LAS VEGAS -- After more than 1,000 animals had to be euthanized due to a virus, national animal welfare groups came back to the Valley to check on the shelters.

Almost a year ago, the Lied Animal Shelter had to kill 1,000 animals after an outbreak of the parvovirus. While many of the shelters remain overcrowded, many officials said the animal care system has made great strides since that incident.

"We've made significant improvement. The health and welfare of the animal is spectacular," Chris Robinson, executive director of the Animal Foundation, said. "The facility is clean. The animals are treated well."

Since the incident, Lied Animal Shelter has made many steps to improve the quality of life for their animals. They said they have trained employees on proper cleaning techniques and specific animal care needs. Clark County animal control officials have been making weekly inspections of the facilities to ensure animal safety.

Now that the animal shelters are performing to the state's animal care standards, Robinson said he hopes to change the communities' mindset about shelter animals.

"What I'd like to see is turn the attention out to the community and bring down that number of 50,000 coming through out door each year," Robinson said.

Gina Greisen, director for Nevada Voters for Animals, said she wants a local task force in place to address what she calls the pet population crisis. She said more than 40,000 animals are killed annually in shelters across the state because they are not adopted.