CRUELTY

Las Vegas Municipal Code tit. 7, ch. 7.32

in effect

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.010 Abandonment.

7.32.010 - Abandonment. It shall be unlawful for any person owning, possessing or having the care, custody and control of any animal, living or dead, to go away and leave without adequate care and control the same in a public street, road, alley, or any other public place, or upon the private property of himself or another. The preceding prohibition does not apply to the release of a community cat in accordance with LVMC Chapter 7.22. (Ord. No. 6490, § 13, 12-16-15; Ord. 5497 § 7, 2002: Ord. 3618 § 120, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.020 Protective care by officer.

7.32.020 - Protective care by officer. Whenever an Animal Protection Services Officer finds that any animal is, or will be, without proper care, the Animal Protection Services Officer may take such animal into protective care; and in the event of sickness, injury or abuse of the animal, the Animal Protection Services Officer may take any action to prevent undue pain and suffering, including impoundment or immediate destruction of the animal. (Ord. No. 6816, § 63, 8-17-22; Ord. 3618 § 121, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.030 Poisoning.

7.32.030 - Poisoning. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person unjustifiably to administer any poisonous drug or substance with intent that the same shall be taken by an animal, whether such animal is the property of himself or another, or whether said drug or substance is exposed upon such person's property, the private property of another, or any public place; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prevent or restrict the Animal Regulation Officer or Health Officer in the exercise and performance of the powers and duties in this Title. (Ord. 3618 § 122, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.040 Placing injurious substances to harm animals.

7.32.040 - Placing injurious substances to harm animals. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to wilfully throw, drop or place, or cause to be thrown, dropped or placed upon any road, highway, street, alley or public place, or upon the private property of himself or another, any glass, nails, pieces of metal or other substance or device calculated to wound, disable or injure any animal. (Ord. 3618 § 123, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.050 Vehicle confinement—Open trucks.

7.32.050 - Vehicle confinement—Open trucks. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to carry or enclose, or cause to be carried or enclosed, in or upon any vehicle any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to transport or convey any animal in the bed of an open pickup or similar open vehicle, without making provisions to prevent said animal from jumping or being thrown from said vehicle. (Ord. 3618 § 124, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.060 Vehicle confinement—Responsible owner.

7.32.060 - Vehicle confinement—Responsible owner. No person having charge or custody of an animal, as owner or otherwise, shall place or confine such animal or allow such animal to be placed or confined or to remain in a motor vehicle under such conditions or for such period of time as may endanger the health or well-being of such animal due to heat, cold, lack of food or drink, or such other circumstances as may reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability or death. (Ord. 3618 § 125, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.070 Vehicle confinement—Vehicle owner.

7.32.070 - Vehicle confinement—Vehicle owner. No person having dominion or control over a motor vehicle, as owner or otherwise, shall place or confine an animal or allow an animal to be placed or confined or to remain in a motor vehicle under such conditions or for such period of time as may endanger the health or well-being of such animal due to heat, cold, lack of food or drink, or such other circumstances as may reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability or death. (Ord. 3618 § 126, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.080 Vehicle confinement—Right of entry.

7.32.080 - Vehicle confinement—Right of entry. (A) Any peace officer or Animal Protection Services Officer who finds an animal in a motor vehicle in violation of this Chapter may break and enter the motor vehicle causing the minimum damage necessary to safely remove the animal if necessary to remove the animal. (B) The officer removing the animal shall take the animal to the Animal Protection Services Center or to a veterinary clinic for safekeeping and shall, in the event the person having custody cannot be otherwise contacted, leave in a prominent place in the motor vehicle a written notice bearing the officer's name and office, and the address where the animal may be claimed by the owner thereof. (C) The animal will be surrendered to the owner if the owner claims the animal within five working days from the time the animal was removed from the motor vehicle and pays all applicable charges that have accrued for the maintenance of the animal. (D) Any animal impounded in the Animal Protection Services Center as provided in this Title shall be kept for a minimum of seventy-two hours. After that period, the animal may be released to any person, who shall pay all appropriate fees as provided in this Title. (Ord. No. 6816, § 64, 8-17-22; Ord. 5220 § 31, 2000: Ord. 3618 § 127, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.090 Found animal—Reporting.

7.32.090 - Found animal—Reporting. Each person who takes custody of any animal that is lost, abandoned, or apparently running at large, shall report the same to the Las Vegas Animal Protection Services Center immediately after taking custody thereof. For purposes of this Section, an animal shall be considered to be abandoned if: (A) The person having care, custody or control of the animal leaves the animal without adequate care or control on public or private property; or (B) The animal has not been claimed by the agreed-upon time after having been boarded, groomed, trained, handled or cared for by a professional animal handler or veterinarian. (Ord. No. 6816, § 65, 8-17-22; Ord. 5497 § 8, 2002: Ord. 3618 § 128, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.100 Injury by vehicle—Motorist responsibility.

