(Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 18, 2025)
FIRST REPRINT A.B. 487
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ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 487–COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
MARCH 24, 2025
____________
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources
SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to the sale of certain pets.
(BDR 50-1096)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: Increases or Newly
Provides for Term of Imprisonment in County or City
Jail or Detention Facility.
Effect on the State: No.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to animals; prohibiting a retail pet store from
selling, offering to sell, bartering, auctioning or otherwise
transferring ownership of any dog or cat; providing that
an operator of a retail pet store that commits such an act is
guilty of a misdemeanor; revising provisions governing
the sale of dogs and cats; providing penalties; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law sets forth certain requirements for retailers and dealers who sell 1
dogs or cats. (NRS 574.450-574.510) Section 8 of this bill revises the term 2
“retailer” to “retail pet store” and revises the definition for purposes of such 3
requirements to mean a commercial establishment in the business of acquiring 4
animals for resale that sells or offers to sell such animals to consumers on the 5
premises of the business. Section 6 of this bill provides that the definition of 6
“dealer” does not include a “retail pet store.” 7
Section 2 of this bill prohibits a retail pet store from selling, offering to sell, 8
bartering, auctioning or otherwise transferring ownership of any dog or cat. Section 9
2 further: (1) provides that an operator of a retail pet store that violates this 10
prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor; and (2) authorizes the court to prohibit such 11
a person from selling any dogs or cats that he or she is otherwise authorized to sell 12
as a breeder or dealer for not more than 1 year. Finally, section 2 provides that, for 13
purposes of prosecuting a violation of section 2, each act that constitutes a violation 14
is a separate offense. 15
Section 7.5 of this bill revises the definition of “operator” to specifically 16
include a person responsible for the operation of a retail pet store. Section 4 of this 17
bill applies certain definitions concerning the care of animals to the provisions of 18
section 2. Sections 5, 7 and 10-17 of this bill make conforming changes to remove 19
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references to retailers from certain provisions governing requirements for entities 20
who sell dogs or cats. Section 9 of this bill provides that the provisions of section 2 21
do not apply to certain activities. 22
Existing law provides, with certain exceptions, that a person who sells or 23
attempts to sell, offers for adoption or transfers ownership of a live animal at a 24
swap meet is guilty of a misdemeanor. Existing law, as an exception to such a 25
prohibition, authorizes a person to perform such acts at a swap meet if it is 26
conducted in a county or incorporated city in this State that has authorized, by an 27
ordinance which meets certain requirements, such a sale and the person performs 28
such acts in accordance with the ordinance. (NRS 574.550) Section 18 of this bill 29
instead prohibits a person from selling, attempting to sell or offering for adoption or 30
transferring ownership of a dog or cat at a swap meet, without exception. 31
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Chapter 574 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1
thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 and 3 of this act. 2
Sec. 2. 1. A retail pet store shall not sell, offer to sell, 3
barter, auction or otherwise transfer ownership of any dog or cat. 4
2. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a 5
retail pet store from collaborating with an animal shelter or 6
animal rescue organization for the purpose of adoption to provide 7
space to showcase dogs or cats under the care of the animal 8
shelter or animal rescue organization. A retail pet store that 9
provides space to an animal shelter or animal rescue organization 10
in such a manner must not receive any compensation for 11
showcasing the dog or cat or any portion of the fees that result 12
from the adoption of the dog or cat. 13
3. An operator of a retail pet store that violates the provisions 14
of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. 15
4. For the purposes of prosecuting a violation of this section, 16
