NAC638.051. Abandoned animals.

     1. If an animal is delivered to any veterinarian pursuant to any written or oral agreement between the veterinarian and the owner of the animal or the person delivering the animal, and the owner or person delivering the animal does not claim the animal within 10 days after the day the animal was due to be claimed, the animal shall be deemed abandoned.

     2. Unless otherwise provided in a contract between a veterinarian and the owner of an animal or the person delivering the animal, the veterinarian may dispose of an abandoned animal if the animal is not claimed within the period set forth in the notice.

     3. Before a veterinarian disposes of an abandoned animal, he or she must send, by certified mail, a notice to the last known address of the owner of the animal or the person who delivered the animal to the veterinarian. The notice must state that the veterinarian will dispose of the animal if it is not claimed within 10 days after the notice is mailed.

     4. The veterinarian shall dispose of the animal in a humane manner.

     5. As used in this section, “claim” means to remove the animal from the custody of the veterinarian.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Veterinary Med. Exam’rs, eff. 11-17-88)