In this section, our attorneys explain Nevada’s criminal laws and legal concepts, A to Z
Criminal Law A to Z
In this section, our attorneys explain Nevada’s criminal laws and legal concepts, A to Z
Crimes by NRS Section
Every crime in Nevada is based in a section of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS). For each crime, our attorneys explain the laws, penalties and best defenses to fight the charge.
Nevada DUI
Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Nevada DUI Laws to learn more.
Post-Conviction
Even if you’ve already been convicted of a crime, there is still much you can do to seal your record and restore your rights. Our attorneys explain how.
24/7 Help:
(702) 333-3673
Please note: Our firm only handles criminal and DUI cases, and only in California. We do not handle any of the following cases:
And we do not handle any cases outside of California.
Call Us NowPosted on
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.
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:
But if your motive was to threaten, intimidate, or terrorize another person, then the state will bring category C felony charges. This carries:
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:
(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
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:
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.
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:
Otherwise, mistreatment is a category D felony, carrying:
NRS 574.107 prohibits tampering with or abusing another person’s show dog. Killing the dog is a category C felony, carrying:
Otherwise, mistreating a show dog is a category D felony. The punishment is:
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:
(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
A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.