each act that constitutes a violation of this section is a separate 17
offense. In addition to any other penalty that may be imposed, the 18
court may prohibit a person who is guilty of a misdemeanor 19
pursuant to subsection 3 from selling any dogs or cats that he or 20
she is otherwise authorized to sell as a breeder or dealer, if 21
applicable, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter for not more 22
than 1 year. 23
5. As used in this section, “animal rescue organization” has 24
the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 574.205. The term does not 25
include a dealer, a breeder or any organization that is located on 26
the premises of or shares employees with a breeder. 27
Sec. 3. (Deleted by amendment.) 28
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Sec. 4. NRS 574.210 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1
574.210 As used in NRS 574.210 to 574.510, inclusive, and 2
section 2 of this act, unless the context otherwise requires, the 3
words and terms defined in NRS 574.220 to 574.330, inclusive, 4
have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections. 5
Sec. 5. NRS 574.250 is hereby amended to read as follows: 6
574.250 “Cattery” means a place where at least 10 cats of not 7
less than 6 months of age are kept, harbored or maintained for: 8
1. Boarding; 9
2. Training; or 10
3. Breeding for sale to a [retailer or] dealer. 11
For the purposes of this section, spayed or neutered cats must not 12
be counted when determining the number of cats that are being kept, 13
harbored or maintained. 14
Sec. 6. NRS 574.260 is hereby amended to read as follows: 15
574.260 “Dealer” means a person who, for compensation or 16
profit, buys, sells, breeds, trades or imports cats or dogs for resale. 17
The term does not include a retail pet store. 18
Sec. 7. NRS 574.280 is hereby amended to read as follows: 19
574.280 “Kennel” means a place where at least 10 dogs of not 20
less than 6 months of age are kept, harbored or maintained for: 21
1. Boarding; 22
2. Training; or 23
3. Breeding for sale to a [retailer or] dealer. 24
For the purposes of this section, spayed or neutered dogs, dogs 25
used by or being trained for use by the Armed Forces, police 26
officers, search and rescue teams or other similar organizations, 27
dogs used in farming or ranching, and dogs used by or being trained 28
for use by persons with disabilities, including, but not limited to, 29
dogs used to assist persons in wheelchairs, must not be counted 30
when determining the number of dogs that are being kept, harbored 31
or maintained. 32
Sec. 7.5. NRS 574.290 is hereby amended to read as follows: 33
574.290 “Operator” means a person responsible for the 34
operation of: 35
1. A cattery, kennel , retail pet store or commercial 36
establishment engaged in the business of selling animals; or 37
2. An animal shelter. 38
Sec. 8. NRS 574.320 is hereby amended to read as follows: 39
574.320 [“Retailer”] “Retail pet store” means a [person who 40
acquires pets] commercial establishment engaged in the business 41
of acquiring animals for resale [.] that sells or offers to sell such 42
animals to consumers on the premises of the business. 43
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Sec. 9. NRS 574.340 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1
574.340 1. The provisions of NRS 574.210 to 574.510, 2
inclusive, and section 2 of this act do not apply to: 3
(a) The exhibition, production, marketing or disposal of any 4
livestock, poultry, fish or other agricultural commodity or animal. 5
(b) Activities for which a license is required by the provisions of 6
chapter 466 of NRS. 7
(c) The housing of domestic cats or dogs kept as pets or cared 8
for, without remuneration other than payment for reasonable 9
expenses relating to the care of the cats or dogs, on behalf of another 10
person in a home environment. 11
(d) The exhibition of dogs or cats. 12
2. As used in this section: 13
(a) “Animal” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 564.010. 14
(b) “Livestock” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 569.0085. 15
Sec. 10. NRS 574.450 is hereby amended to read as follows: 16
574.450 1. A [retailer or] dealer shall, after the acquisition of 17
a cat or dog for resale, cause the cat or dog to be examined by a 18
veterinarian. The [retailer or] dealer shall not sell the cat or dog 19
before it is initially examined by a veterinarian. 20
2. A [retailer or] dealer shall cause a cat or dog acquired for 21
resale to be reexamined by a veterinarian: 22
(a) Fourteen days after the date of its initial examination; and 23
