How Nevada defines dangerous and vicious dogs

NRS 202.500 sets out when a dog is dangerous and when it is vicious. The FindLaw text of the statute also states that a dog may not be found dangerous or vicious based solely on its breed, and that a law enforcement agency may declare a dog dangerous if its owner used it in a crime.

A Shouse Law Group explainer on Nevada dog bite liability reports that a dog is vicious when, without provocation, it kills or inflicts substantial bodily harm on a person, or when it keeps up the behavior after its owner was told by a law enforcement agency that it is dangerous.

The same explainer says an owner can still be civilly liable for negligence even if the dog never bit anyone before. a Nevada injury firm's summary adds that Nevada has no statewide automatic-liability statute and that violating a safety ordinance such as a leash law can support a negligence per se argument.

Ask your insurer whether the dog or its breed changes your coverage and read your lease or HOA rules first. State law does not override them.