Animal Control

Boulder City Animal Control is responsible for controlling the animals, both pets and others, that reside within Boulder City. On this page you will find general information, contact information, fees, volunteering, adopting, missing animals, nuisance animals and related ordinances. To protect your pet, be sure to keep it licensed.

Humane Treatment & Protection of Animals

The Boulder City Animal Control Bureau provides full animal control and investigative services for the humane treatment and protection of animals as well as the protection of our community, its people and their property. The Animal Control Bureau is a part of the Boulder City Police Department support staff. Our goal is to balance the required and necessary enforcement actions along with the needs and wants of our community by a proactive approach to community-oriented policing.

City Owned & Operated

We are an open public facility that is city owned and operated. The shelter provides humane treatment and care to all feral, stray, abandoned or owned animals impounded within our jurisdiction. Animals are either returned to their owner, put up for adoption, or humanely euthanized. 

Service Area

The area consists of more than 200 square miles of Boulder City, including developed and undeveloped land.

City Ordinances

It is illegal to own, contain, harbor or keep any wild or exotic indigenous or nonindigenous animal(s) within Boulder City Township. All wild or exotic animal(s) impounded will be released to the appropriate State or Federal agencies, or humanely euthanized under their directive. Read the Boulder City Municipal Code.

Nuisance Barking: If you are concerned about a dog barking and disturbing the peace, we can file a complaint on your behalf but you must be willing to sign a citation against the offending owner. Our staff cannot stipulate a dog barking complaint without a complainant who is willing to sign the citation.

 
Animals Running At Large: It is unlawful for any person having charge, custody or control of any "animal", as previously defined in Section 7-3-2 of this Chapter, to actively encourage or wilfully permit or negligently allow any such animal to run at large or trespass on any private premises of another, or to be on any public highway, street, sidewalk, alley, court, public ground or unfenced or otherwise unenclosed lot, or not within a sufficient, confined enclosure within the City limits; provided, however, that all equine animals are harnessed or saddled and bridled, or haltered, or dogs, cats or miniature pot belly pigs are led by an adequate and sufficient leash, lead, rope or chain and wearing rabies and animal licenses issued by the License Officer in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter and in the actual custody and control of a person capable of adequately restraining such animal, are excepted from the operation of this Section.

2. Animals: No animal all be permitted upon the public streets or public property or off the premises of the owner unless such animal under the reasonable control of the owner or unless such animal is confined in the process of being transported.

a. Any animal shall be deemed to be under reasonable control when such a animal is on the premises of its owner or custodian of such animal, premises being construed not to include the parkway and sidewalk in front of the owner's or custodian's premises. An animal at large shall be deemed to be not under reasonable control.
b. An animal shall be deemed not to be under reasonable control when such an animal commits damage to the person or property of anyone other than the owner or custodian, except in defense of the owner, custodian, his family or property.
c. All animals injured or killed in the street shall be considered as running at large and the Animal Control Officer shall remove all said animals and, at his discretion, take those needing medical attention to a veterinarian or to the City animal shelter. The owners of such animals shall be liable for all expense of such veterinary treatment and of the impoundment or disposal.

Urban Wildlife

Boulder City Animal Control is not responsible for urban wildlife such as ducks, coyotes, birds of prey, or rodents. Please contact the Nevada Department of Wildlife if you have questions about these types of animals.