NRS571.190. Destruction of animal infected with or exposed to disease: Procedure; owner’s compensation.

      1.  The State Quarantine Officer may order and have destroyed any animal infected with or exposed to any infectious, contagious or parasitic disease.

      2.  The Department shall compensate the owners of any animal so destroyed separately or jointly with any county or municipality of the State or any agency of the Federal Government, the amount of the compensation to be determined by appraisal before the affected animal is destroyed.

      3.  The appraisal must be made by the State Quarantine Officer or a qualified agent designated by the State Quarantine Officer and the owners or their authorized representative. In the event of their failure to reach an agreement, the two so selected shall designate a disinterested person, who by reason of experience in such matters is a qualified judge of values of animals, to act with them. The judgment of any two such appraisers is binding and final upon all persons.

      4.  The total amount received by the owners of any animal so destroyed, including compensation paid by the Department, any county or municipality or any agency of the Federal Government or any company that insures animals, and the salvage received from the sale of hides or carcasses or any other source, combined, must not exceed the actual appraised value of the destroyed animal.

      5.  Any natural person or corporation purchasing any animal which was at the time of purchase under quarantine by any state, county or municipal authorities or any agency of the Federal Government authorized to lay such quarantine, or who purchases any animal which due diligence and caution would have shown to be diseased or which was shipped or transported in violation of the rules and regulations of any agency of the Federal Government or the State of Nevada, is not entitled to receive compensation, and the Department may order the destruction of the animal without making any compensation to the owner.

      6.  No payment may be made hereunder as compensation for or on account of any such animal destroyed if, at the time of inspection or test of the animal or at the time of the ordered destruction thereof, the animal belongs to or is upon the premises of any person, firm or corporation to which the animal has been sold, shipped or delivered for slaughter.

      7.  In no case may any payment by the Department pursuant to the provisions of this section be made unless the owner has complied with all quarantine rules and regulations of the Department.

      (Added to NRS by 1961, 510; A 1993, 1748; 1999, 3687; 2003, 2160)