Unlike many other states, Nevada does not have a specific statute in place concerning dog bites and when the state may hold an owner liable for damages. However, it does have a statute concerning dangerous dogs. According to the Animal Legal & Historical Center, you can find that information under N. R. S. 202.500.
The law defines a dangerous dog as one who, without provocation and on two separate incidents within 18 months of each other, behaves aggressively to such an extent that any reasonable person would feel the need to defend him or herself to prevent bodily harm. For the state to consider a dog dangerous, the owner must have had it off his or her property or outside of a cage or pen.
The statute further outlines what a “vicious” dog is. A vicious dog is one that, without provocation, kills or causes considerable bodily harm upon a human. If a dog causes significant bodily harm or death, the state may charge the owner with a category D felony.
The statute does state that if a dog attacks or attempts to attack a human who provokes the dog in any way, the state will not consider the dog a “dangerous” or “vicious” dog. Rather, the state will assume that the dog acted in self-defense and charge the attacked with a crime.
A person who knowingly keeps a vicious dog after learning of the dog’s vicious behavior or who transfers the ownership of a dog after learning of the dog’s vicious neighbor is guilty of a misdemeanor.
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