Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 574 - Cruelty to Animals: Prevention and Penalties
NRS 574.070 - Instigating or attending fights between birds or other animals unlawful; owning, training, selling or purchasing animals to fight other animals unlawful; manufacturing, possessing, selling or purchasing certain implements designed for a...


1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not begin, cause, instigate, promote, carry on or do any act as an assistant, umpire or principal, or in any way aid in or engage in the furtherance of any fight between animals in an exhibition or for amusement or gain which is premeditated by a person owning or having custody of the animals.
2. A person shall not:
(a) Own, possess, keep, train, promote or purchase an animal with the intent to use it to fight another animal; or
(b) Sell an animal knowing that it is intended to be used to fight another animal.
3. A person shall not:
(a) Knowingly attend any fight between animals in an exhibition or for amusement or gain; or
(b) Manufacture, own, possess, purchase, sell, barter or exchange, or advertise for sale, barter or exchange, any gaff, spur or other sharp implement designed for attachment to a cock or other bird with the intent that the implement be used in fighting another cock or other bird.
4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, a person who violates any provision of subsection 1 is guilty of:
(a) For a first offense, a category E felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.
(b) For a second or subsequent offense, a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.
5. A person who violates any provision of subsection 2 is guilty of:
(a) For a first offense, a category E felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.
(b) For a second or subsequent offense, a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.
6. A person who violates any provision of subsection 3 is guilty of:
(a) For a first offense, a gross misdemeanor.
(b) For a second or subsequent offense, a category E felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.
7. If a violation of subsection 1 involves a dog, a person who commits such a violation is guilty of:
(a) For a first offense, a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.
(b) For a second offense, a category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.
(c) For a third or subsequent offense, a category B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 1 year and a maximum term of not more than 6 years.
8. If a person who violates this section is not a natural person, the person shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.
9. This section does not prohibit the use of dogs or birds for:
(a) The management of livestock by the owner thereof, the owner’s employees or agents or any other person in the lawful custody of the livestock; or
(b) Hunting as permitted by law.
[Part 6:75:1873; B § 2487; BH § 4781; C § 4873; RL § 1378; NCL § 3236] + [3:178:1919; 1919 RL p. 3394; NCL § 10571]—(NRS A 1981, 772; 1989, 1870; 1995, 1303; 2001, 2888; 2009, 972; 2013, 2112)

Structure Nevada Revised Statutes

Nevada Revised Statutes

Chapter 574 - Cruelty to Animals: Prevention and Penalties

NRS 574.010 - Incorporation.

NRS 574.020 - Bylaws.

NRS 574.030 - Elections; reports.

NRS 574.040 - Arrests by members, agents and officers of certain societies: Application; submission of fingerprints; exhibition of badge; resistance to officers unlawful.

NRS 574.050 - Definitions.

NRS 574.053 - Reporting acts of cruelty; penalty for releasing identity of person making report.

NRS 574.055 - Taking possession of animal being treated cruelly; notice to owner; lien for cost of care; disposition of animal; liability of peace officer or animal control officer; limitations and procedure when animal is located on agricultural lan...

NRS 574.060 - Commission of certain acts concerning place kept or used for baiting or fighting birds or other animals unlawful; penalties.

NRS 574.070 - Instigating or attending fights between birds or other animals unlawful; owning, training, selling or purchasing animals to fight other animals unlawful; manufacturing, possessing, selling or purchasing certain implements designed for a...

NRS 574.080 - Peace officer or animal control officer may take possession of animals and implements used in fights among animals.

NRS 574.090 - Disposition of animals or implements used in fights among animals.

NRS 574.100 - Torturing, overdriving, injuring or abandoning animals; failure to provide proper sustenance; requirements for restraining dogs and using outdoor enclosures; horse tripping; penalties; exceptions.

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

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

NRS 574.110 - Abandonment of disabled animal unlawful; penalty.

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

NRS 574.130 - Selling, offering to sell or exposing diseased animal unlawful; penalty.

NRS 574.140 - Sale of disabled horses unlawful.

NRS 574.150 - Poisoning or attempting to poison animals unlawful; penalties; exception.

