DISEASED ANIMALS

Nev. Rev. Stat. 571
in effect

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.015 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in NRS 571.017 to 571.023, inclusive, have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.021 “Importation” defined.

“Importation” means the transportation or movement of animals by any railroad, express company, truckline or other carrier, or by any persons, by vehicle or otherwise, into this State.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.022 “Livestock” defined.

“Livestock” means: 1. All cattle or animals of the bovine species. 2. All horses, mules, burros and asses or animals of the equine species. 3. All swine or animals of the porcine species. 4. All goats or animals of the caprine species. 5. All sheep or animals of the ovine species. 6. All poultry or domesticated fowl or birds. 7. All dogs, cats or other animals domesticated or under the restraint or control of humans.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.025 Infestation with or exposure to parasite deemed equivalent to infection with or exposure to disease.

1. For the purposes of this chapter, infestation with internal or external parasites, or exposure to such possible infestation, shall be deemed equivalent to infection with or exposure to infection with an infectious, contagious or parasitic disease. 2. The provisions of this chapter applicable to animals infected with or exposed to infection with any infectious, contagious or parasitic disease, or to any premises, grounds, cars, vehicles or other carriers infected or contaminated with any infectious, contagious or parasitic disease, also apply to any animals, premises, grounds, cars, vehicles, or other carriers infested with or exposed to infestation or contamination with any internal or external parasites.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.045 State Quarantine Officer’s power to proclaim and enforce quarantine; limitation; quarantine effective until vacated.

1. The State Quarantine Officer may proclaim and enforce quarantine against any state, territory or district, or any portion of any state, territory or district, with respect to the importation into or transportation through the State of Nevada of animals which may be infected with, or which may have been exposed to infection with, any infectious, contagious or parasitic disease. 2. No quarantine may be issued under the provisions of NRS 571.045 to 571.110 , inclusive, which will conflict with the provisions of the Constitution of the United States or any Act of the Congress of the United States. 3. A quarantine remains effective until vacated by order of the State Quarantine Officer.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.050 Embargo against or regulation of importation; amendments.

1. Any quarantine issued under the provisions of NRS 571.045 to 571.110 , inclusive, may: (a) Consist of a complete embargo against the importation into or transportation through the State of any animals so quarantined against; or (b) Provide for the importation into or transportation through the State of any such animals under such rules and regulations as may be set forth and prescribed in the quarantine at the time the same is issued. 2. Any quarantine issued under the provisions of NRS 571.045 to 571.110 , inclusive, remains in force and effect until removed or modified by the State Quarantine Officer, but: (a) The State Quarantine Officer may amend from time to time any quarantine so issued; and (b) Any such amendments must be general in their application and must not apply to any individual shipment or importation.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.060 Certified copies of quarantine to be delivered to certain officers.

If a quarantine is declared as provided in NRS 571.045 to 571.110, inclusive, against the importation into or transportation through this state of any animals from any other state, territory or district or any portion or portions thereof, a certified copy of the quarantine must be personally delivered by the State Quarantine Officer or the State Quarantine Officer’s representative or mailed by certified or registered mail to each of the following: 1. The governor or the proper quarantine official of such state, territory or district. 2. The United States quarantine official having jurisdiction over the same character of quarantine. 3. The state agent or other qualified official of any interstate railroad, express company or other common carrier doing business within this state.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.070 Administration; cooperation with state and federal officers.

1. The State Quarantine Officer is designated the authority to administer the provisions of NRS 571.045 to 571.110 , inclusive. 2. Insofar as practicable, the State Quarantine Officer, in carrying out the provisions of NRS 571.045 to 571.110 , inclusive, shall cooperate with the federal authorities and the quarantine officials of the several states, territories and districts.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.080 Seizure and treatment, destruction or shipment of animals transported in violation of quarantine.

1. Any animals imported into or being transported through this state in violation of any quarantine issued under the provisions of NRS 571.045 to 571.110 , inclusive, must be seized immediately by the State Quarantine Officer or the State Quarantine Officer’s authorized representative and treated in a manner approved by the State Quarantine Officer, or destroyed, or sent out of the State within 48 hours, at the expense of the owner thereof. 2. When the movement of any animals seized by the State Quarantine Officer, as provided in subsection 1, to some point without the State would further endanger any industry of this state, the animals so seized by the State Quarantine Officer must be destroyed at the expense of the owner.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.090 Unlawful importation, transportation or delivery in violation of quarantine.

It is unlawful for any railroad, express company or other common carrier, or any persons, to import into or transport through the State of Nevada any animals in violation of the provisions of NRS 571.045 to 571.110, inclusive, or to make delivery of any such animals to any persons within the limits of this state.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.100 Criminal proceedings: Proof of disease or exposure to disease.

In any criminal proceeding arising under the provisions of NRS 571.045 to 571.110, inclusive, proof that any animal, prohibited by proclamation of quarantine from importation into or transportation through this state, was imported into or transported through this state in violation of the quarantine shall be deemed proof within the meaning of NRS 571.045 to 571.110, inclusive, that the animal was diseased, exposed to disease or infected, or exposed to infection.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.110 Penalty.

