That adorable pug puppy for sale in a local Facebook group might be breaking the law.

Anyone who breeds dogs or cats in Clark County is required to have a Breeder/Show Permit and a Clark County business license, and permit holders must include their permit number in any advertisement offering dogs or cats for sale.

No permit number in the ad, and no answer when buyers ask about licensing, are the two biggest red flags.

Here’s exactly where to report it, and how to check a seller before you buy.

Who to Call in Clark County

If the seller operates in unincorporated Clark County, which includes Paradise, Spring Valley, Enterprise, and most of the valley outside city limits, contact Clark County Animal Protection Services.

Call the dispatch line at (702) 455-7710, which operates seven days a week, or email AnimalProtectionServicesInfo@ClarkCountyNV.gov.

You can also file through the county’s online Report a Complaint portal, or visit the APS office at 4701 W Russell Rd, open Monday through Thursday.

Reporting in Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas

If the property sits inside city limits, jurisdiction shifts to that city’s animal protection agency.

For the City of Las Vegas, call (702) 229-6444 and select option 2. For Henderson, call (702) 267-4970. For North Las Vegas, call (702) 633-9111.

Not sure which jurisdiction the address falls under? Start with Clark County dispatch, and they’ll route you.

How to Check if a Breeder Is Licensed

There’s no public database of Clark County breeder permits, which is a genuine gap, so verification takes a little legwork.

Start with the ad itself: a legal Clark County breeder must display their permit number, so its absence is your first answer.

For larger commercial operations, search the USDA Animal Care Public Search Tool, which lists federally licensed breeders and their inspection records.

You can also check Nevada Secretary of State business records to see if the seller is a registered business, though registration alone doesn’t prove a breeder permit.

For a definitive answer, call Clark County APS at (702) 455-7710 and ask whether a specific breeder holds a current permit.

What Evidence to Gather Before You Call

Agencies can act fastest when you hand them a complete package, so collect these before reporting.

Get the exact street address or apartment number where the animals are kept, plus the seller’s name or a description.

Screenshot everything: the listing, the seller’s profile, prices quoted, and any refusal to answer licensing questions, since posts get deleted fast once sellers feel heat.

Note the date, time, number of animals, and breed, and photograph conditions if you observe them in person, but never trespass to do it.

Report the post to the platform too. Facebook’s commerce policies prohibit animal sales between individuals, so flagging the listing and the group that allows it creates a second enforcement track.

Why Reporting Actually Works

Clark County dramatically sharpened its teeth in 2025, and the numbers show reports get results.

The county raised the penalty for selling an animal without a breeder’s license from $100 to $500 or the sale price of the animal, with a second violation within two years costing $1,000 or double the sale price.

Animal sales are also now banned outright in streets, parking lots, outdoor markets, flea markets, and roadside stands, and all dogs and cats over 4 months old must be microchipped.

Enforcement has followed the ordinance. Since the February 2025 crackdown began, Clark County has issued nearly $154,000 in fines to illegal breeders, fielded 365 complaints, and charged 57 breeders, with one repeat offender fined $9,000 for selling a single dog.

Officers now scale penalties to the advertised price of the dogs, because flat fines rarely stop prolific breeders, and the county pairs APS officers with Las Vegas Deputy City Marshals through Operation Pawsitive Change.

Every one of those 365 complaints started with someone who saw a sketchy listing and made a two-minute phone call.