Henderson Strengthens Animal Protection Laws with Reba’s Law and Free Adoptions for Veterans

Henderson has taken a significant step forward in animal protection with the unanimous passage of a comprehensive ordinance updating Titles 7 and 19 of the municipal code. Approved by the Henderson City Council on October 22, 2025, the new rules strengthen animal welfare protections, expand livestock allowances for rural residents, and introduce adoption benefits for veterans and first responders — all effective immediately.​

Strengthened Animal Protection Laws

The updated ordinance introduces several key protections aimed at preventing animal cruelty and promoting responsible pet ownership. Henderson now explicitly prohibits the sale of animals in public areas without a proper permit, ensuring that only authorized vendors can conduct animal sales within city limits.​

Other significant protections include bans on selling chicks or ducklings under two weeks old, a measure designed to prevent impulse purchases of animals too young to survive without specialized care. The ordinance also requires anyone who traps an animal to return it to its owner within 72 hours, addressing concerns about lost pets being held indefinitely.​

Perhaps most notably, the ordinance prohibits animal poisoning and “animal crushing” — the latter referring to intentional acts of torturing animals by crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, or impaling them, as defined by federal law. This provision aligns Henderson’s local regulations with federal standards that recognize animal crushing as a serious form of cruelty.​

Reba’s Law Now Part of Henderson Code

A centerpiece of the new ordinance is the incorporation of Nevada’s Assembly Bill 381, known as “Reba’s Law,” which allows individuals to enter vehicles under specific circumstances to rescue animals in distress.​

The law was named after Reba, an English Bulldog who died in July 2024 after being found taped inside a plastic bin next to a dumpster during extreme Las Vegas heat. Temperatures that day exceeded 110 degrees, and despite emergency veterinary care, Reba died from cardiac arrest caused by severe heat stroke.​

The tragic case sparked widespread outrage and a $50,000 reward fund for information leading to arrests. Two individuals — Markeisha Foster and Isaac Laushaul Jr. — were ultimately arrested and convicted. Laushaul received a prison sentence of 16 to 48 months, while Foster was sentenced to 364 days with credit for time served.​

Governor Joe Lombardo signed AB 381 into law on June 9, 2025, making it one of the toughest animal cruelty bills in recent Nevada history. The law increases penalties for animal cruelty, with acts causing the death of an animal now punishable by one to six years in prison. It also provides civil immunity for bystanders who break into vehicles to rescue animals during extreme weather conditions.​

Assemblywoman Melissa Hardy, who sponsored the bill, described it as “the toughest bill” she had worked on. After initially appearing dead at a legislative deadline, activists successfully campaigned to revive the measure, which passed unanimously in the Assembly and 14-7 in the Senate.​

Expanded Livestock Options for Rural Henderson

For residents in Henderson’s rural neighborhoods, the ordinance brings welcome flexibility. Property owners on qualifying land can now keep increased numbers and types of livestock, including horses, cattle, goats, sheep, swine, chickens, and roosters.​

This marks a notable change from previous restrictions. While Henderson’s earlier ordinances prohibited roosters for residents near other dwellings, the updated code acknowledges the needs of rural property owners who may use livestock for agricultural purposes. The expansion gives these residents greater autonomy in managing their properties while still requiring compliance with basic animal welfare standards.​

Free Adoptions for Veterans and First Responders

In a move to honor those who serve the community, the ordinance authorizes free pet adoptions for veterans and first responders. This benefit waives standard adoption fees, which typically range from $35 for rabbits to $90 for dogs at the Henderson Animal Protection Services facility.​

The measure mirrors similar programs at animal shelters nationwide that recognize the therapeutic benefits pets can provide to veterans dealing with PTSD and first responders coping with job-related stress. Henderson residents who qualify under this provision will need to provide proof of service or employment when adopting.​

Addressing Shelter Overcrowding

The ordinance also grants Henderson Animal Protection Services the authority to reduce or waive adoption fees to prevent overcrowding — a critical tool as Southern Nevada shelters continue to struggle with capacity issues.​

Henderson Animal Protection Services, located at 300 E. Galleria Drive, is a low-kill facility that provides full veterinary care including spay/neuter services, vaccines, and microchipping for all adoptable animals. The shelter has recently used this authority to host “Free Fur-All” adoption events, including a special running through October 31, 2025, made possible by a $30,000 grant from the ASPCA.​

Shelter overcrowding remains a persistent challenge across Clark County. The Animal Foundation reported more than 3,000 pet surrenders between January and August 2025 — the highest numbers in nearly a decade. In response, Clark County has approved $39 million for a new supplemental shelter and $3 million for an emergency facility at the Silver Bowl.​

Humane Cat Population Management

Another progressive element of Henderson’s ordinance authorizes groups to humanely manage free-roaming cat populations through trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs.​

TNR involves trapping community cats, having them spayed or neutered, ear-tipping them for identification, and returning them to their original locations. This approach has been shown to reduce shelter intake and euthanasia while stabilizing outdoor cat populations.​

Henderson Cats, a volunteer organization, has been operating a pilot TNR program in the city since early 2025. As of May 1, the group had already trapped, neutered, and returned 200 cats. The formal authorization in the new ordinance provides legal protection for these humane efforts and encourages more community involvement in managing the city’s stray cat population.​

What This Means for Henderson Pet Owners

Director of Community Development and Services Eddie Dichter emphasized that the changes reflect valuable community feedback. “We carefully considered community input to ensure these changes strengthen animal welfare and meet the needs of our rural neighborhoods,” Dichter said. “We’ll continue to assess areas concerning animals to make sure our codes reflect the highest standards”.​

For Henderson dog owners, the practical implications are straightforward: responsible pet ownership is now backed by stronger enforcement mechanisms. The prohibition on public animal sales without permits aims to curb unregulated breeding and sales that contribute to shelter overcrowding. The inclusion of Reba’s Law provides legal protection for good Samaritans who intervene when they see animals suffering in hot vehicles — a common and deadly problem in Southern Nevada’s extreme summer heat.​

The ordinance also reinforces existing requirements that all dogs, cats, and ferrets over three months old must be licensed with the city within 30 days and remain current on rabies vaccinations. While standard licensing fees remain in place, the shelter’s expanded authority to waive adoption fees during overcrowding periods may provide more opportunities for Henderson residents to adopt pets at reduced costs.​

Henderson Animal Protection Services moved from the police department to the Community Development and Services Department on July 1, 2025, a reorganization designed to improve coordination on animal-related cases and code enforcement. Despite this administrative change, the department continues to provide the same services, including reuniting lost pets with owners, investigating cruelty cases, processing animal bites, and managing rabies quarantines.​​

A Model for Animal Welfare

Henderson’s comprehensive ordinance represents a meaningful evolution in how municipalities approach animal welfare. By combining stricter cruelty prohibitions with practical measures like livestock flexibility and adoption incentives, the city has created a framework that protects animals while supporting responsible owners.

The incorporation of Reba’s Law ensures that the English Bulldog’s tragic death will have lasting impact, providing legal tools to prevent similar suffering and holding perpetrators accountable with meaningful consequences. For Henderson residents, these changes signal a community committed to the highest standards of animal care and protection.