Latest news with #Reba'sLaw
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Las Vegas shelter sees increase in animal dumping ahead of summer temperatures
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Video footage shared with 8 News Now shows two people dumping a dog in the parking of a Las Vegas valley animal shelter, making it one of two incidents in a week. NSPCA shared the video of an animal being dumped on their property. Associate Director, Ebone Smith said this year alone, they've seen nearly 15 animals dumped either in or near their parking lot. 'We reviewed our cameras, and we saw that two people drove up and left a dog in a crate at the front door. This was around 6 p.m. and then at 10 p.m. someone walked through the parking lot and saw the dog and took the dog with them,' Smith shared. NSPCA filed a report with Animal Protection Services and provided video of the people caught in the act. As for the other incident that happened the following night, NSPCA said they weren't able to get the dumping completely on camera however, they found a dog in their parking lot the next morning. That dog is currently being treated at their shelter. As for why the NSPCA thinks this is happening, it's unclear, but they say it's a problem. 'I don't know if it's fear of judgement or they feel like there aren't enough resources. If you need food or medical assistance, they are resources, you just need to pick up the phone or stop into the NSPCA and we'd be more than happy to help you,' Smith added. NSPCA'S Community Support Manager, Blake Hawk walked 8 News Now through the surrendering process online. Those interested can click here. It can cost up to $40 dollars to surrender your pet depending on if your animal is neutered or spayed, but fortunately, the shelter will work with you if cost is an issue. Smith added that while dumping an animal is illegal, with these scorching temperatures, it can be deadly too. 'Just because it feels cool enough to you, does not mean it's cool enough for a pet that's sitting on the ground in one spot, baking in the sun with no water or food,' Smith said. 'Unlike people where we can say, I'm hot and overheating. Pets can't so we have to pay attention to body language and behavior.' In the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, anyone who is caught dumping or abandoning an animal could face up to a $1,000 fine. With Reba's Law awaiting Senate approval, the hope is that the bill will strengthen penalties for animal cruelty in Nevada to include prison time and increased fines. As for surrendering an animal to The Animal Foundation, their fee is $10. Click this link for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Dog dies after he was abandoned in south Las Vegas valley, rescue says
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — As Reba's Law makes its way through the Nevada legislature, which would increase penalties for animal cruelty, another dog in the valley has died after being dumped, according to a Las Vegas rescue. Video footage appears to show a man and a small dog walking in a roundabout near Eastern Avenue and 215 on Thursday, May 15. Moments later, the person drives off leaving the dog behind. A good Samaritan found the dog lying on the ground, not moving and took him to Vegas Roots Rescue, which helps abused and neglected animals. 'Given what is happening in our valley, so many animals, our shelters are full,' co-founder Lauren Mushkin said. 'We just immediately said 'You know what. We're just gonna take him. Let's do this. Let's figure out what we can do for this guy.'' Mushkin and her team named him Eastern. He tested positive for parvovirus, also known as parvo, an extremely contagious and often deadly disease in dogs. 'We genuinely believe that Eastern was probably sick for a period of time, which is why, whoever that person is, dumped him. They probably didn't want to pay for medical care,' Mushkin said. 'His health declined so quickly. He was vomiting. He started to vomit blood. His bowels were out of control. It was very, very terrible. It was very unfair.' Eastern died one day after he was found. The identity of the person who left him for dead remains unknown. Mushkin is pushing for the community's help to hold the person and others who commit animal cruelty accountable. 'If your neighbor is backyard breeding, report them to APS,' Mushkin said. 'If you see someone selling puppies, report them. If you feel like someone is leaving their dog outside all summer, say something.' She also wants tougher laws for animal abuse and neglect. 'I think that any sort of law that is telling people that we as a society are taking these cases of abuse and neglect seriously is a huge positive step forward,' Mushkin said. 'But I will say that if we're not going to have serious consequences, people are not going to take their actions seriously.' If passed, Reba's Law would elevate animal cruelty penalties to a felony and increase the punishment from a maximum of four years in prison to six years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nevada Legislature hits 2nd deadline, but less drama expected this time
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The second major deadline arrives today for the Nevada Legislature, but it's unlikely to produce the kind of shockwaves that followed the first deadline. 'Reba's Law,' which would toughen the penalties in animal abuse crimes, caused an uproar when it didn't get a committee vote at the April 11 deadline. Since then, lawmakers have given it an exemption, and it is safe at the April 22 deadline. The law is named for an English bulldog that died after it was sealed inside a plastic tub and left outside next to a dumpster on a July 2024 day that reached 110 degrees. No such drama is expected today as the Nevada Legislature hits the deadline for bills to pass a vote. Unless they are exempt, bills that originated in the Assembly must pass a vote of the full Assembly; bills that originated in the Senate must pass a vote of the full Senate. Exemptions are generally given to bills that make an appropriation. Those bills require work by the finance committees, and extra time is provided for that process. The April 11 deadline killed more than 280 bills, but only a handful of bills are in danger this time. Some of those bills could get last-minute action as the floor sessions in the Assembly and Senate plod along in Carson City. And that might require lawmakers to revive legislation that has been set aside. Agendas could changing rapidly right to the end of today's actions. PET STORES: AB487 