Earlier today, Clark County announced significant changes and additions to the County code, focused on addressing illegal breeding, enhancing animal safety, and promoting responsible pet ownership.

“While there is no silver bullet to solve the challenges we face with overcrowded animal shelters, I am confident the policy changes made today will reduce illegal breeding, increase spay and neuter efforts, and encourage microchipping,” said Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft.

The amendments addressing the critical issue of illegal breeding include:

• Increased penalties for violations: Fines for illegal breeding (backyard breeding) have been significantly increased to deter irresponsible breeding practices and protect animal welfare.

• Adjusted breeder/show permit fees: The annual permit fee increases from $50 to $400. There is an option to not “show” the dog or cat in recognized animal shows or competitions. This election raises the permit cost to $800. The increased fee also acts as a deterrent for those solely focused on profit, helping to reduce the shelter population.

• Elimination of the show requirement: The previous requirement for breeders to participate in animal shows to obtain a permit has been removed. This barrier often proved cost-prohibitive, driving some breeders to operate without permits.

• Prohibition of animal sales in certain locations: The sale of animals is now strictly prohibited in streets, rights-of-way, parkways, recreation areas, outdoor markets, flea markets, roadside stands, and parking lots. This measure aims to ensure animals are sold responsibly and not subjected to inhumane conditions. Exemptions: These code changes do not apply to rescue organizations, animal shelters, or State or County Fair School Projects.

• Comprehensive record keeping: Breeders are now required to maintain detailed records of all animals, enabling officers to investigate potential cases of animal neglect or abuse.

In addition to addressing illegal breeding, the amended Code includes two major safety measures:

• Mandatory Microchipping Ordinance: All dogs and cats over four months old are now required to be microchipped. This significantly increases the chances of reuniting lost pets with their families and reduces the number of animals entering overcrowded shelters.
• Animal Handler Training Course Ordinance: Boarding and grooming facilities and other pet service business owners and employees are required to complete free County-provided training every two years. This training covers basic animal welfare, recognizing signs and symptoms of illness, and compliance with County Code. The ordinance also mandates notification of Animal Protection Services (APS) within 12 hours of an animal’s death, preservation of the body for potential necropsy, and clear signage encouraging customers to report concerns to APS.

The mandatory microchipping requirement will take effect in six months, while the animal handler training requirement goes into effect in 18 months from today’s date.

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Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect, accountability, leadership, and excellence. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.4 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2023). Included are the nation’s 5th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.