Council adopts ordinances to limit pet-store sales and raise abandonment fine to $1,000
January 15, 2025 | Las Vegas , Clark County, Nevada
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The Las Vegas City Council voted Jan. 15 to adopt two ordinances aimed at reducing animal hoarding, illegal breeding and abandonment.
Bill 2024-45 changes city code to require pet stores and breeders to document purchases and sales, limit the number of animals sold to a single person or household within a calendar year, and submit reports to city animal-protection staff on a schedule set by the department. Bill 2024-46 amends LVMC 7.44.40 to raise the fine for animal abandonment to $1,000, the maximum misdemeanor fine available under state law.
The measures drew more than an hour of public comment before the council, with rescue operators, veterinarians and residents urging stiffer penalties and stronger enforcement. Speakers said hoarding and illegal backyard breeding drive shelter overcrowding and create public-health risks; several cited recent hoarding cases that resulted in dozens of dead animals and high shelter costs. "By preventing even one case per year, we'll save thousands of taxpayer dollars," veterinarian and commenter Deborah Mitchell said during public comment.
City Attorney Jeff Dorkach told the council that state law limits municipal misdemeanor fines to $1,000, and that a higher civil or criminal penalty would require state action. City animal services manager Rudy Tovar said staff already receives some breeder/store records and that the new ordinance would standardize report formats and allow the department to require forms to be used for quarterly reporting.
Councilwoman Victoria Seaman introduced the ordinances and urged approval; she said the measures are a practical step to curtail a documented local crisis. Supporters included multiple rescue organizations and community advocates; some speakers urged even larger fines and stronger enforcement resources. The council approved both bills in separate motions; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the public audio, and each motion was announced as "passed." Acting on the city attorney 27s advice about statutory limits, the council set the abandonment fine at $1,000.
City officials said fines collected would be deposited to the general fund, which supports animal-protection operations, and that further legislative action would be required to create larger penalties or different enforcement mechanisms at the state level.
The ordinances also authorize the animal-protection department to issue forms and require pet stores and breeders to use them, giving staff a compliance tool to monitor sales and spot patterns consistent with hoarding or illegal resale.
Bill 2024-45 changes city code to require pet stores and breeders to document purchases and sales, limit the number of animals sold to a single person or household within a calendar year, and submit reports to city animal-protection staff on a schedule set by the department. Bill 2024-46 amends LVMC 7.44.40 to raise the fine for animal abandonment to $1,000, the maximum misdemeanor fine available under state law.
The measures drew more than an hour of public comment before the council, with rescue operators, veterinarians and residents urging stiffer penalties and stronger enforcement. Speakers said hoarding and illegal backyard breeding drive shelter overcrowding and create public-health risks; several cited recent hoarding cases that resulted in dozens of dead animals and high shelter costs. "By preventing even one case per year, we'll save thousands of taxpayer dollars," veterinarian and commenter Deborah Mitchell said during public comment.
City Attorney Jeff Dorkach told the council that state law limits municipal misdemeanor fines to $1,000, and that a higher civil or criminal penalty would require state action. City animal services manager Rudy Tovar said staff already receives some breeder/store records and that the new ordinance would standardize report formats and allow the department to require forms to be used for quarterly reporting.
Councilwoman Victoria Seaman introduced the ordinances and urged approval; she said the measures are a practical step to curtail a documented local crisis. Supporters included multiple rescue organizations and community advocates; some speakers urged even larger fines and stronger enforcement resources. The council approved both bills in separate motions; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the public audio, and each motion was announced as "passed." Acting on the city attorney 27s advice about statutory limits, the council set the abandonment fine at $1,000.
City officials said fines collected would be deposited to the general fund, which supports animal-protection operations, and that further legislative action would be required to create larger penalties or different enforcement mechanisms at the state level.
The ordinances also authorize the animal-protection department to issue forms and require pet stores and breeders to use them, giving staff a compliance tool to monitor sales and spot patterns consistent with hoarding or illegal resale.
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