Nevada

SPCA of Northern Nevada helping host vaccine and microchip clinic for area pets

Published

2 years ago

September 24, 2024

SPCA of Northern Nevada helping host vaccine and microchip clinic for area pets

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – This weekend, the SPCA of Northern Nevada and several other organizations will be hosting a free drive-through vaccine and microchip clinic for pets in northern Nevada.

They, Heal House Call Veterinarian, and Dave and the Cheryl Duffield Foundation will host the clinic on Sept. 29 at the Reno Livestock Events Center from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Free vaccines and microchips will be available for dogs and cats. It will be open to all northern Nevada residents with proof of residency.

Rabies, DAPP, and FVRCP vaccines will all be available.

The clinic will operate on a first-come first served basis for up to 1,000 pets. Dogs must be kept on leashes and cats must be kept in carriers. Participants will be asked to enter through Gate 2 on Wells Ave, remain in their cars and follow the instructions provided by staff.

“There is currently a lot of need in northern Nevada and animal welfare is only successful through collaborative partnerships,” said Jill Vacchina Dobbs, Executive Director at SPCA-NN. “SPCA of Northern Nevada is grateful for our extraordinary partners working with us to provide 1,000 pets with free core vaccines and microchips! Together, we are all committed to helping people be the best pet parents they can be!”

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Nevada

UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

Published

3 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

After decades of cheatgrass-fueled wildfires across Nevada, researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno are testing whether cattle can help restore damaged rangelands by spreading native seeds as they graze.

Cheatgrass, an invasive plant common across the Great Basin, dries out early and can fuel larger wildfires, making it harder for native vegetation to return. UNR postdoctoral scholar William Richardson said the plant helps create a self-reinforcing cycle.

“Cheatgrass grows, it creates more wildfires, that allows more cheatgrass to grow, and it becomes a bigger and bigger issue. That’s why we’re seeing all these mega fires spreading across the Great Basin,” Richardson said.

The challenge continues after flames are out. In Nevada’s arid climate, native plants can struggle to reestablish, while cheatgrass often returns quickly.

UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

“We struggle with getting five to eight inches of rain a year. Trying to restore a native community in those very arid conditions are extremely difficult,” Richardson said.

Ewe won’t believe it: Sheep munch away at Reno’s wildfire worries in Arrowcreek area

Ranchers already use targeted grazing to reduce cheatgrass. Now, UNR researchers are studying whether cattle can also help reseed the landscape. The approach mixes native grass seeds into protein supplements cattle already eat. Researchers then track whether the seeds can survive digestion and be spread naturally across the range after being deposited in manure.

“We’re already using cattle to combat cheatgrass through targeted grazing, and the ultimate goal is to bring native species back across the landscape, so why don’t we combine those two ideas?” Richardson said.

In lab testing, researchers evaluated special seed coatings designed to help some seeds survive a cow’s digestive system. The results showed certain species could make it through the process and still germinate after being deposited in manure, Richardson said, though some seeds need more protection than others.

UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

“Some species naturally have a very thin seed coat and require more protection, while others can go through the gut of a cow easy peasy lemon squeezy,” he said.

The project is expected to move into field testing this fall at Horseshoe Ranch near Eureka, where researchers will track whether seeds can not only survive digestion but also establish new plants on the landscape.

“It’s a passive way to restore the landscape. Instead of having to go in with a tractor or seed from an airplane, you can use cows that are already there,” Richardson said.

UNR tests whether cow manure can help restore Nevada landscapes after wildfires

Researchers said the method is not intended to replace traditional restoration work, but to add another tool for land managers and ranchers. If the field trials are successful, they said the approach could eventually help restore thousands — or even hundreds of thousands — of acres across the Great Basin.

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