(b) Every 30 days thereafter until sold. 24
3. If a veterinarian conducting an examination pursuant to this 25
section finds that the cat or dog has no illness, disease or other 26
condition that is terminal or requires immediate hospitalization or 27
immediate surgical intervention, the veterinarian shall provide a 28
written statement setting forth his or her findings to the [retailer or] 29
dealer. 30
4. A [retailer or] dealer shall not knowingly sell a cat or dog if 31
it has an illness, disease or other condition that is terminal or 32
requires immediate hospitalization or immediate surgical 33
intervention. 34
5. For the purposes of this section, the presence of internal or 35
external parasites does not constitute an illness, disease or other 36
condition that is terminal or requires immediate hospitalization or 37
immediate surgical intervention unless the cat or dog is clinically ill 38
as a result of the parasite. 39
Sec. 11. NRS 574.460 is hereby amended to read as follows: 40
574.460 1. A [retailer or] dealer shall, before selling a cat, 41
provide the purchaser of the cat with a written statement that 42
discloses: 43
(a) The name, address and telephone number of the [retailer or] 44
dealer. 45
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(b) The date the cat was born, if known. 1
(c) The name and address of the person from whom the [retailer 2
or] dealer obtained the cat and, if the person holds a license issued 3
by the United States Department of Agriculture, the person’s federal 4
identification number. 5
(d) The name and address of the breeder of the cat and, if the 6
breeder holds a license issued by the United States Department of 7
Agriculture, the breeder’s federal identification number. 8
(e) The registration numbers, if any, of the cat’s sire and dam 9
with the appropriate breed registry or any health certifications from 10
a health certification organization such as the Orthopedic 11
Foundation for Animals or its successor organization, if any. 12
(f) A record of any immunizations administered to the cat before 13
the time of sale, including the type of vaccine, date of administration 14
and name and address of the veterinarian who prescribed the 15
vaccine. 16
(g) Any sterilization requirements for the cat required by local 17
ordinance. 18
(h) The medical history of the cat, including, without limitation: 19
(1) The date that a veterinarian examined and, if applicable, 20
reexamined the cat pursuant to subsections 1 and 2 of NRS 574.450 21
and determined that the cat did not have any illness, disease or other 22
condition that is terminal or requires immediate hospitalization or 23
immediate surgical intervention. For the purposes of this 24
subparagraph, the presence of internal or external parasites does not 25
constitute an illness, disease or other condition that is terminal or 26
requires immediate hospitalization or immediate surgical 27
intervention, unless the cat is clinically ill as a result of the parasite. 28
(2) Whether any treatment or medication has been 29
administered by the veterinarian who examined or, if applicable, 30
reexamined the cat pursuant to subsections 1 and 2 of NRS 574.450 31
and if such treatment or medication was administered, a statement 32
indicating on what date it was administered and for what illness, 33
disease or condition. 34
(3) The date on which the veterinarian sterilized the cat, if 35
applicable. 36
(4) The name and address of the veterinarian who performed 37
the examinations, reexaminations or sterilization or administered 38
any treatments or medications. 39
(i) That a copy of the veterinarian’s evaluation of the health of 40
the cat made pursuant to NRS 574.450 is available to the purchaser. 41
2. The written statement must be signed and dated by the 42
[retailer or] dealer and contain a space for the purchaser to sign and 43
date the statement as an attestation that the purchaser has read and 44
understands the disclosures contained in the statement. 45
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Sec. 12. NRS 574.470 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1
574.470 1. A [retailer or] dealer shall, before selling a dog, 2
provide the purchaser of the dog with a written statement that 3
discloses: 4
(a) The name, address and telephone number of the [retailer or] 5
dealer. 6
(b) The date the dog was born, if known. 7
(c) The name and address of the person from whom the [retailer 8
or] dealer obtained the dog and, if the person holds a license issued 9
by the United States Department of Agriculture, the person’s federal 10
identification number. 11