NRS 574.160 - Throwing substance injurious to animals in public places unlawful; penalty.

NRS 574.170 - Keeping cow or other milk-producing animal in unhealthy place or diseased condition; feeding resulting in impure milk; penalty.

NRS 574.180 - Running horses on highway; penalty.

NRS 574.190 - Carrying animal in cruel manner; penalty.

NRS 574.200 - Intended applicability of provisions.

NRS 574.201 - Definitions.

NRS 574.2015 - "Animal" defined.

NRS 574.202 - "Animal rescue organization" defined.

NRS 574.2025 - "Animal shelter" defined.

NRS 574.203 - Right to request hearing; timing of hearing.

NRS 574.2035 - Determinations of court.

NRS 574.204 - Recovery of costs for care and shelter.

NRS 574.205 - Requirement to offer dog or cat for adoption before euthanization; immunity from civil liability.

NRS 574.210 - Definitions.

NRS 574.220 - "Ambient temperature" defined.

NRS 574.230 - "Animal" defined.

NRS 574.240 - "Animal shelter" defined.

NRS 574.245 - "Breeder" defined.

NRS 574.250 - "Cattery" defined.

NRS 574.260 - "Dealer" defined.

NRS 574.270 - "Housing facility" defined.

NRS 574.280 - "Kennel" defined.

NRS 574.290 - "Operator" defined.

NRS 574.300 - "Pet" defined.

NRS 574.310 - "Primary enclosure" defined.

NRS 574.320 - "Retailer" defined.

NRS 574.330 - "Veterinarian" defined.

NRS 574.340 - Applicability.

NRS 574.350 - Enforcement by society for prevention of cruelty to animals prohibited.

NRS 574.353 - Annual permits: Application; fees; suspension, revocation or denial.

NRS 574.356 - Prohibited acts.

NRS 574.360 - Buildings and grounds; housing facilities.

NRS 574.370 - Enclosures generally.

NRS 574.380 - Dogs and cats kept outdoors.

NRS 574.390 - Primary enclosures generally.

NRS 574.400 - Floor space of primary enclosure.

NRS 574.410 - Dogs or cats kept in primary enclosures together.

NRS 574.420 - Food and water.

NRS 574.430 - Sanitization.

NRS 574.440 - Program to control disease and care for health.

NRS 574.450 - Examination by veterinarian; sale of cat or dog that requires immediate treatment prohibited; conditions under which presence of parasites requires treatment.

NRS 574.460 - Provision of written statement to purchaser of cat: Required disclosures; signature of seller and purchaser.

NRS 574.470 - Provision of written statement to purchaser of dog: Required disclosures; signature of seller and purchaser.

NRS 574.480 - Posting of notice concerning dog or cat offered for sale.

NRS 574.485 - Imposition of administrative fines for violation of NRS 574.460, 574.470 or 574.480; deposit in State General Fund.

NRS 574.490 - Duties upon determination that pet was sold with condition that requires immediate treatment.

NRS 574.500 - Separating dog or cat from mother; penalty.

NRS 574.510 - Knowingly selling dog or cat with condition requiring immediate treatment prohibited; penalties.

NRS 574.550 - Sale, attempted sale, offer for adoption or transfer of ownership of live animals prohibited at swap meets; exceptions; applicability.

NRS 574.600 - Definitions.

NRS 574.605 - "Agreement for sterilization" defined.

NRS 574.610 - "New owner" defined.

NRS 574.615 - "Pet" defined.

NRS 574.620 - "Releasing agency" defined.

NRS 574.625 - "Sterilization" defined.

NRS 574.630 - "Veterinarian" defined.

NRS 574.640 - Restrictions on release of certain pets; exceptions.

NRS 574.645 - Required contents of agreement for sterilization; determination of date for sterilization and date for notification of sterilization.

NRS 574.650 - Postponement of date for sterilization: Letter signed by veterinarian required; modification of agreement for sterilization.

NRS 574.655 - Notification of sterilization to releasing agency; exceptions; effect of failure to comply.

NRS 574.660 - Duty of releasing agency to establish account; deposit of money; authorized expenditures.

NRS 574.670 - Duty of veterinarians and governmental entities to post local sterilization requirements.