Written by Yerington City Manager Jerry Bryant
YERINGTON, Nev. — The City of Yerington is proud to announce that its animal shelter has been recognized by Best Friends Animal Society for achieving or maintaining a 90% save rate during the 2025 calendar year.
Public Works Director Paul Shapiro presented the recognition to the Yerington City Council during its August 10, 2026, meeting and praised the shelter’s staff, volunteers and community partners for accomplishing so much with limited resources.
“I want to do a little bit of bragging about our animal shelter,” Shapiro told the Council. “We have a very small animal shelter, and while the resources are small, the results are huge.”
Shapiro called the recognition “incredible for a small shelter,” emphasizing that the shelter’s success depends on the volunteers and community members that give their time and resources.
“Our resources depend on volunteers, donations,” Shapiro said.
“We get donations of food. All of these things help us to support our shelter and make our shelter a better place.”
The recognition reflects the City’s commitment to finding positive outcomes for animals in its care. Although the shelter does not formally promote itself as a no-kill shelter, Shapiro said its team works hard to find homes for animals whenever possible.
That work has continued at a remarkable pace in 2026. During the first six months of the year, the City’s animal services efforts handled 122 animals, compared with 36 during the same period in 2025. The shelter took in 20 dogs, found homes for 18 of them and did not euthanize any of the dogs.
The City has also expanded its efforts to address Yerington’s free-roaming cat population. Through a partnership with ARGONN (Animal Rescue Group of Northern Nevada), 102 cats were trapped, taken to Carson City for veterinary care and spay-or-neuter services, and then returned or placed for adoption during the first half of 2026. Eighty-four of those cats achieved live outcomes.
Shapiro gave special recognition to City employee Ron Durst and his wife, who have contributed significant personal time to the cat program. Their work has included trapping and transporting cats, fostering kittens and participating in weekend adoption events.
“When I look at the numbers — 102 cats in six months that we’ve taken care of — it flat-out amazes me,” Shapiro said. “This is primarily due to one person on my staff who does this. Mr. Ron Durst does a lot of this on his own time.”
The City of Yerington thanks its staff, volunteers, community partners, donors and adopters for helping make this achievement possible. The City looks forward to building on that success as it pursues grants and other opportunities to improve the shelter and expand services for animals and residents.
If you are interested in adoption please call or text (775) 302-1139 to schedule an appointment.
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