New Las Vegas Dog Rescue Launches Amid ‘Devastating’ Shelter Crisis

Las Vegas’s animal welfare system is buckling under the strain of an unprecedented crisis — one so severe that rescuers say healthy, adoptable dogs could soon be euthanized simply for lack of space. Now, one local advocate is stepping forward with a bold solution.

Veteran rescuer Kristi Cabena, who has spent years saving strays from the streets and desert outskirts, has officially launched Las Vegas K9 Crew Rescue, a new nonprofit devoted to giving abandoned and at-risk dogs a second chance. Joined by team members Heather Machnak and Kelly Angeletti, the group recently appeared on ARC Las Vegas to share their mission: “Rescue. Rebuild. Rehome.”

Why Las Vegas Desperately Needs Another Rescue

The numbers are staggering. The Animal Foundation, the city’s largest shelter, currently houses more than 523 dogs and has repeatedly hit critical capacity this year. When the shelter exceeds 454 dogs, it enters a danger zone where healthy animals may face euthanasia purely because there’s no room left.

Outside city limits, the situation is even grimmer. Desert dumping — the illegal abandonment of dogs in remote areas — has surged dramatically. In 2025 alone, Clark County has received more than 300 reports of pets dumped in extreme heat, some tied to poles or left without food or water.

Rescuers say entire packs have been found dead in washes, sometimes as many as 30 carcasses in one location. Metro Police confirm this happens “in every desert area,” and with roughly 24,000 animals abandoned annually — an average of 65 dogs every single day — advocates warn the problem is spiraling out of control.

Existing rescues are overwhelmed. Foster homes are full, and emergency calls often go unanswered because there’s simply nowhere for the animals to go.

Inside the Mission of Las Vegas K9 Crew Rescue

Cabena’s new organization focuses on three critical areas: emergency rescue, foster-based recovery, and community outreach. For years, she and her volunteers have responded to midnight rescue calls — injured dogs limping across highways, abandoned litters in alleys, and lost pets left to fend for themselves. With nonprofit status, they can now formalize and expand that work.

Their first-year goal is to rescue and rehome 50 dogs, establish a 24-hour emergency foster network, and launch monthly low-cost vaccine and microchip clinics. The team also hopes to open an after-hours holding facility — a safe drop-off space for anyone who finds a stray or dumped dog when shelters are closed.

The $30,000 Fundraising Goal

To bring that vision to life, Las Vegas K9 Crew Rescue has set an initial fundraising goal of $30,000. The largest portion — $20,000 — will go toward an emergency veterinary fund covering surgeries, diagnostics, spay and neuter procedures, and vaccinations during the first six months. An additional $6,500 will provide food, crates, and medical supplies for urgent cases while establishing at least 15 foster homes across the valley.

Another $3,500 will be allocated for legal and compliance costs, including IRS 501(c)(3) registration, insurance, and state licensing, while $3,000 will build the group’s digital infrastructure — its website, donor management platform, and adoption tracking system. Donations can be made through the group’s GoFundMe campaign, which provides updates, receipts, and rescue stories so supporters can see their impact in real time.

The Broader Context

Las Vegas K9 Crew Rescue is stepping into a landscape already stretched to breaking point. The Animal Foundation reported an 18 percent surge in shelter intake in 2024, with cat admissions jumping 50 percent. By May 2025, the population had exceeded 1,000 animals — a 61 percent spike that forced the shelter to warn it might need to euthanize for space.

Economic hardship, housing insecurity, and the end of pandemic-era adoption booms have compounded the problem. Nationally, the numbers are equally bleak: more than 359,000 dogs were euthanized in U.S. shelters in 2023, marking the first year since 2016 that more dogs than cats were killed.

How the Community Can Help

Cabena and her team emphasize that saving lives will take a community-wide effort. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a tangible difference — a $25 contribution can fund vaccines, microchips, or food for a dog in crisis. Locals willing to open their homes as foster parents receive all necessary supplies and support while providing safe spaces for dogs to heal before adoption.

Spreading the word also matters. Sharing the rescue’s posts on social media helps reach potential adopters, donors, and volunteers throughout the Las Vegas valley. Businesses, too, can contribute by offering in-kind donations such as pet food, printing services, or transport assistance — resources that help stretch limited funding further.

Learning from Las Vegas’s Leading Rescues

Las Vegas K9 Crew Rescue joins a powerful network that includes Vegas Pet Rescue Project, A Path 4 Paws, and Connor and Millie’s Dog Rescue. These organizations have saved thousands of lives but continue to face capacity and funding struggles. Vegas Pet Rescue Project, recognized by the Maxx Crosby Foundation and UFC President Dana White in 2024, remains one of the valley’s most active rescue groups with tens of thousands of social followers.

A Path 4 Paws has rescued more than 3,000 dogs since 2017, while Connor and Millie’s Dog Rescue specializes in senior and medically fragile dogs that other rescues often turn away. Together, these groups demonstrate both the possibilities and limitations of local animal welfare efforts: they rely entirely on public generosity, receive no federal funding, and depend on networks of foster homes to operate.

The Road Ahead

Cabena’s vision is clear: to build a round-the-clock safety net for the dogs who have nowhere else to go. By creating a 24-hour foster network and, eventually, a dedicated facility, Las Vegas K9 Crew Rescue aims to ensure that no animal is left abandoned or alone in the desert again.

“The dream has already saved lives,” Cabena said. “But we’re just getting started.”

For a city that abandons 65 dogs a day, that kind of commitment isn’t just admirable — it’s essential. To learn more or support the mission, visit their GoFundMe page or follow the organization’s updates on social media. Every share, donation, and foster home brings Las Vegas one step closer to saving its most vulnerable animals.