Any person, corporation, common carrier, agent or employee of any corporation violating or assisting in violating any of the provisions of NRS 571.045 to 571.100, inclusive, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.120 Duties of Department; Director to cooperate with Director of Department of Wildlife.

1. The Department shall do all things necessary for the control and eradication of infectious, contagious or parasitic diseases of animals. 2. The Director shall cooperate with the Director of the Department of Wildlife in a program to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in animals in this State.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.130 Adoption of rules and regulations of federal Secretary of Agriculture relating to control and suppression of disease in animals.

The State Quarantine Officer may adopt rules and regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States relating to the control and suppression of disease in animals, and may cooperate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Agriculture’s officers in the enforcement of such rules and regulations.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.135 Regulations for processing of food waste to be fed to livestock, fish or other animals.

1. The State Quarantine Officer, with the approval of the State Board of Agriculture, may adopt such regulations requiring the processing of food waste before it is fed to livestock, fish or other animals as are necessary to prevent the introduction or spread of infectious, contagious or parasitic diseases. The regulations may prescribe a procedure by which permits are issued to those persons desiring to process food waste, minimum standards of sanitation are established and periodic inspections of the processing facilities are made. The State Quarantine Officer may collect a reasonable annual fee for each permit issued to recover costs incurred by the Department in the issuance of permits and the inspection of processing facilities. 2. Any regulation adopted pursuant to this section does not apply to a person feeding food waste from the person’s household to livestock, fish or other animals being raised on the premises for the person’s consumption. 3. As used in this section, “food waste” means all waste material derived in whole or in part from the meat of any animal or other animal material, or other refuse associated with any such material, resulting from the handling, preparation and consumption of food.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.140 Inspection, testing, treatment, quarantine and condemnation of animals.

The State Quarantine Officer, or the State Quarantine Officer’s representatives or agents, may inspect, test, treat, quarantine and condemn animals affected with any infectious, contagious or parasitic disease, and any such person may enter upon any ground or premises of this state to enforce the inspection, testing, treatment, quarantine and condemnation laws and all the rules, regulations and orders of the Department.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.150 Inspection, testing or quarantine of animal infected with or exposed to disease.

The State Quarantine Officer may inspect, test or quarantine any animal in the State infected with, suspected of being or which have been exposed to an infectious, contagious or parasitic disease, and compel testing or treatment at such times and as often as the State Quarantine Officer deems necessary to insure the suppression of disease.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.160 Notice to State Quarantine Officer of animal infected with disease; confidentiality of notice.

If any animal becomes infected with any infectious, contagious or parasitic disease as defined by rules and regulations adopted by the State Quarantine Officer, the owner or agent in charge of the infected animal, or any inspector of the Department or any practicing veterinarian who has knowledge of the infected animal, shall immediately notify the State Quarantine Officer. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 239.0115, a notification of disease received pursuant to this section must be kept confidential unless: 1. The reported disease is: (a) Specifically regulated pursuant to NRS 571.130 for mandatory control and eradication to protect the public health, other animals or wildlife; or (b) Trichomonosis in cattle; or 2. The State Quarantine Officer determines that a public health emergency exists.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.170 Regulations for quarantine of diseased animals; expense of treatment, feeding, care and testing.

1. If an animal is found diseased, the State Quarantine Officer may make regulations for its quarantine at once, and the State Quarantine Officer may define the place and limits within which the animal may be grazed, herded or driven. Such an animal may be held in quarantine until released by the State Quarantine Officer. 2. The expense of treatment, feeding and taking care of animals quarantined under the provisions of NRS 571.120 to 571.250 , inclusive, must be paid by the owner or agent in charge of the animals, and such expense is a lien upon the animals until paid. 3. The expense of testing an animal and the expense of handling an animal for the purpose of testing must be paid by the owner or agent in charge of the animal, at the option of the State Quarantine Officer, and such expense is a lien upon the animal until paid.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.180 Removal of quarantined or infected animal or animal product prohibited without permit.

Quarantined animals, and any animals or animal products which have been, or are suspected to have been, infected with or exposed to infectious, contagious or parasitic diseases, must not be removed from one point to another within any area, or from one area to another, without a written permit from the State Quarantine Officer.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.190 Destruction of animal infected with or exposed to disease: Determination by State Quarantine Officer; owner’s compensation.

1. The State Quarantine Officer may order and have destroyed any animal infected with or exposed to any infectious, contagious or parasitic disease. 2. If the State Quarantine Officer deems it necessary to destroy any infected or exposed livestock in order to prevent the spread of an infectious, contagious or parasitic disease which, according to the rules, regulations and standards adopted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, cannot be extirpated by means other than destroying the infected or exposed livestock, the State Quarantine Officer may have the livestock destroyed and burned, buried or otherwise disposed of in any manner specified by the Department. 3. The State Board of Agriculture shall enter into an agreement with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture or take any other action required to determine the amount of compensation owed, if any, to the owner of any livestock destroyed pursuant to subsection 2 and the party responsible for paying such compensation. 4. Any natural person or corporation purchasing any animal which was at the time of purchase under quarantine by any state, county or municipal authorities or any agency of the Federal Government authorized to lay such quarantine, or who purchases any animal which due diligence and caution would have shown to be diseased or which was shipped or transported in violation of the rules and regulations of any agency of the Federal Government or the State of Nevada, is not entitled to receive compensation, and the Department may order the destruction of the animal without making any compensation to the owner.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.200 Disposal of carcass of diseased animal.

