Nev. Rev. Stat. » NRS: CHAPTER 574 - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: PREVENTION AND PENALTIES
Nevada Revised Statutes

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100 (2026)

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

✓ current as of July 2026
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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.

      1.  A person shall not:

      (a) Torture or unjustifiably maim, mutilate or kill:

             (1) An animal kept for companionship or pleasure, whether belonging to the person or to another; or

             (2) Any cat or dog;

      (b) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a), overdrive, overload, torture, cruelly beat or unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate or kill an animal, whether belonging to the person or to another;

      (c) Deprive an animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or neglect or refuse to furnish it such sustenance or drink;

      (d) Cause, procure or allow an animal to be overdriven, overloaded, tortured, cruelly beaten, or unjustifiably injured, maimed, mutilated or killed or to be deprived of necessary food or drink;

      (e) Instigate, engage in, or in any way further an act of cruelty to any animal, or any act tending to produce such cruelty; or

      (f) Abandon an animal. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to a feral cat that has been caught to provide vaccination, spaying or neutering and released back to the location where the feral cat was caught after providing the vaccination, spaying or neutering. As used in this paragraph, “feral cat” means a cat that has no apparent owner or identification and appears to be unsocialized to humans and unmanageable or otherwise demonstrates characteristics normally associated with a wild or undomesticated animal.

      2.  Except as otherwise provided in subsections 3 and 4 and NRS 574.210 to 574.510, inclusive, a person shall not restrain a dog:

      (a) Using a tether, chain, tie, trolley or pulley system or other device that:

             (1) Is less than 12 feet in length;

             (2) Fails to allow the dog to move at least 12 feet or, if the device is a pulley system, fails to allow the dog to move a total of 12 feet; or

             (3) Allows the dog to reach a fence or other object that may cause the dog to become injured or die by strangulation after jumping the fence or object or otherwise becoming entangled in the fence or object;

      (b) Using a prong, pinch or choke collar or similar restraint; or

      (c) For more than 10 hours during a 24-hour period.

      3.  Any pen or other outdoor enclosure that is used to maintain a dog must be appropriate for the size and breed of the dog. If any property that is used by a person to maintain a dog is of insufficient size to ensure compliance by the person with the provisions of paragraph (a) of subsection 2, the person may maintain the dog unrestrained in a pen or other outdoor enclosure that complies with the provisions of this subsection.

      4.  The provisions of subsections 2 and 3 do not apply to a dog that is:

      (a) Tethered, chained, tied, restrained or placed in a pen or enclosure by a veterinarian, as defined in NRS 574.330, during the course of the veterinarian’s practice;

      (b) Being used lawfully to hunt a species of wildlife in this State during the hunting season for that species;

      (c) Receiving training to hunt a species of wildlife in this State;

      (d) In attendance at and participating in an exhibition, show, contest or other event in which the skill, breeding or stamina of the dog is judged or examined;

      (e) Being processed into an animal shelter;

      (f) Temporarily for a period of less than 1 month:

             (1) Being cared for as part of a rescue operation in conjunction with an animal rescue organization; or

             (2) Staying in a camping area;

      (g) Living on land that is directly related to an active agricultural operation, if the restraint is reasonably necessary to ensure the safety of the dog. As used in this paragraph, “agricultural operation” means any activity that is necessary for the commercial growing and harvesting of crops or the raising of livestock or poultry;

      (h) Under the direct custody or control of a person, if the person is engaged in a temporary task or activity with the dog for not more than 1 hour; or

      (i) Being walked by a person using a leash.

      5.  A person shall not:

      (a) Intentionally engage in horse tripping for sport, entertainment, competition or practice; or

      (b) Knowingly organize, sponsor, promote, oversee or receive money for the admission of any person to a charreada or rodeo that includes horse tripping.

      6.  A person who:

      (a) Willfully and maliciously violates paragraph (a) of subsection 1:

             (1) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (2) is guilty of a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

             (2) If the act caused the death of the animal, is guilty of 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, and may be further punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.

