V Animal Sanctuary moves rescued farm animals to Pahrump

The nonprofit V Animal Sanctuary recently moved to Pahrump following various zoning problems, code violations and issues with its lease at 2081 E. Eldorado Lane, in unincorporated Clark County.

Sanctuary founder Sacbe Meling said the primary reason for the relocation was the changes to his lease. The nonprofit was one year into the three-year agreement before the 4.3-acre property switched hands.

The Alexander and Lily Glendall Trust and the Lily Glendall Trust purchased it Dec. 30, 2014, from Michael Vaccaro, according to county zoning officials.

"With the old landlord, we had a lease-to-own, so part of the money that we paid was going toward the purchase," Meling said. "The new owners wanted us to pay the same amount rent (with no lease-to-own option "

Meling said the facility also was responsible for maintenance under the new terms and was required to consult with the new owners every time it took in another animal.

The sanctuary, a rescue for neglected and abused domestic and farm animals, had hoped to expand at the site, but its request for use permits and various waivers for the project was denied July 8 by the county Board of Commissioners.

"I made the motion to deny this application because this facility has had a negative impact on the surrounding neighborhood," said Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak. "There have been numerous complaints from neighbors and code violations related to the animals and conditions there, some of which remain unresolved."

Outstanding violations include those for unapproved signs, weeds and dead vegetation.

The sanctuary, surrounded by single-family residential developments, included a single-family home, two barns, two arenas and a small office. The expansion would have entailed converting it into a recreational facility, including increasing livestock and offering educational tours, animal adoptions, emergency care services and a community garden. Waivers sought for the project included reduced parking, reduced landscaping and increased freestanding signage.

Even before it sought to expand, the sanctuary, located in a rural estates residential zone, was exceeding livestock limits, according to information included with the meeting agenda item for the permit request.

The facility failed to comply with the limits despite repeated warnings from animal control personnel following their periodic visits to the site, county officials stated in the documentation. Animal control staff members recommended denial of the sanctuary's proposed project.

Despite the setbacks, Meling said he hopes the sanctuary's site in Pahrump is temporary.

"Right now, we're still thinking of moving back to Vegas," he said. "We just have to find the right property for it."

— To reach Henderson View reporter Cassandra Keenan, email her at ckeenan@viewnews.com or call 702-383-0278. Find her on Twitter: @CassandraKNews.