1. A person shall not willfully and maliciously:

(a) Taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike or administer a desensitizing drug, chemical or substance to a police animal;

(b) Interfere with a police animal or a handler thereof in the performance of duties assigned to the police animal or handler; or

(c) Torture, mutilate, injure, poison, disable or kill a police animal.

2. A person who violates:

(a) Paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection 1 is guilty of a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

(b) Paragraph (c) of subsection 1 is guilty of:

(1) If the police animal is not totally disabled or killed, a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130, and may be further punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.

(2) If the police animal is totally disabled or killed, a category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130. In addition to the punishment imposed pursuant to this subparagraph, the court may require a person who is punished pursuant to this subparagraph to pay restitution to the agency that owns the police animal, including, without limitation, payment for veterinary services and the cost of replacing the police animal.

3. The provisions of this section do not prohibit a euthanasia technician licensed pursuant to chapter 638 of NRS, a peace officer or a veterinarian from euthanizing a police animal in an emergency if the police animal is critically wounded and would otherwise endure undue suffering and pain.

(Added to NRS by 1999, 2516; A 2001, 2889)