PAW Cares Act

Creating Animal Rights and Enhanced Sentencing

Summary: This comprehensive section comprises the Nevada anti-cruelty statutes. The section first empowers private prevention of cruelty to animals societies and outlines their powers and responsibilities, including the power to arrest. Under this section, "animal" does not include the human race, but includes every other living creature. Animal cruelty, as described in Section 574.100, prohibits the overdriving, overloading, torture, cruel beating or unjustifiable injuring, maiming, mutilation or killing of an animal, as well as the deprivation of necessary sustenance, food or drink. The first offense under this section is a misdemeanor with enhancement to a felony for a third or subsequent convictions. Animals fighting is also prohibited under the section, with enhanced sentences for subsequent convictions. Other specific crimes include mistreatment of dogs, abandonment of animals, poisoning (although the section does not prohibit the destruction of "noxious animals"), and basic requirements for the care of dogs and cats kept in kennels or sold by pounds or pet shops.

574.100. Overdriving, torturing, injuring or abandoning animals; failure to provide proper sustenance; requirements for restraining dogs and using outdoor enclosures; penalties; exceptions

1. A person shall not:

(a) Torture or unjustifiably maim, mutilate or kill:

(1) An animal kept for companionship or pleasure, whether belonging to the person or to another; or

(2) Any cat or dog;

(b) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a), overdrive, overload, torture, cruelly beat or unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate or kill an animal, whether belonging to the person or to another;

(c) Deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or neglect or refuse to furnish it such sustenance or drink;

(d) Cause, procure or allow an animal to be overdriven, overloaded, tortured, cruelly beaten, or unjustifiably injured, maimed, mutilated or killed or to be deprived of necessary food or drink;

(e) Instigate, engage in, or in any way further an act of cruelty to any animal, or any act tending to produce such cruelty; or

(f) Abandon an animal in circumstances other than those prohibited in NRS 574.110. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to a feral cat that has been caught to provide vaccination, spaying or neutering and released back to the location where the feral cat was caught after providing the vaccination, spaying or neutering. As used in this paragraph, “feral cat” means a cat that has no apparent owner or identification and appears to be unsocialized to humans and unmanageable or otherwise demonstrates characteristics normally associated with a wild or undomesticated animal.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 3 and 4 and NRS 574.210 to 574.510, inclusive, a person shall not restrain a dog:

(a) Using a tether, chain, tie, trolley or pulley system or other device that:

(1) Is less than 12 feet in length;

(2) Fails to allow the dog to move at least 12 feet or, if the device is a pulley system, fails to allow the dog to move a total of 12 feet; or

(3) Allows the dog to reach a fence or other object that may cause the dog to become injured or die by strangulation after jumping the fence or object or otherwise becoming entangled in the fence or object;

(b) Using a prong, pinch or choke collar or similar restraint; or

3. Any pen or other outdoor enclosure that is used to maintain a dog must be appropriate for the size and breed of the dog. If any property that is used by a person to maintain a dog is of insufficient size to ensure compliance by the person with the provisions of paragraph (a) of subsection 2, the person may maintain the dog unrestrained in a pen or other outdoor enclosure that complies with the provisions of this subsection.

4. The provisions of subsections 2 and 3 do not apply to a dog that is:

(a) Tethered, chained, tied, restrained or placed in a pen or enclosure by a veterinarian, as defined in NRS 574.330, during the course of the veterinarian's practice;

(b) Being used lawfully to hunt a species of wildlife in this State during the hunting season for that species;

(d) In attendance at and participating in an exhibition, show, contest or other event in which the skill, breeding or stamina of the dog is judged or examined;

(e) Being processed into an animal shelter;

(f) Temporarily for a period of less than 1 month:

(1) Being cared for as part of a rescue operation in conjunction with an animal rescue organization; or

(2) Staying in a camping area;

(g) Living on land that is directly related to an active agricultural operation, if the restraint is reasonably necessary to ensure the safety of the dog. As used in this paragraph, “agricultural operation” means any activity that is necessary for the commercial growing and harvesting of crops or the raising of livestock or poultry;

(h) Under the direct custody or control of a person, if the person is engaged in a temporary task or activity with the dog for not more than 1 hour; or

(i) Being walked by a person using a leash.