      (b) Violates paragraph (a) of subsection 1 and commits the act in order to threaten, intimidate or terrorize another person, is guilty of 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, and may be further punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.

      7.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, a person who violates subsection 1, 2, 3 or 5:

      (a) For the first offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to:

             (1) Imprisonment in the city or county jail or detention facility for not less than 2 days, but not more than 6 months; and

             (2) Perform not less than 48 hours, but not more than 120 hours, of community service.

Ê The person shall be further punished by a fine of not less than $200, but not more than $1,000. A term of imprisonment imposed pursuant to this paragraph may be served intermittently at the discretion of the judge or justice of the peace, except that each period of confinement must be not less than 4 consecutive hours and must occur either at a time when the person is not required to be at the person’s place of employment or on a weekend.

      (b) For the second offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to:

             (1) Imprisonment in the city or county jail or detention facility for not less than 10 days, but not more than 6 months; and

             (2) Perform not less than 100 hours, but not more than 200 hours, of community service.

Ê The person shall be further punished by a fine of not less than $500, but not more than $1,000.

      (c) For the third and any subsequent offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, is guilty of a category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

      8.  In addition to any other fine or penalty provided in subsection 6 or 7, a court shall order a person convicted of violating subsection 1, 2, 3 or 5 to pay restitution for all costs associated with the care and impoundment of any mistreated animal under subsection 1, 2, 3 or 5 including, without limitation, money expended for veterinary treatment, feed and housing.

      9.  The court may order the person convicted of violating subsection 1, 2, 3 or 5 to surrender ownership or possession of the mistreated animal.

      10.  The provisions of this section do not apply with respect to an injury to or the death of an animal that occurs accidentally in the normal course of:

      (a) Carrying out the activities of a rodeo or livestock show; or

      (b) Operating a ranch.

      11.  As used in this section, “horse tripping” means the roping of the legs of or otherwise using a wire, pole, stick, rope or other object to intentionally trip or intentionally cause a horse, mule, burro, ass or other animal of the equine species to fall. The term does not include:

      (a) Tripping such an animal to provide medical or other health care for the animal; or

      (b) Catching such an animal by the legs and then releasing it as part of a horse roping event for which a permit has been issued by the local government where the event is conducted.

      [Part 6:75:1873; B § 2487; BH § 4781; C § 4873; RL § 1378; NCL § 3236] + [Part 6:178:1919; 1919 RL p. 3394; NCL § 10574]—(NRS A 1981, 672; 1991, 491; 1999, 2518; 2009, 738; 2011, 1605; 2013, 2174; 2017, 1790; 2023, 901; 2025, 2721)

     

