said Mary Herro, director of the Animal Foundation of Nevada, which is contracted to run the city pound on North Mojave Road.
"These statistics seem to support our fears about the movies (the re-release of the animated "101 Dalmatians" and the release of the 1996 live-action film of the same name). It was feared that amateur breeders would overbreed to anticipate the demand the films would generate."
Nationwide, animal control officials are having a major problem with Dalmatian abandonment just nine months after the release of the movie -- enough time for the cute, cuddly puppies to grow into rambunctious, moody adults.
Some experts say the Dalmatian, which retails for $300-$800 as a puppy and once was commonly used as a fire department mascot, has become the most abandoned breed in the country.
While many Dalmatians have been abandoned in the city of Las Vegas, families have been quick to adopt the energetic white dogs with the brown, liver or black spots.
Of the 49 dalmatians taken in by the city pound last year, 44 were adopted out or returned to their owners, while just five were euthanized -- all because of severe illness or injury.
Of the 130 brought in this year, 29 were euthanized, leaving 101 -- 96 of which were adopted or returned to their owners. Five are in the pound, awaiting their fate.
Of the 29 that were put to sleep, 14 were severely injured or ill, 10 had behavioral problems (biters), three were killed at the owner's request and two failed to get adopted within the 30-day time limit, Herro said.
"Some people are hesitant to adopt Dalmatians because they read that they have special needs," Herro said, noting that it is ironic that a lot of people who bought the animals as puppies did not heed those same warnings.
Also, Herro said, the Animal Foundation will not adopt out a Dalmatian unless the prospective owner has a house with a large yard.
"These are energetic animals that need to burn off that energy by running, otherwise they can get hyper," Herro said. "That's why they are great dogs for people who like to jog."
As Herro was being interviewed for this story Wednesday morning, one Dalmatian was euthanized because it had behavioral problems and the 130th arrived via city animal control officers, who found it wandering the streets.
But other local animal experts valleywide do not see Dalmatian dumping as a major problem.
"We are not being overrun with them," said Dr. Joseph Freer, a Las Vegas veterinarian who operates the Dewey Animal Care Clinic on Dewey Road, which is contracted as Clark County's pound.
"It is a big breed (an adult can weigh up to 70 pounds) with a lot of energy. It can become unmanageable (if not exercised). Still, it is a beautiful breed. I certainly would not discourage the right family from adopting one."
Dewey keeps records on what breeds of dogs are brought into the facility, euthanized and adopted out. But those records are not broken down by breed for statistical purposes, Freer said.
Of the 16,000 dogs brought to Dewey each year, 20 percent are adopted out, 20 percent are returned to their owners and 60 percent are euthanized, he said.
"Some Dalmatians we have adopted out have been brought back because they did not work out, while many others have worked out really well," Freer said.
"Chows have been a much bigger problem than Dalmatians, as have sharpeis and Rottweilers. People who want to adopt a Dalmatian need to realize it is a breed that needs some discipline."
Freer agrees with Herro that the movies did create a greater interest in Dalmatians. He remembers that Dewey took in "a few more Dalmatians than usual" after the film came out.
The Las Vegas Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society also have not had a big problem with Dalmatians being dumped on them.
"We get very few, and those we do get are adopted out very quickly," said Jennifer Palombi, director of the SPCA, which operates a no-kill shelter that has taken in 60 Dalmatians in three years and has found homes for all of them.
"Our organization does not judge a breed, but rather looks at the particular dog in question. Because of that, we have been able to place pit bulls and Rottweilers in homes with children and have had no problems."
Judith Ruiz, director of the local humane society, says Dalmatians are far easier to adopt out than shepherd and Labrador mixes, which she and others say are the most common of the larger breeds abandoned in Las Vegas.
"We have taken in only about two or three Dalmatians over the last four months," Ruiz said. "We were worried that the movies would create a problem, but we just have not seen a lot of Dalmatians (abandoned) here."
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