A.Â
This chapter
shall be known and may be cited as the "Las Vegas Animal Control Ordinance."
B.Â
It is the
intent of the City Council that enactment of this chapter will protect
animals from cruelty, neglect, and abuse, protect residents from annoyance
and injury, assist in providing housing for animals in a control center,
finance the functions of licensing and recovery and establish a program
for sterilization of animals.
[Amended 6-16-1994 by Ord. No. 82-3]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings given herein:
Any vertebrate member of the animal kingdom excluding human
beings.
A facility designated by the City of Las Vegas for the humane
treatment of animals pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
Any housing, fencing or device which the guard dog cannot
go over, under, through or around.
Any actual puncture or tear of the skin inflicted by the
teeth of an animal.
The City of Las Vegas, a municipal corporation.
Any of the following:
An animal which, when unprovoked, engages in behavior that requires
a defensive action by a person to prevent bodily injury to a person
or animal when the person and the animal are off the property of the
owner of the animal; or
An animal which, when unprovoked, injures a person and the injury
results in muscle tears or disfiguring lacerations, or requires multiple
sutures, or corrective or cosmetic surgery; or
An animal which, because of its poisonous bite or sting, would
constitute a significant hazard to the public.
An area of private land which is determined by a property
owner to house animals under the provisions of this chapter.
Parcel of land or portion thereof in private ownership around
the perimeter of which a wall or fence has been erected.
A place of business together with its grounds and equipment.
Any animal found running at large beyond the boundaries of
the premises of the owner.
Any establishment, or part thereof, or premises maintained
for the purpose of offering animals cosmetological services for profit.
Any dog that is utilized to protect commercial property,
as defined herein.
A person who is responsible for and capable of controlling
the operations of a guard dog.
A person involved in showing or controlled breeding of dogs
and cats which are registered with a nationally or internationally
recognized animal registry organization.
Any location where the guard dog is kept when not utilized
for protection purposes.
To take up an animal.
Any commercial establishment or premises where 10 or more
dogs or cats over three months of age are boarded, kept or maintained
for any purpose whatsoever, with the exception of state inspected
veterinary hospitals and shelters.
A person with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree licensed
to practice in the state.
Means, but is not limited to, defecation, urination, disturbing
the peace, emitting noxious or offensive odors or otherwise endangering
or offending the well-being of the inhabitants of the City of Las
Vegas.
The owner of an animal is a person who owns, harbors or keeps,
or knowingly permits an animal to be harbored or kept, or has an animal
in his care, or who permits an animal to remain on or about his premises.
Any individual, household, firm, partnership, corporation,
company, society, association, and every officer, agent or employee
thereof.
Any commercial establishment or premises or part thereof
maintained for the purchase, sale, exchange or hire of animals of
any type; except that the term shall not include livestock auctions.
A parcel of land and the structures thereon.
To detain or isolate an animal suspected of having a contagious
disease.
An establishment owned or operated by a nonprofit organization
whose sole function is to aide and comfort more than four but not
more than 12 animals.
To be free of physical restraint beyond the boundaries of
the premises of the owner.
Any establishment owned and operated by a nonprofit humane
organization licensed to do business in the state.
Protection provided against rabies by inoculation with antirabies
vaccine recognized and approved by the state.
Any animal which shall bite or in any other manner attack
or attempt to attack any person, except that any animal that bites,
attacks, or attempts to attack any person unlawfully upon its owner's
or keeper's premises, or which is provoked to attack, shall not
be deemed a vicious animal.
Any animal not normally considered domesticated and shall
include, but not be limited to:
Class Reptilia; Order Phidia (such as racers, boas, water snakes,
and pythons) and Order Loricata (such as alligators, caymans and crocodiles);
Following members of the Class Aves: Order Falconiforms (such
as hawks, eagles and vultures) and Subdivision Ratitae (such as ostriches,
rheas, cassowaries and cmus);
Class Mammalia: Order Carnifora, Family Felidae, (such as ocelots,
margays, tigers, jaguars, leopards and cougars) except commonly accepted
domesticated cats, the Family Canidae, (such as wolves, dingos, coyotes
and jackels, except domesticated dogs) Emily Mustelidac, (such as
kangaroos and common opossums), Order Edentata (such as sloths, anteaters
and armadillos), Order Proboscidea (elephants), Order Primata (such
as monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas), Order Rodenta (such as porcupines)
and Order Ungulata (such as antelope, deer, bison, and camels).