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Committee recommends ordinance requiring pet-handling training for businesses
Summary
The recommending committee voted to forward an ordinance (bill 2025-37) adding LVMC chapter 7.43 to require owners/operators of commercial pet-handling establishments to complete state-mandated training developed by Animal Protection Services; staff said about 290 businesses will be affected and the item goes to City Council on Nov. 19, 2025.
The Las Vegas recommending committee on Nov. 3 recommended that City Council consider an ordinance to require certain owners and operators of commercial pet-handling businesses to complete a training course.
City attorney Jeff said the measure implements a state law passed this past legislative session. "This is a bill that is required under a, bill that was passed in this past session from the state legislature," he said. Staff described a training program developed by the Department of Public Safety's Animal Protection Services.
Rudy Tovar, DPS manager for Animal Protection Services, explained staff developed the online training and will notify businesses using existing permit and license records. "Most of these businesses already have a permit with us, and so it's just a matter of us reaching out to them," Tovar said. He said the training will be online, notifications will be recorded in each business's file and the requirement will recur every two years for owners or operators.
Tovar said the city expects roughly 290 businesses to be subject to the training. Councilwoman Olivia Diaz, citing her experience as a teacher, raised a concern that online trainings can be "played" without meaningful engagement and asked whether the city could track time spent on the course; Tovar said he could not guarantee time-on-task metrics but noted annual inspections allow staff to reinforce training content in person.
There was no public comment. The committee moved to recommend the ordinance and the chair said the item "passes"; the ordinance will be considered by City Council on Nov. 19, 2025.