7.32.100 - Injury by vehicle—Motorist responsibility. (A) Every operator of any vehicle upon the streets and ways of the City shall immediately upon injury, striking, maiming or running down any animal give such aid as he is reasonably able to render. In the absence of the animal's owner, he shall immediately notify the Animal Protection Services Officer furnishing sufficient facts relative to such injury. (B) It is the duty of such operator to remain at or near the scene until the appropriate authorities arrive, and such operator shall immediately identify himself to the appropriate authority. (C) Alternatively, in the absence of the animal's owner, a person may give aid by taking the animal to a veterinary hospital or the Animal Protection Services Center and thereafter notifying the Animal Regulation Officer. Such animal shall be deemed an uncared for animal within the meaning of Section 7.32.020. (D) Emergency vehicles are not required to stop but shall notify the Animal Protection Services Officer, furnishing sufficient facts relative to such injury. (Ord. No. 6816, § 66, 8-17-22; Ord. 3618 § 129, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.110 Keeping animals for fights—Shooting animals or birds.

7.32.110 - Keeping animals for fights—Shooting animals or birds. (A) It is unlawful for any person to: (1) Own, keep, or use, or be in any manner connected with or financially interested in the management of, or to receive money or other thing of value for the admission of any person to, a house, apartment, pit or place procured or permitted to be used or occupied for an animal fighting venture; (2) Instigate, promote, arrange, or carry on an animal fighting venture; (3) Breed or train any animal for the purpose of using the animal in an animal fighting venture; (4) Keep or possess any animal under circumstances evincing an intent to use the animal in an animal fighting venture; or (5) Perform any act as assistant, umpire, principal, spectator or otherwise in a fight between animals, or in aid of or calculated to encourage or further any animal fighting venture. (B) It is unlawful for any person who is not engaged in training a dog for field trial or hunting, or in staging a field trial or training class, to fire upon any animal, including a pigeon or other bird, unless hunting pursuant to authority granting from the U.S. Government, the State, or one of their respective political subdivisions. (Ord. 5696 § 2, 2004: Ord. 3618 § 130, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.120 Injury and overwork.

7.32.120 - Injury and overwork. (A) It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to overdrive, overload, torture or cruelly beat, or unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate or kill any animal whether belonging to himself or to another, and whether on or off the premises of the owner of said animal. (B) It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to intentionally trip or fell any equine animal by the legs or any means whatsoever for the purpose of entertainment or sport whether belonging to himself or another, and whether on or off the premises of the owner of said animal. (Ord. 4037 § 1, 1996: Ord. 3618 § 131, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.130 Sustenance deprivation.

7.32.130 - Sustenance deprivation. It shall be unlawful to: (A) Deprive any animal of necessary sustenance, food, drink or shelter; (B) Expose any animal to the elements of the weather and to the extremes of heat or cold. Without limiting the general applicability of the preceding language of this Subsection (B), when the temperature is expected to rise above one hundred five degrees Fahrenheit, additional mechanisms appropriate for the animal species, including without limitation misters, swamp coolers or air conditioning, must be provided to allow for the cooling of body temperature and the prevention of overheating; (C) Fail or refuse to obtain for an animal veterinary care for illness, injury, disease or infirmity; or (D) Wilfully instigate, engage in, or in any way further an act of cruelty to any animal, or any act to produce such cruelty. (Ord. No. 6777, § 1, 5-5-21; Ord. 5220 § 32, 2000: Ord. 3618 § 132, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.135 Greyhound racing prohibited.

7.32.135 - Greyhound racing prohibited. (A) "Greyhound" means a purebred greyhound dog registered by the National Greyhound Association. (B) It is unlawful to conduct greyhound racing within the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada. (Ord. 4054 § 1, 1997)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.140 Riding or driving animals while intoxicated.

7.32.140 - Riding or driving animals while intoxicated. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to ride or drive an equine while such person is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drug. (Ord. 3618 § 133, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.150 Reflectors for roadside travel.

7.32.150 - Reflectors for roadside travel. It shall be a misdemeanor to drive, ride or lead any animal except dog or cats, upon or beside any public highway, road or way between the hours of sunset and sunrise without having safety reflectors or reflective tape visible from any direction on their tack or body. (Ord. 3618 § 134, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.160 Confinement/restraint.

7.32.160 - Confinement/restraint. It is unlawful to: (A) Restrain a dog in violation of NRS 574.100; (B) Confine an animal in any cage, coop, or fence barrier of a size deemed insufficient by the Animal Protection Services Officer, or to restrict any animal by leash, cord, or chain of a length deemed insufficient for that type of animal by the Animal Protection Services Officer; or (C) Tether, tie, chain or use other restraint on a dog for longer than ten hours during a twenty-four-hour period or at any time when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory. This Subsection (C) does not prohibit conduct permitted by NRS 574.100(4) and shall not be deemed to limit the general applicability of Subsection (B). (Ord. No. 6816, § 67, 8-17-22; Ord. No. 6777, § 2, 5-5-21; Ord. 3618 § 135, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.170 Trapping—Manner—Care while trapped.

