Las Vegas pet rescue saves seven abused dogs amid rising abandonment cases in the city

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A Las Vegas pet rescue has stepped in to help seven abandoned and abused dogs found in the past week.

“We have two that were found off of MLK and Carey, we have two that were rescued and pulled from the hoarding situation that was a big news thing last week and then we have the three that were found at Bonnie Springs,” Lindsey Pinapfel, a volunteer with the Vegas Pet Rescue Project said.

Pinapfel said in the past week alone, the nonprofit has been able to help seven dogs who were rescued from three different incidents of abuse.

“Peppermint and Cinnamon, they are dogs that were found off of MLK (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) and Carey and are completely emaciated dogs, you'll see here they are skin and bones,” Pinapfel said.

After getting both dogs (Peppermint and Cinnamon) to see a vet at the Horizon Ridge Animal Hospital, Pinapfel said Paws Patrol LV connected with the nonprofit to assist with three dogs rescued from the desert.

“We have the three dogs that were abandoned in Bonnie Springs and those were found on Thanksgiving day, a pack of dogs that were dropped off there, they were scared and cold,” she said. “This is something we are seeing, it used to be maybe once every six months, this is a daily thing, if you think about it seven dogs in a week, that is a dog a day, a dog a day that is being starved, neglected, abused, abandoned.”

Pinapfel said there are various reasons behind the uptick in cases of animals being abused, including the increase in people moving to the area and financial hardships.

She said no matter what people may be going through, there are resources to help.

“Post them (pets that need to be rehomed) online, it's a matter of reaching the right person and we promise it will happen but leaving them outside, dropping them off at places out in the desert is not the answer.”

She said the seven dogs rescued need extended medical assistance but are expected to survive.