(d) The name and address of the breeder of the dog and, if the 12
breeder holds a license issued by the United States Department of 13
Agriculture, the breeder’s federal identification number. 14
(e) The registration numbers, if any, of the dog’s sire and dam 15
with the appropriate breed registry or any health certificates from a 16
health certification organization such as the Orthopedic Foundation 17
for Animals or its successor organization, if any. 18
(f) A record of any immunizations administered to the dog 19
before the time of sale, including the type of vaccine, date of 20
administration and name and address of the veterinarian who 21
prescribed the vaccine. 22
(g) Any sterilization requirements for the dog required by local 23
ordinance. 24
(h) The medical history of the dog, including, without 25
limitation: 26
(1) The date that a veterinarian examined and, if applicable, 27
reexamined the dog pursuant to subsections 1 and 2 of NRS 574.450 28
and determined that the dog did not have any illness, disease or 29
other condition that is terminal or requires immediate hospitalization 30
or immediate surgical intervention. For the purposes of this 31
subparagraph, the presence of internal or external parasites does not 32
constitute an illness, disease or other condition that is terminal or 33
requires immediate hospitalization or immediate surgical 34
intervention, unless the dog is clinically ill as a result of the parasite. 35
(2) Whether any treatment or medication has been 36
administered by the veterinarian who examined or, if applicable, 37
reexamined the dog pursuant to subsections 1 and 2 of NRS 574.450 38
and, if such treatment or medication was administered, a statement 39
indicating on what date it was administered and for what illness, 40
disease or condition. 41
(3) The date on which the veterinarian sterilized the dog, if 42
applicable. 43
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(4) The name and address of the veterinarian who performed 1
the examinations, reexaminations or sterilization or administered 2
any treatments or medications. 3
(i) That a copy of the veterinarian’s evaluation of the health of 4
the dog performed pursuant to NRS 574.450 is available to the 5
purchaser. 6
2. The written statement must be signed and dated by the 7
[retailer or] dealer and contain a space for the purchaser to sign and 8
date the statement as an attestation that the purchaser has read and 9
understands the disclosures contained in the statement. 10
Sec. 13. NRS 574.480 is hereby amended to read as follows: 11
574.480 A [retailer or] dealer shall conspicuously post within 12
close proximity to the primary enclosure of a dog or cat offered for 13
sale the following notice printed in at least 48-point type upon paper 14
that is at least 11 inches wide and 17 inches long: 15
16
NEVADA LAW REQUIRES THAT INFORMATION 17
CONCERNING THE DATE OF BIRTH, SOURCE, 18
LINEAGE AND MEDICAL HISTORY OF THESE DOGS 19
(OR CATS) BE PROVIDED TO THE PURCHASER 20
BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF ANY SALE. 21
Sec. 14. NRS 574.485 is hereby amended to read as follows: 22
574.485 1. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, 23
the Director of the State Department of Agriculture may impose an 24
administrative fine on any [retailer or] dealer who violates the 25
provisions of NRS 574.460, 574.470 or 574.480 in an amount not to 26
exceed: 27
28
For the first violation ........................................................ $250 29
For the second violation ..................................................... 500 30
For each subsequent violation ......................................... 1,000 31
32
2. All fines collected by the Director pursuant to subsection 1 33
must be deposited with the State Treasurer for credit to the State 34
General Fund. 35
Sec. 15. NRS 574.490 is hereby amended to read as follows: 36
574.490 If a person purchases a [pet] dog or cat from a [retailer 37
or] dealer and, within 10 days after the sale, a veterinarian 38
determines that the [pet] dog or cat has an illness, disease or other 39
condition that is terminal or requires immediate hospitalization or 40
immediate surgical intervention and that was in existence on the 41
date of the sale, the [retailer or] dealer shall, at the option of the 42
purchaser, either: 43
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1. Refund the purchase price of the [pet] dog or cat if the [pet] 1
dog or cat is returned or provide the purchaser with another [pet] 2
dog or cat of equal value; or 3
2. Reimburse the purchaser, in an amount not to exceed the 4
purchase price of the [pet,] dog or cat, for expenses incurred by the 5
