Who We Are
MISSION: Promoting responsible care of animals through education, proactive outreach and regulation making Washoe County a safe community.
AREAS SERVED: Washoe County Regional Animal Services (WCRAS) provides services across the Cities of Reno and Sparks as well as unincorporated Washoe County, totaling 6,600 square miles. It is estimated that over 124,000 dogs and 109,000 cats reside in Washoe County. (AVMA source)


History
In 2002, voters in Washoe County approved a referendum to fund the construction of a new Regional Animal Services facility. This initiative was supported through a 30-year bond, financed by a 3% property tax increase. As a result of this measure, the animal service departments from the cities of Reno and Sparks consolidated with Washoe County to form a unified agency known as Washoe County Regional Animal Services (WCRAS).
A key element of the referendum was the establishment of a partnership with Nevada Humane Society (NHS). Under this agreement, NHS would provide adoption services and accept owner-surrendered animals from Washoe County residents. Today, WCRAS and NHS operate from the same 60,000 square foot facility, though each organization remains a separate entity with distinct funding sources and operational missions.
WCRAS became a standalone department in 2014. The department is currently comprised of 46 full-time employees that make up outreach, field services, dispatch, animal care and customer service and administrative staff. WCRAS provides field services and emergency response 7 days per week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to meet the needs of our community.
Animal Care
WCRAS' facility includes 110 dog kennels and 76 cat condos for general housing areas with an additional 30 dog kennels and 18 cat kennels which are used for quarantine and disease isolation areas. The facility also includes a six-stall barn for livestock, a four-stall coop for fowl and is equipped to house a variety of other animals, including reptiles, birds, rabbits, fish and livestock, depending on the need.
As government run lost and found animal shelter, WCRAS is designed with limited capacity for the short-term housing of animals found within Washoe County. The facility impounds an average of 9,900 animals each year, either brought in by citizens or picked up by field staff. Of these, approximately 75% are lost animals. The remaining 25% include animals held for bite quarantines, those involved in cruelty cases or dangerous dog investigations, safeholds, deceased animals, and others outside the lost/found category.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated team of 9 Animal Care staff and 1 supervisor works every day to ensure the health and well-being of all animals in our care. Their responsibilities include:
- Feeding animals and maintaining clean, sanitized kennels
- Providing daily in-kennel enrichment for all animals
- Offering out-of-kennel enrichment and socialization for longer-term residents
- Processing each animal intake, which includes physical exams, vaccinations, disease screening, and parasite prevention.
- Performing behavior assessments on dogs
- Observing and documenting animal behavior to help guide the best placement or pathway plan
- Assisting the public in identifying their lost pets
- Completing essential housekeeping tasks such as dishes, laundry, floor cleaning, window cleaning, trash, and managing donations
- Coordinating with rescues to find the best placement options for animals in need

Field Services
WCRAS provides field services and emergency response 365 days per year, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m, and an on-call officer and supervisor from 10pm – 8 am. With 13 Animal Services Officers, 1 Lead Animal Services Officer, 3 field supervisors, and 1 field manager, our team is responsible for a vast and diverse coverage area. We receive an average of 19,000 calls for field service each year. The complexity of our work requires officers to be equipped and prepared for a wide range of situations, including:
- Enforcing local and state animal laws
- Investigating and prosecuting cases of animal cruelty, neglect, and abandonment
- Issuing and inspecting commercial, exotic, dangerous, breeder, and over-the-limit animal permits
- Enforcing rabies vaccination, quarantine requirements for domestic dogs, cats, and ferrets
- Dog license requirement enforcement
- Providing emergency animal evacuation and sheltering during disasters
- Engaging with the community through presentations, outreach events on responsible pet ownership and animal safety
Our officers are trained to respond with professionalism, compassion, and expertise to protect both animals and the people of our community. Learn more about Field Services.

Lost & Found Services
WCRAS works diligently to reunite lost pets with their families. In 2024, we reunited 60% of the lost dogs that came into our care and 9% of the cats! Our philosophy is that every animal has a home and we want to help find it, whether it is a lost animal that needs help being reunited with its family or if it has been abandoned and in need of a new place to call home.
WCRAS takes reunification seriously! Take a look at programs we offer to help your lost pet get back home:
- We offer FREE microchips and personalized pet ID tags for Washoe County residents.
- With the support of our partners, we have a robust public microchip scanning station program located within businesses and fire stations throughout Washoe County to help citizens reunite lost pets.
- A lost and found texting program to help those who have lost or found a pet have quick access to resources and tips.
- First 24 on the floor fee waiver: If we pick up your pet the fees for impound, daily care, and vaccinations (excluding licensing and veterinary fees) are waived if the animal is reclaimed within 24 hours of arriving at the shelter and leaves with a microchip.

Community Outreach
As part of our mission to promote responsible pet guardianship, WCRAS is committed to proactive community outreach and building strong partnerships that support the bond between people and their pets. With a dedicated outreach team of two full-time staff members, we provide a wide range of programs and services designed to keep pets healthy, safe, and at home.
Our outreach efforts include:
- Affordable pet vaccination clinics
- Free pet food for seniors
- Social media messaging and management
- Community education on topics such as dog bite prevention, disaster preparedness, and responsible pet ownership
- Facility tours
- Volunteer opportunities
We also collaborate with local organizations to extend our impact. These partnerships include working with pet-friendly homeless shelters to provide free core vaccinations and spay/neuter services, teaming up with local rescues to distribute pet food and supplies through Karma Boxes placed throughout the community, and collaborating with partner organizations on education campaigns.

Medical Services
WCRAS is equipped to provide comprehensive in-house medical care, thanks to our dedicated team. The team consists of a full-time veterinarian, a licensed veterinary technician, and a veterinary assistant. Our facility features a full surgical suite, in-house laboratory capabilities, and a digital x-ray machine. We care for all animals housed in our shelter and conduct forensic exams for cases involving cruelty or neglect. In partnership with local organizations, we offer TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) surgeries and medical treatment to support the management of our community's feral cat population. We also collaborate with our approved foster-based rescue partners to ensure that every animal they take from our shelter is microchipped, vaccinated with core vaccines, and spayed or neutered prior to adoption.


Careers
Interested in working with WCRAS? Click here to view current job openings and join our mission to serve animals and our community.