5. A person shall not:

(a) Intentionally engage in horse tripping for sport, entertainment, competition or practice; or

(b) Knowingly organize, sponsor, promote, oversee or receive money for the admission of any person to a charreada or rodeo that includes horse tripping.

6. A person who willfully and maliciously violates paragraph (a) of subsection 1:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), is guilty of a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

(b) If the act is committed in order to threaten, intimidate or terrorize another person, is guilty of a category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

7. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, a person who violates subsection 1, 2, 3 or 5:

(a) For the first offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to:

(1) Imprisonment in the city or county jail or detention facility for not less than 2 days, but not more than 6 months; and

(2) Perform not less than 48 hours, but not more than 120 hours, of community service.

The person shall be further punished by a fine of not less than $200, but not more than $1,000. A term of imprisonment imposed pursuant to this paragraph may be served intermittently at the discretion of the judge or justice of the peace, except that each period of confinement must be not less than 4 consecutive hours and must occur either at a time when the person is not required to be at the person's place of employment or on a weekend.

(b) For the second offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to:

(1) Imprisonment in the city or county jail or detention facility for not less than 10 days, but not more than 6 months; and

(2) Perform not less than 100 hours, but not more than 200 hours, of community service.

The person shall be further punished by a fine of not less than $500, but not more than $1,000.

(c) For the third and any subsequent offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, is guilty of a category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

8. In addition to any other fine or penalty provided in subsection 6 or 7, a court shall order a person convicted of violating subsection 1, 2, 3 or 5 to pay restitution for all costs associated with the care and impoundment of any mistreated animal under subsection 1, 2, 3 or 5 including, without limitation, money expended for veterinary treatment, feed and housing.

9. The court may order the person convicted of violating subsection 1, 2, 3 or 5 to surrender ownership or possession of the mistreated animal.

10. The provisions of this section do not apply with respect to an injury to or the death of an animal that occurs accidentally in the normal course of:

(a) Carrying out the activities of a rodeo or livestock show; or

(b) Operating a ranch.

11. As used in this section, “horse tripping” means the roping of the legs of or otherwise using a wire, pole, stick, rope or other object to intentionally trip or intentionally cause a horse, mule, burro, ass or other animal of the equine species to fall. The term does not include:

(a) Tripping such an animal to provide medical or other health care for the animal; or

(b) Catching such an animal by the legs and then releasing it as part of a horse roping event for which a permit has been issued by the local government where the event is conducted.

Credits
Added by Laws 1873, c. 75, § 6 [part] and Laws 1919, c. 178, § 6 [part]. NRS amended by Laws 1981, p. 672; Laws 1991, p. 491; Laws 1999, c. 486, § 10; Laws 2009, c. 199, § 1; Laws 2011, c. 284, § 4; Laws 2013, c. 401, § 1.5, eff. June 3, 2013; Laws 2017, c. 320, § 5, eff. June 2, 2017; Laws 2023, c. 166, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2023.

574.105. Mistreatment of police animal and interference with duties of police animal or handler unlawful; penalties; exception

1. A person shall not willfully and maliciously:

(a) Taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike or administer a desensitizing drug, chemical or substance to a police animal;

(b) Interfere with a police animal or a handler thereof in the performance of duties assigned to the police animal or handler; or

2. A person who violates:

(a) Paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection 1 is guilty of a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

(b) Paragraph (c) of subsection 1 is guilty of:

(1) If the police animal is not totally disabled or killed, a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130, and may be further punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.

(2) If the police animal is totally disabled or killed, a category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130. In addition to the punishment imposed pursuant to this subparagraph, the court may require a person who is punished pursuant to this subparagraph to pay restitution to the agency that owns the police animal, including, without limitation, payment for veterinary services and the cost of replacing the police animal.

3. The provisions of this section do not prohibit a euthanasia technician licensed pursuant to chapter 638 of NRS, a peace officer or a veterinarian from euthanizing a police animal in an emergency if the police animal is critically wounded and would otherwise endure undue suffering and pain.

Added by Laws 1999, p. 2516. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 572, § 3, eff. June 13, 2001.