purchaser in obtaining a diagnosis and treatment for the [pet] dog or 6
cat from a veterinarian chosen by the [retailer or] dealer. 7
Sec. 16. NRS 574.500 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8
574.500 1. A [retailer,] dealer or operator shall not separate a 9
dog or cat from its mother until it is 8 weeks of age or accustomed 10
to taking food or nourishment other than by nursing, whichever is 11
later. 12
2. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty 13
of a misdemeanor. 14
Sec. 17. NRS 574.510 is hereby amended to read as follows: 15
574.510 1. A [retailer or] dealer who sells a dog or cat that 16
the [retailer or] dealer knows has any illness, disease or other 17
condition that is terminal or requires immediate hospitalization or 18
immediate surgical intervention and fails to disclose such 19
information at the time of sale is guilty of a misdemeanor. In 20
addition to any other penalty that may be imposed, the court may 21
prohibit a person convicted of a violation of this section from selling 22
any dogs or cats for not more than 1 year. 23
2. For the purposes of this section, the presence of internal or 24
external parasites does not constitute an illness, disease or other 25
condition that is terminal or requires immediate hospitalization or 26
immediate surgical intervention unless the dog or cat is clinically ill 27
as a result of the parasite. 28
Sec. 18. NRS 574.550 is hereby amended to read as follows: 29
574.550 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 30
3, a person who sells or attempts to sell, offers for adoption or 31
transfers ownership of a live animal at a swap meet is guilty of a 32
misdemeanor. 33
2. A person may sell, attempt to sell, offer for adoption or 34
transfer ownership of a live animal other than a dog or cat or dog at 35
a swap meet if: 36
(a) The swap meet is conducted in a county or incorporated city 37
in this State that has adopted an ordinance authorizing the sale of 38
live animals at a swap meet; 39
(b) The person sells, attempts to sell, offers for adoption or 40
transfers ownership of the animal in accordance with the ordinance; 41
and 42
(c) The ordinance, at a minimum: 43
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(1) Includes provisions which are substantially similar to the 1
provisions of NRS 574.360 to 574.510, inclusive, and section 2 of 2
this act and are applicable to all animals offered for sale and all 3
persons who sell, attempt to sell, offer for adoption or transfer 4
ownership of an animal at the swap meet; and 5
(2) Does not authorize a person to commit an act of cruelty 6
to an animal in violation of NRS 574.050 to 574.200, inclusive. 7
3. The provisions of this section do not: 8
(a) Apply to any sale or transfer of ownership of any livestock. 9
(b) Apply to any event where the primary purpose is to sell or 10
auction livestock or agricultural implements. 11
(c) Apply to any adoption of a dog or cat at an event held 12
outdoors by an animal shelter or rescue organization that is 13
recognized as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 14
Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3). 15
(d) Apply to a person who offers for adoption or transfers 16
ownership of a live animal at a swap meet if: 17
(1) A fee is not charged or collected for the adoption or 18
transfer of ownership or otherwise in connection with the 19
transaction; and 20
(2) The animal has had all the required vaccinations which 21
are appropriate based upon the age of the animal. 22
(e) Exempt a person from complying with: 23
(1) Any requirement to obtain a license or other authorization 24
to engage in a business in a county or incorporated city in this State; 25
or 26
(2) Any other requirement of the county or incorporated city 27
to engage in business or to sell, attempt to sell, offer for adoption or 28
transfer ownership of a live animal at a swap meet. 29
4. As used in this section: 30
(a) “Livestock” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 569.0085. 31
(b) “Sell” means to barter, exchange, sell, trade, offer for sale, 32
expose for sale, have in possession for sale, arrange the sale of or 33
solicit for sale. 34
(c) “Swap meet” means a flea market, open-air market or other 35
organized event at which two or more persons offer merchandise for 36
sale or exchange. 37
Sec. 19. NRS 574.300 is hereby repealed. 38
Sec. 20. This act becomes effective on January 1, 2026. 39
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TEXT OF REPEALED SECTION
574.300 “Pet” defined. “Pet” means a domestic cat or dog
commonly kept for pleasure.
H