Is animal abuse a felony in Nevada?

Posted on October 3, 2022

Abused dog peeking out under enclosure — Many animal cruelty crimes in Nevada are felonies.

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

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: 1 to 4 years in prison, and Up to $5,000 in fines Second offense Category C felony: 1 to 5 years in prison, and Up to $10,000 in fines Third or subsequent offense Category B felony: 1 – 6 years in prison
Running or assisting an animal fight not involving dogs (such as for cock-fighting)	First offense Category E felony: Probation and a suspended sentence with possible jail of up to 1 year Second or subsequent offense Category D felony: 1 to 4 years in prison, and Up to $5,000 in fines
Keeping, training, selling, or buying fight animals	First offense Category E felony: Probation and a suspended sentence with possible jail of up to 1 year Second or subsequent offense Category D felony: 1 to 4 years in prison, and Up to $5,000 in fines
Watching an animal fight	Second or subsequent offense Category E felony: Probation and a suspended sentence with possible jail of up to 1 year (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: Probation and a suspended sentence with possible jail of up to 1 year Third or subsequent offense Category D felony: 1 to 4 years in prison, and Up to $5,000 in fines (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.

About the Author

Neil Shouse

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.