7.32.170 - Trapping—Manner—Care while trapped. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to trap any animal with other than a humane "live" trap which will inflict no physical injury upon the animal; and it shall be unlawful for any person to lure or entice, by means of food or otherwise, any animal into other than a humane "live" trap; it shall be unlawful for any person having trapped an animal to leave it without food, water or shelter, for an unreasonable period of time. (Ord. 3618 § 136, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.180 Trapping—Disposal.

7.32.180 - Trapping—Disposal. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person who has trapped an animal, or discovers any animal so trapped, to dispose of it in any fashion not otherwise provided by law, but said person shall call the Animal Protection Services Officer to have said animal picked up, deliver it to the Animal Protection Services Center, or otherwise dispose of it as directed by the Animal Protection Services Officer. (Ord. No. 6816, § 68, 8-17-22; Ord. 3618 § 137, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.190 Crating or boxing.

7.32.190 - Crating or boxing. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to overcrowd any animal in any crate, box or other receptacle, or fail to provide food, water, shelter, or sanitation for same. (Ord. 3618 § 138, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.200 Sale—Age requirements.

7.32.200 - Sale—Age requirements. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to sell or offer for sale, barter or give away baby chicks, ducklings, other fowl under four weeks of age or rabbits under two weeks of age, as pets or novelties. This Chapter shall not be construed to prohibit the display or sale of natural chicks, rabbits, ducklings or other fowl, in proper breeder facilities by hatcheries, or stores engaged in the business of selling the same to be raised for commercial purposes. (Ord. 3618 § 139, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.210 Sale—Business license required.

7.32.210 - Sale—Business license required. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to display, sell or offer for sale, barter, give away, or otherwise dispose of any animal upon any street, sidewalk, public building, public park, or other public place, without the proper business license to do so. (Ord. 3618 § 140, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.220 Use of animal—Advertisement purposes.

7.32.220 - Use of animal—Advertisement purposes. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person in connection with any advertising campaign or promotion to use, give, sell, or barter, or offer to use, give, sell, or barter, as a gift or prize, any live animal in any manner where there will be a transfer of ownership or possession. (Ord. 3618 § 141, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.230 Amusement game—Target.

7.32.230 - Amusement game—Target. It shall be a misdemeanor for any owner, operator, or agent or any carnival, fair, or amusement park to use any live animal as or for a target. (Ord. 3618 § 142, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.240 Dyeing or coloring baby animals.

7.32.240 - Dyeing or coloring baby animals. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to dye or color by any means any baby chick, rabbit, duckling or fowl, or to dye or color any animal for purposes of concealing its identity. (Ord. 3618 § 143, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.250 Research or medical use.

7.32.250 - Research or medical use. (A) It shall be a misdemeanor, except as provided in Subsection (B), for any person to sell or offer for sale, buy or offer to buy, barter or offer to barter, give or offer to give, or furnish any animal for experimental, laboratory, vivisection, dissection or teaching purposes. (B) Any person may sell or offer for sale, buy or offer to buy, barter or offer to barter, give or offer to give, or furnish any animal for properly conducted scientific experiments or investigations which are performed under the authority of the faculty of any regularly incorporated medical college or university of this State, or under the authority of the staff of a licensed hospital or laboratory facility in the course and scope of their work. (C) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (B), the City Animal Protection Services Center shall not knowingly release an animal to any person who intends to use the animal for experimental, laboratory or vivisection purposes. (Ord. No. 6816, § 69, 8-17-22; Ord. 5073 § 1, 1998: Ord. 3618 § 144, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.260 Euthanasia—Permitted methods.

7.32.260 - Euthanasia—Permitted methods. No device or method may be used in the euthanasia of any dog or cat, except the injection of sodium pentobarbital. An exception is permitted if approved by the American Veterinarians Association. (Ord. 3618 § 145, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.270 Euthanasia—Permit required.

7.32.270 - Euthanasia—Permit required. No employee of a public or private Animal Protection Services Center may use sodium pentobarbital in the euthanasia of animals unless he is certified to use those substances. (Ord. No. 6816, § 70, 8-17-22; Ord. 3618 § 146, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.280 Euthanasia—Inspection authority.

7.32.280 - Euthanasia—Inspection authority. Any member of the local Board of Health or member of the Nevada State board of Veterinary Medical Examiners may inspect the operation of any public or private facility used in the euthanasia of animals in this City. (Ord. 3618 § 147, 1991)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 7.32.290 Animal Protection Services Officer—Right of entry.

7.32.290 - Animal Protection Services Officer—Right of entry. The Animal Protection Services Officer and any peace officer shall have the right with probable cause to enter upon any private or public property in the City in order to examine or capture any animal thereon or therein; provided, however, that no such officer shall have the right to enter a house or structure which is in use as a residence without having first secured a search warrant therefor. (Ord. No. 6816, § 71, 8-17-22; Ord. 3618 § 148, 1991)

Source: City of Las Vegas, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nv/las_vegas/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT7AN_CH7.32CRFetched: 10/28/2026