Search Squad of Pahrump, an all-volunteer nonprofit that locates and rescues lost and abandoned animals across Nye County, is asking the community for help finding a dependable vehicle.

Founder Crystal “Keywe” Awoniyi told the Pahrump Valley Times that an older vehicle the group bought after a recent GoFundMe campaign has become unreliable.

“Dependable transportation is essential to our work,” Awoniyi said.

The group is hoping a local business, organization, or private individual will donate a reliable truck, SUV, or van, or help sponsor the purchase of one.

Search Squad of Pahrump was founded in 2023 and operates without a shelter or facility of its own.

Instead, volunteers search neighborhoods, desert washes, roadsides, and remote areas for animals that are lost, abandoned, or dumped, often working from tips posted to the group’s Facebook page.

Since its founding, the organization says it has helped more than 2,500 animals, including a dog named Cali who was found dumped in the open desert between Pahrump and Shoshone, was later discovered to be pregnant, and gave birth to eight puppies who are now all available for adoption.

Without a working vehicle, the group says it cannot reliably respond to rescue calls, transport animals to veterinary appointments, or carry traps and supplies into remote parts of the desert.

Search Squad of Pahrump joins a small but active network of Nye County rescue groups Dog Friendly Las Vegas has covered this year, including Dawg House Rescuers, which recently distributed free dog food to families in need, and Furever Nevada, which focuses on senior dogs.

Residents who want to help can donate supplies such as leashes, collars, crates, and humane traps, or contribute financially through the group’s online donation portal at dot.cards/ssop23_.

Search Squad of Pahrump also accepts donations earmarked for veterinary care through accounts at PetSmart Veterinary Services on Fort Apache and Tropicana Animal Hospital in Las Vegas.

Anyone who wants to report a lost or stray animal in the Pahrump area, or ask about donating a vehicle, can reach the group by emailing [email protected] or visiting its public Facebook page.