In Nevada, the most serious animal abuse crimes are prosecuted as felonies.
In addition to imposing high fines and prison time following an animal abuse conviction, courts may order you to forfeit the animal permanently. You may also have to pay any and all veterinary and maintenance costs.
Click on an animal cruelty crime below for its legal definition and felony penalties.
- 1. The overdriving, torture, injury, or abandonment of animals
- 2. Poisoning of horses, mules, or domestic cattle
- 3. Animal fights
- 4. Mistreating police animals
- 5. Mistreating show dogs
- 6. Depriving impounded animals of necessities
1. The overdriving, torture, injury, or abandonment of animals
NRS 574.100 prohibits unjustifiably maiming, mutilating, or killing any animal in a willful and malicious way. This is typically a category D felony, carrying:
- 1 to 4 years in Nevada State Prison, and
- Up to $5,000 in fines
But if your motive was to threaten, intimidate, or terrorize another person, then the state will bring category C felony charges. This carries:
- 1 to 5 years in prison, and
- Up to $10,000 in fines
Meanwhile, animal abuse short of maiming, mutilation, or killing is typically a misdemeanor. But a third-time offense in a seven-year period is a category C felony. The sentence is:
- 1 to 5 years in prison, and
- Up to $10,000 in fines
(A first offense carries 2 days to 6 months in jail, 48 to 120 hours of community service, and $200 to $1,000 in fines. A second offense carries 10 days to 6 months in jail, 100 to 200 hours of community service, and $500 to $1,000 in fines.)1
2. Poisoning of horses, mules, or domestic cattle
NRS 574.150 makes it a category C felony in Nevada to administer poison – or expose poison to – a horse, mule, or domestic cattle. Penalties include:
- 1 to 5 years in prison, and
- Up to $10,000 in fines2
3. Animal fights
NRS 574.070 prohibits animal fights. The penalties depend on your role:
| Nevada animal crime | Felony penalties |
| Running or assisting a dog fight | First offense Category D felony:
Second offense Category C felony:
Third or subsequent offense
|
| Running or assisting an animal fight not involving dogs (such as for cock-fighting) | First offense
Second or subsequent offense Category D felony:
|
| Keeping, training, selling, or buying fight animals | First offense Category E felony:
Second or subsequent offense Category D felony:
|
| Watching an animal fight | Second or subsequent offense Category E felony:
(A first-time offense is a gross misdemeanor, carrying up to 364 days in jail and/or up to $2,000 in fines) |
| Using or profiting from an animal fight venue | Second offense Category E felony:
Third or subsequent offense Category D felony:
(A first-time offense is a gross misdemeanor, carrying up to 364 days in jail and/or up to $2,000 in fines)3 |
Note that category E felonies carry harsher penalties if you have two or more prior felony convictions: 1 to 4 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.
4. Mistreating police animals
NRS 574.105 prohibits taunting, striking, or otherwise mistreating police animals (typically dogs or horses). If the animal is totally disabled or killed, you face charges for a category C felony. The punishment is:
- 1 to 5 years in prison, and
- Up to $10,000 in fines
Otherwise, mistreatment is a category D felony, carrying:
- 1 to 4 years in prison, and
- Up to $5,000 in fines4
5. Mistreating show dogs
NRS 574.107 prohibits tampering with or abusing another person’s show dog. Killing the dog is a category C felony, carrying:
- 1 to 5 years in prison, and
- Up to $10,000 in fines
Otherwise, mistreating a show dog is a category D felony. The punishment is:
- 1 to 4 years in prison, and
- up to $5,000 in fines, and
- possibly an additional $10,000, if you abused or injured the dog5
6. Depriving impounded animals of necessities
NRS 574.160 prohibits depriving impounded animals of air, food, shelter, or water. A third or subsequent conviction in a seven-year period is a category C felony, carrying:
- 1 to 5 years in prison, and
- Up to $10,000 in fines
(A first- and second-time offense in a seven-year period are misdemeanors. A first offense carries 2 days to 6 months in jail, 48 to 120 hours of community service, and $200 to $1,000 in fines. A second offense carries 10 days to 6 months in jail, 100 to 200 hours of community service, and $500 to $1,000 in fines.)6
Legal References
- NRS 574.100. See, for example, Blockson v. State (Nevada Court of Appeal, 2021) 493 P.3d 382 (unpublished).
- NRS 574.150.
- NRS 574.070. See, for example, State v. Salgado (2019) Nev. App. Unpub. LEXIS 208 (unpublished).
- NRS 574.105.
- NRS 574.107.
- NRS 574.160.
