Nevada Dog Law

Liability Statute

Nevada does not have a Dog Bite Statute. However, lack of a strict liability statute does not mean that liability may not attach under other types of liability, such as negligence, nuisance, or willful misconduct of various kinds.

Common Law Liability

In order to recover for dog-bite injuries, the plaintiff must prove that the dog owner was negligent and that the owner’s negligence caused the plaintiff’s injury.

Dangerous Dog Statute

The Meaning of a “Dangerous Dog”

A “dangerous dog” is:

• a dog that, without provocation, on two separate occasions within an 18-month period, behaves menacingly, to a degree that would lead a reasonable person to defend himself against substantial bodily harm, whenever the dog is:
  • off the premises of its owner or keeper; or
  • not confined in a cage, pen or vehicle.

“Substantial bodily harm” means bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ or which causes prolonged physical pain.

The Meaning of a “Vicious Dog”

A dog is vicious if:

• without provocation, it kills or inflicts substantial bodily harm upon a human being; or
• after its owner or keeper was notified by a law enforcement agency that it is dangerous, it continues to behave menacingly to a degree that would lead a reasonable person to defend himself against substantial bodily harm, whenever the dog is:
  • off the premises of its owner or keeper; or
  • not confined in a cage, pen or vehicle.

Liability of Owners with Vicious Dogs

• It is illegal for a person to own a vicious dog.
• If a person illegally owns a vicious dog and the dog attacks someone and causes substantial bodily harm, the owner or keeper is guilty of a felony that carries a term of one to four years in prison. The judge may also impose a fine up to $5,000 and order the dog destroyed.

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