1. The owner or agent in charge of any animal that has died or has been killed as a result of any infectious, contagious or parasitic disease shall immediately bury the carcass thereof at least 3 feet underground or cause the carcass to be consumed by fire, and the carcass must not be sold or given away. 2. In order to carry out the requirements of subsection 1, the carcass may be conveyed on a public highway or public road, or conveyed on land not owned by the owner or agent, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the State Quarantine Officer. 3. The expense of burying, burning or conveying the carcass must be paid by the owner or agent, and such expense is a lien upon remaining animals or other real or personal property of the owner or agent until paid.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.210 Bringing animals from another state: Compliance with regulations; notice; health certificate; prohibited importation of certain animals; violation of section.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person, or the person’s agent or employee may bring into this State any animal not under special quarantine by the State of Nevada, the Federal Government, or the state, territory or district of origin in compliance with regulations adopted by the State Quarantine Officer. 2. Notice that an animal is in transit is not required unless the animal remains in this State, or is to be unloaded in this State to feed and rest for longer than 48 hours. 3. A person, or the person’s agent or employee shall not bring any animal into this State unless he or she has obtained a health certificate showing that the animal is free from contagious, infectious or parasitic diseases or exposure thereto. This requirement does not apply to any animal whose accustomed range is on both sides of the Nevada state line and which is being moved from one portion to another of the accustomed range merely for pasturing and grazing thereon. The State Quarantine Officer shall adopt regulations concerning the form of the certificate. 4. A person, or the person’s agent or employee shall not: (a) Alter a health certificate; or (b) Divert any animal from the destination described on the health certificate without notifying the State Quarantine Officer within 72 hours after the diversion of the animal. 5. To protect this State from the effects of chronic wasting disease, a person, or the person’s agent or employee shall not knowingly bring into this State any live: (a) Elk ( Cervus elaphus ); (b) Mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ); (c) White-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ); (d) Moose ( Alces alces ); or (e) Other animal that the State Quarantine Officer has, by regulation, declared to be susceptible to chronic wasting disease and prohibited from importation into this State. 6. Any animal knowingly brought into this State in violation of this section may be seized, destroyed or sent out of this State by the State Quarantine Officer within 48 hours. The expense of seizing, destroying or removing the animal must be paid by the owner or the owner’s agent in charge of the animal and the expense is a lien on the animal, unless it was destroyed, until paid.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.220 Quarantine, cleaning and disinfection of places where animals handled; payment of expenses.

1. The State Quarantine Officer shall quarantine any corrals, pens, slaughterhouses, buildings, places, cars, trucks or vehicles where any animal may have been handled, and compel the cleaning and disinfecting of such places or vehicles when deemed necessary for the purposes of this chapter. 2. Where owners or persons in charge of such places or vehicles refuse to clean and disinfect them, an inspector may take charge of such places or vehicles and cause them to be cleaned and disinfected. The expense of such cleaning and disinfecting must be paid by the owners or persons in charge, and is a lien upon such corrals, pens, slaughterhouses, buildings, places, cars, trucks or vehicles until the expense is paid.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.230 Right of entry of inspectors.

Inspectors may at all times enter any premises, farms, fields, corrals, pens, slaughterhouses, buildings, places, cars, trucks or vehicles where any animal is quartered for the purpose of examining such places, vehicles or animals to determine whether they are affected with any infectious, contagious or parasitic disease.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.240 Inspection of animal about to be removed from State.

1. Inspectors may inspect any animal about to be shipped, driven, transported or otherwise removed from the State. 2. Consignors, possessors or persons in charge of such an animal shall, upon demand, fully establish title to the animal or the legal right to so ship, transport, drive or otherwise remove the animal from the State.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 571.250 Penalties; use of money collected.

1. Any person violating the provisions of NRS 571.120 to 571.240 , inclusive, or failing, refusing or neglecting to perform or observe any conditions, orders, rules or regulations prescribed by the State Quarantine Officer in accordance with the provisions of NRS 571.120 to 571.240 , inclusive, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, in addition to any criminal penalty, shall pay to the Department an administrative fine of not more than $1,000 per violation. If an administrative fine is imposed pursuant to this section, the costs of the proceeding, including investigative costs and attorney’s fees, may be recovered by the Department. 2. Any money collected from the imposition of an administrative fine pursuant to subsection 1 must be accounted for separately and: (a) Fifty percent of the money must be used to fund a program selected by the Director that provides loans to persons who are engaged in agriculture and who are 21 years of age or younger; and (b) The remaining 50 percent must be deposited in the Account for the Control of Weeds established by NRS 555.035 .
Source: NV Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-571.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026

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