574.107. Mistreatment of dogs used for certain events unlawful; penalties

1. A person shall not:

(a) Willfully, unjustifiably and maliciously tamper or interfere with;

(b) Willfully and unjustifiably abuse or injure, or willfully and unjustifiably set on foot, instigate, engage in or in any way further an act of abusing or injuring; or

(c) Willfully and unjustifiably kill or willfully and unjustifiably set on foot, instigate, engage in or in any way further an act of killing, a dog owned by another person that is used in an exhibition, show, contest or other event in which the skill, breeding or stamina of the dog is judged or examined.

2. A person who violates:

(a) Paragraph (a) of subsection 1 is guilty of a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

(b) Paragraph (b) of subsection 1 is guilty of a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130, and may be further punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.

Added by Laws 1999, p. 2517. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 572, § 4, eff. June 13, 2001.

574.110. Abandonment of disabled animal unlawful; penalty

1. A person being the owner or possessor, or having charge or custody, of a maimed, diseased, disabled or infirm animal, who abandons such animal or leaves it to die in a public street, road or public place, or who allows it to lie in a public street, road or public place more than 3 hours after he receives notice that it is left disabled, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

2. Any agent or officer of any society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or of any society duly incorporated for that purpose, or any police officer, may lawfully destroy or cause to be destroyed any animal found abandoned and not properly cared for, appearing, in the judgment of two reputable citizens called by him to view the same in his presence, to be glandered, injured or diseased past recovery for any useful purpose, or after such agent or officer has obtained in writing from the owner of such animal his consent to such destruction.

3. When any person arrested is, at the time of such arrest, in charge of any animal or of any vehicle drawn by or containing any animal, any agent or officer of such society or societies or any police officer may take charge of such animal and of such vehicle and its contents and deposit the same in a safe place of custody, or deliver the same into the possession of the police or sheriff of the county or place wherein such arrest was made, who shall thereupon assume the custody thereof. All necessary expenses incurred in taking charge of such property shall be a charge thereon.

Formerly section 6 of chapter 75 of Laws 1873 [part]; Bonnifield and Healy (1873), § 2487; Baily and Hammond (1885), § 4781; Cutting (1900), § 4873; RL (1912), § 1378; NCL (1929), § 3236. Section 7 of chapter 178 of Laws 1919; RL (1919), p. 3395; NCL (1929), § 10575.

574.120. Failure to provide proper air, food, shelter or water to impounded animal unlawful; penalties

1. A person who has impounded or confined any animal shall not refuse or neglect to supply to the animal during its confinement a sufficient supply of good and wholesome air, food, shelter and water.

2. A person who violates subsection 1:

(a) For the first offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to:

(1) Imprisonment in the city or county jail or detention facility for not less than 2 days, but not more than 6 months; and

(2) Perform not less than 48 hours, but not more than 120 hours, of community service.

The person shall be further punished by a fine of not less than $200, but not more than $1,000. A term of imprisonment imposed pursuant to this paragraph may be served intermittently at the discretion of the judge or justice of the peace, except that each period of confinement must be not less than 4 consecutive hours and must occur at a time when the person is not required to be at his place of employment or on a weekend.

(b) For the second offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to:

(1) Imprisonment in the city or county jail or detention facility for not less than 10 days, but not more than 6 months; and

(2) Perform not less than 100 hours, but not more than 200 hours, of community service.

The person shall be further punished by a fine of not less than $500, but not more than $1,000.

(c) For the third and any subsequent offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, is guilty of a category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

3. In addition to any other fine or penalty provided in subsection 2, a court shall order a person convicted of violating subsection 1 to pay restitution for all costs associated with the care and impoundment of any mistreated animal under subsection 1, including, without limitation, money expended for veterinary treatment, feed and housing.

4. If any animal is at any time impounded as provided in subsection 1, and continues to be without necessary food and water for more than 12 successive hours, any person may, as often as it is necessary, enter into and upon any pound in which the animal is so confined and supply it with necessary food and water, so long as it remains so confined. Such a person is not liable to any action for such entry, and the reasonable cost of such food and water may be collected by him from the owner of the animal, and the animal is not exempt from levy and sale upon execution issued upon a judgment therefor.

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