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When there is reasonable cause to believe that an animal is vicious, the Police Chief is granted the independent authority to issue a Removal Notice and require an owner of an animal to permanently remove the animal from the City. Such requirement will be directed in writing to the owner and the owner will immediately comply. If an owner contests that an animal is a vicious animal, the owner may petition the Council within three (3) business days of the Removal Notice and request a hearing on the matter. The hearing shall take place at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council. However, from the time of Removal Notice and through the time of a hearing, the owner must comply with the written directive and keep the animal outside of the City. If upon written notice, an owner refuses to remove or at any time brings or keeps the animal in the City, an animal control officer may take custody of the animal and the animal may be held in impound until a hearing is held. The animal owner will be responsible for all costs associated with impounding and boarding the animal until the time of the hearing. If after a hearing, the Council determines the animal to be a vicious animal, the animal may be euthanized or humanely killed if it is found to be in the City and the owner shall be responsible for the costs. The provisions of this section do not prohibit the immediate destruction of a vicious animal which is in the act of threatening public safety or which cannot be expeditiously apprehended without substantial risk to any person.
It is the duty of any person who has knowledge of an animal that has bitten or attacked a person, or is suspected of having rabies, to promptly report the information to a peace officer with the Nevada Public Safety Department. It is the duty of physicians and veterinarians to report to the local board of health the existence of any animals known or suspected to be suffering from rabies.
Every owner of a dog, cat or ferret shall obtain a rabies vaccination for each animal by the time it reaches the age of four months and such animals shall be re-vaccinated at intervals thereafter as stipulated by the manufacturer of the rabies vaccine used. Only a licensed and approved rabies vaccine can be used and must be administered by a licensed veterinarian. At the request of an animal control officer, the owner shall provide a copy of the current rabies vaccination. This section applies to all dogs, cats and ferrets kept within the City limits, brought into the City for shows, exhibitions or performances, or in transit.
1. When an animal control officer receives information that an animal has bitten any person, or that an animal is suspected of having rabies, the officer shall investigate the report and may require that the animal be confined for an observation period of ten (10) consecutive days.
2. Observation and confinement of the animal shall be at an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, or by the owner, provided that the following criteria are met:
A. Upon initial examination by a licensed veterinarian the animal is determined to be free of clinical signs of rabies.
B. There is a current certificate of vaccination for rabies readily available.
C. The owner is able to demonstrate a history of responsibility in confining the animal.
D. The location for confinement is a facility sufficiently secure to ensure that the animal will not be lost or taken or escape from confinement for the entire observation period.
E. The owner must allow the animal control officer to assess the animal at all times during the observation period.
F. Exposure is limited to persons in the owner’s immediate family.
G. Any other conditions as imposed by the animal control officer.
3. Immediately following the quarantine period the animal must be re-examined by a licensed veterinarian to ensure the animal is free from clinical signs of rabies.
4. Animals that have bitten a person, or are suspected of having rabies, may be humanely euthanized or destroyed and examined for rabies by an authorized diagnostic laboratory for the following reasons:
A. Upon the owner’s request.
B. When it is determined appropriate by a licensed veterinarian.
C. When there has been an attack on the face or neck of the person or persons bitten.
5. This section does not apply if a police service dog or horse used by a law enforcement agency, and acting in the performance of its duties, has bitten a person, provided the animal is current on its rabies vaccination.
6. The owner shall be responsible for paying the entire costs for impoundment, clinical assessments performed by a licensed veterinarian and other associated expenses.
1. It is unlawful for any person to set and maintain animal or bird traps upon public or private property at any time, except as follows:
A. Humane live box traps on private property by permission of the property owner;
B. Humane live box traps on public property with the written permission of the animal control officer; and
C. Humane live box traps maintained by an animal control officer.
2. The use of Connibear traps, snare traps, steel jaw traps, leghold traps, spring traps, or any similar device designed to catch and hold the animals by the head, or neck or leg, or other part of the body, or which is likely for any reason to cause injury, pain and suffering before death, is prohibited, except as follows:
A. A spring mole trap may be used to trap moles in a lawn provided the trap is set close to the ground so as to prevent the capture of other animals above ground.
B. An animal control officer may use any trap listed in this subsection if an animal is determined to be a serious threat to persons or property.
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