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2015–2022 · leading case: Blockson v. Hutchings (D. Nev. 2022).
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Blockson v. Hutchings (D. Nev. 2022). · cites it 22× “1 In fact, the Nevada statute under which Blockson pled guilty and was convicted 2 of cruelty to animals, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100 , plainly provides that a willful and 3 malicious violation of subsection (1)(a) of the statute is a felony: 4 NRS 574.”
Brown v. Warden Baker (D. Nev. 2019). · cites it 2× “In June 2015, Brown entered a plea of nolo 2 contendere to seven felony charges of “torturing and/or killing an animal,” in violation of 3 NRS § 574.100. (ECF No. 21-13.) On October 1, 2015, the State Court entered a 4 judgment of conviction sentencing Brown to consecutive…”
Askew v. Clark Cnty. Nevada (D. Nev. 2021). · cites it 2× “021 (defining personal property to include “dogs and all domestic animals and birds”); Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100 (9) (providing that a court may order a person 22 convicted of animal cruelty to “surrender ownership or possession of the mistreated animal”); Clark County Code 10.”
Lee (Gloria) v. State (Nev. 2018). “She has cited no authority suggesting that starting a fire in a building could not amount to willfully and maliciously attempting to kill the dogs kept therein in violation of NRS 574.100(1)(a)(2), (6)(a) and NRS 193.”
Lee v. State, 415 P.3d 22 (Nev. 2018). “2 Third, Lee contends that counsel should have argued that there is no felony crime of attempted cruelty to an animal as the statute only operates where actual harm has come to an animal and she did not intend to commit animal cruelty as her alleged actions only incidentally…”
Kimberly Askew v. Cnty. of Clark (9th Cir. 2022). “020 is preempted by Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100 (9), as there is no conflict between those statutes and there is no clear indication that the State intended to occupy the entire field at issue.”
Palmieri v. Clark Cnty., 2015 NV 102 (Nev. 2015). “COURT OF APPEALS OF NEVADA 26 (0) 19478 e Although a person who commits animal cruelty or otherwise violates Clark County Code Title 10 may be subject to criminal penalties, see NRS 574.100, the primary objective of the search of Palmieri's property, as demonstrated by the…”
Palmieri Vs. Clark Co., 2015 NV 102 (Nev. 2015). “COURT OF APPEALS OF NEVADA 26 (0) I947B Although a person who commits animal cruelty or otherwise violates Clark County Code Title 10 may be subject to criminal penalties, see NRS 574.100, the primary objective of the search of Palmieri's property, as demonstrated by the warrant…”
Palmieri v. Clark Cnty. (Nev. 2015). “COURT OF APPEALS OF NEVADA 26 (0) I947B Although a person who commits animal cruelty or otherwise violates Clark County Code Title 10 may be subject to criminal penalties, see NRS 574.100, the primary objective of the search of Palmieri's property, as demonstrated by the warrant…”
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100(1)(a): 1 case
Blockson v. Hutchings (D. Nev. 2022). “1 In fact, the Nevada statute under which Blockson pled guilty and was convicted 2 of cruelty to animals, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100 , plainly provides that a willful and 3 malicious violation of subsection (1)(a) of the statute is a felony: 4 NRS 574.”
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100(1)(a)(2): 2 cases
Lee (Gloria) v. State (Nev. 2018). “She has cited no authority suggesting that starting a fire in a building could not amount to willfully and maliciously attempting to kill the dogs kept therein in violation of NRS 574.100(1)(a)(2), (6)(a) and NRS 193.”
Lee v. State, 415 P.3d 22 (Nev. 2018). “2 Third, Lee contends that counsel should have argued that there is no felony crime of attempted cruelty to an animal as the statute only operates where actual harm has come to an animal and she did not intend to commit animal cruelty as her alleged actions only incidentally…”
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100(6): 1 case
Blockson v. Hutchings (D. Nev. 2022). “1 In fact, the Nevada statute under which Blockson pled guilty and was convicted 2 of cruelty to animals, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100 , plainly provides that a willful and 3 malicious violation of subsection (1)(a) of the statute is a felony: 4 NRS 574.”
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100(6)(a): 1 case
Blockson v. Hutchings (D. Nev. 2022). “1 In fact, the Nevada statute under which Blockson pled guilty and was convicted 2 of cruelty to animals, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100 , plainly provides that a willful and 3 malicious violation of subsection (1)(a) of the statute is a felony: 4 NRS 574.”
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100(7): 1 case
Blockson v. Hutchings (D. Nev. 2022). “1 In fact, the Nevada statute under which Blockson pled guilty and was convicted 2 of cruelty to animals, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100 , plainly provides that a willful and 3 malicious violation of subsection (1)(a) of the statute is a felony: 4 NRS 574.”
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100(7)(a)(1): 1 case
Blockson v. Hutchings (D. Nev. 2022). “1 In fact, the Nevada statute under which Blockson pled guilty and was convicted 2 of cruelty to animals, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 574.100 , plainly provides that a willful and 3 malicious violation of subsection (1)(a) of the statute is a felony: 4 NRS 574.”
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