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The Nevada Legislature is considering several bills impacting dog owners. AKC is asking for your help in supporting a reasonable cruelty bill containing several AKC amendments and a bill requiring communities to provide at least one pet-friendly emergency shelters.   In addition, you are encouraged to comment on bills that would allow private citizens to remove animals from vehicles and would regulate when animals can be outside, without consideration of the needs of different breeds.

To see the complete list visit the AKC legislative tracker in the AKC legislative action center at www.akcgr.org AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will continue to provide updates and alerts on these and other bills that could impact you.

Bills to Support:

  • Assembly Bill 86 – Corporations for the prevention of cruelty to animals: enforcement of laws.

Status: Passed Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
Summary: This bill updates state animal cruelty laws in a thoughtful and measured way that eschews one-size-fits-all mandates. The AKC has been working with the bill’s sponsor, Assemblywoman Melissa Hardy, and other stakeholders to ensure that both animals and responsible animal owners are protected. We thank Assemblymember Hardy for her willingness to work with us. The AKC supports this bill as written.

What You Can Do: The bill is likely to be voted on in the full state Assembly soon. To voice your support, please email Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (Steve.Yeager@asm.state.nv.us) and write that you support these reasonable updates to animal cruelty laws that protect the welfare of animals and responsible animal owners.

  • Senate Bill 331 – Pet-Friendly Emergency Shelters.

Status: Unanimously passed the Senate; referred to Assembly Government Affairs Committee.

Summary: This bill would require cities and subdivisions to designate at least one emergency shelters in their jurisdiction that can accommodate people and their pets. People not being able to find a place for their pets during an emergency is one of the biggest barriers in preventing people from taking refuge when needed. AKC has testified in support of the proposal.

 What You Can Do: This bill has been introduced by Senator Melanie Scheible. To register your support for this bill, please send your emails to AsmGA@asm.state.nv.us. In your message, be sure to include that many Nevadans have pets and they should not be a barrier to people trying to protect themselves and their families during an emergency.

Bills of Concern:

  • Senate Bill 190 – Revises provisions relating to the liability of certain persons for protecting or removing a child or pet from a motor vehicle.

Status: Unanimously passed the Senate; referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Summary: This bill seeks to reduce liability of members of the public who break into vehicles to remove unattended children or pets. AKC appreciates portions that require a person to stay with the animal and contact law enforcement.  However, we are asking for amendments to require a person to contact law enforcement prior to entering a vehicle, and also to consider liability protections for owners when dogs were not actually in danger.  This is especially important if a dog or person is harmed or the dog becomes at large after being removed from the vehicle

 What You Can Do: This bill is before the Assembly Judiciary Committee. You are encouraged to express your concern for this bill to committee members. Click here to find contact info for members of the committee. Be sure to say that the public must be required to notify law enforcement before breaking into a vehicle and ask for liability protections for innocent owners. (Click HERE to find out who your assemblymember is).

  • Senate Bill 269 – Revises provisions related to animal cruelty.

Status: Passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee; before entire Assembly.

Summary: This bill seeks to limit the use of tethering during extreme heat and cold warnings issued by the National Weather Service. The AKC has concerns about the bill in setting arbitrary rules irrespective of the needs and tolerances of different dog breeds.

 What You Can Do: This bill has been introduced by Senator Jim Ohrenschall. Please send your email to the senator (James.Ohrenschall@sen.state.nv.us) about your concern over instituting arbitrary guidelines that don’t consider the individual needs of different dog breeds.

 AKC Government Relations continues to monitor bills in Nevada impacting dog owners and will provide updates.  For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.