would stop retail stores from selling dogs and cats. Advocates say the ban will help stop animal abuse, consumer fraud and practices that put animals' health in danger. With shelters overflowing with dogs and cats, advocates are trying to combat puppy mills from flourishing. The bill passed 32-9 on Monday, advancing to the Senate. It was sponsored by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. BALLOON BAN: AB194 takes a dim view of the tradition of balloon releases at outdoor birthday parties and other celebrations. The bill would outlaw releasing balloons filled with helium or other lighter-than-air gases. It passed 26-15 on Monday, advancing to the Senate. The bill was sponsored by Democratic Assem. Sandra Jauregui. SHIELDING DOCTORS: SB171 would prevent protect medical professionals from having their license stripped or other punitive actions for providing or assisting in medically necessary gender-affirming health care services. Professionals who are licensed in multiple states wouldn't be penalized in Nevada if another state acted to discipline them. The bill passed on a 13-8 vote on Tuesday, advancing to the Assembly. Democratic Sen. James Ohrenschall sponsored the bill. AI-MODIFIED IMAGES: AB73 would require campaign materials to disclose if photos or video are modified by artificial intelligence. The bill is aimed at 'deep fakes' and other uses of AI images that misrepresent facts and erode trust in elections. The bill has passed out of the Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee, but has not received a vote yet in the full Assembly. GUN OWNERSHIP: AB 245 would ban anyone under the age of 21 from owning a semi-automatic shotgun or center-fire rifle. A violation would be punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. The bill also criminalizes letting someone under 21 handle those types of weapons. The bill passed in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Monday. Democratic Assem. Sandra Jauregui sponsored the bill. Similar legislation was vetoed by Gov. Joe Lombardo in 2023. 'INTIMATE IMAGES': SB213 would add AI-modified or AI-created photos/videos to materials addressed in existing law about unlawfully distributing intimate images. It would be a category D felony to blackmail someone with these types of images — the same as if they were real images. The bill hasn't received action since it was passed in committee on April 17 and placed on General File the next day. Republican Sen. Jeff Stone sponsored the bill. STREET VENDORS: SB295 requires the health district to come up with pre-approved carts that people can buy to get licensed. It's a solution that lawmakers believe is needed after only six vendors in the Las Vegas valley actually went through the process to get a license since the legislation was originally passed in 2023. Many vendors say the requirements are too expensive. The bill passed in the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on Monday, but needs a vote of the full Senate to advance. Democratic Sen. Fabian Doñate is the bill's sponsor. CONFISCATING GUNS: SB347 rewrites provisions in the law that allow police to confiscate guns from people placed on a 'Legal 2000' mental health hold. Police approached lawmakers with concerns that the existing law seemed to clash with Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure. The bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Melanie Scheible, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, but needs a vote from the full Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Las Vegas police seek help finding man who threw dog in dumpster
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Metro police are asking for help identifying a man accused of throwing a dog into a dumpster. Animal Protection Services responded to the call about an animal abuse incident around 9 a.m. Monday at the 5500 block of Sheila Avenue, near Jones Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue. Dog dumped in Las Vegas dumpster; police search for alleged animal abuser The man, wearing red shorts and no shirt, got out of his vehicle, grabbed a small dog by the neck, and 'forcefully' threw it into a dumpster, investigators said. He then returned to his vehicle, drove away, but made a U-turn, pulled up to the dumpster, and closed the lid. A neighbor found the dog on Tuesday, 8 News Now reported that day. The dog was recovering and was 'doing fine,' police said Wednesday. 'I don't care what this dog did; there is no excuse for the abuse that this dog just had to endure,' Lindsey Pinapfel, a Vegas Pet Rescue Project volunteer, said Tuesday. The incident follows the revival of 'Reba's Law' in the Nevada Legislature, which aims to implement harsher penalties on animal cruelty convictions. Anyone with information is asked to contact LVMPD at 702-828-3364. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Dog dumped in Las Vegas dumpster, police search for alleged animal abuser
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Upon lifting the dumpster lid, a Las Vegas neighbor was shocked to see a 12-pound Chihuahua howling for attention—luckily the garbage truck hadn't yet turned the corner. A Las Vegas neighborhood security camera captured an individual exiting a dark SUV Monday morning, carrying a chihuahua to a dumpster before throwing it in. The individual driving back to close the dumpster lid. 'We had an individual reach out to us that went to throw trash away in a dumpster, and happened to find a dog inside the dumpster,' Lindsey Pinapfel, a Vegas Pet Rescue Project volunteer, said. 'From there, they were able to backtrack to their cameras and see what time that dog arrived in that dumpster.' Pinapfel said it appeared the individual carried the dog by the scruff of the neck before throwing the Chihuahua in the dumpster. 'I don't care what this dog did, there is no excuse for the abuse that this dog just had to endure but there are resources,' she said. The incident follows the revival of 'Reba's Law' in the Nevada Legislature which aims to implement harsher penalties on animal cruelty convictions. 'This is the exact reason that we need harsher punishment and stricter rules and laws in regard to animal abuse,' Pinapfel said. Pinapfel said the Chihuahua, named Atreyu after the 1984 movie The NeverEnding Story, is now recovering at a Las Vegas animal hospital. 'We need to hold people accountable, and something needs to change,' she said. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Animal Cruelty Division is investigating the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
