FAQs • Fernley • CivicEngage

What should I do if I have found a stray animal?: If you have found a dog or cat, please call Fernley Animal Control at 775.784.9801. We will take a found animal report so that, if the owner calls to report a lost animal, we can put them in touch with you.

We can make arrangements to pick up a stray dog and take it to our designated shelter, Lyon County Animal Services in Silver Springs. We cannot pick up lost cats but we will try to maintain lists of both lost and found cats to possibly reunite the cat with its owner.

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Animal Control

1. How many dogs can I have?: Only three dogs per address are allowed. There are some exceptions for dogs housed in kennels or animal hospitals.

2. Do I need to license my dog?: The City of Fernley's license requrement is described in Title 7, Chapter 1 of the Fernley Municipal Code. In general, all dogs in the City over six months old need to be licensed. All dogs must be vaccinated for rabies.

The annual fees for dog licenses and tags, are as follows:

The license or tag is valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance.

4. Does Animal Control pick up domestic or feral cats?: No. If you have a domestic cat or kitten that you can no longer care for or do not want, the Nevada Humane Society is the only local cat assisting agency at this time. Fernley Animal Control does not pick up cats but we can provide you with a live trap to capture a feral cat in your yard so you can take it to the Nevada Humane Society or other rescue group.

Feral cats are simply abandoned offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of people failing to spay or neuter their cats, or people abandoning their cats. These cats survive as best they can - near restaurants, shopping areas, ranches, and other rural areas. Feral cats often live in loose groups or colonies and usually go out of their way to avoid human contact.

Feral cats are almost impossible to socialize. Like other wild animals, they should not be handled without following instructions from feral cat rescue groups or shelters.

5. What should I do if my pet or someone is bitten by an animal?: If there is a serious incident, call 911 or seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Animal bites are investigated by Fernley Animal Control. If you have an animal bite to report, please call us at 775.784.9801 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

If you need assistance after business hours, please contact the Lyon County Sheriff's Office at 775.575.5530.

If you are bitten by an animal or have knowledge of anyone being bitten by any animal, state law requires that the incident be reported due to the possibility of exposure to rabies. It is important to obtain as much information as possible about the animal such as description, location, owner information, vaccination history, etc.

6. What should I do if I find a dead animal on my property or on the road?: Fernely Animal Control will remove dead animals from city roads and rights of way free of charge. Call 775.784.9801 to report dead animals.

Dead animals on state roads and rights of way, include State Route 95A, State Route 50A, Interstate 80, and State Route 828 (Farm District Road) should be reported to the Nevada Department of Transportation at 775.688.1547.

7. What should I do if I have found a stray animal?: If you have found a dog or cat, please call Fernley Animal Control at 775.784.9801. We will take a found animal report so that, if the owner calls to report a lost animal, we can put them in touch with you.

We can make arrangements to pick up a stray dog and take it to our designated shelter, Lyon County Animal Services in Silver Springs. We cannot pick up lost cats but we will try to maintain lists of both lost and found cats to possibly reunite the cat with its owner.