Code of Virginia - Title 3.2 Agriculture, Animal Care, And Food - Chapter 65 Comprehensive Animal Care

3.2-6500 (Effective October 1, 2008) Definitions.
As used in this chapter unless the context requires a different meaning: "Abandon" means to desert, forsake, or absolutely give up an animal without having ...

3.2-6501 (Effective October 1, 2008) Regulations and guidelines.
The Board may adopt regulations and guidelines consistent with the objectives and intent of this chapter concerning the care and transportation of animals. (1984, c. ...

3.2-6502 (Effective October 1, 2008) State Veterinarian's power to inspect premises where animals are kept; ...
A. The State Veterinarian and each State Veterinarian's representative shall have the power to conduct inspections of animal shelters, and inspect any business premises where ...

3.2-6503 (Effective October 1, 2008) Care of companion animals by owner; penalty.
A. Each owner shall provide for each of his companion animals: 1. Adequate feed; 2. Adequate water; 3. Adequate shelter that is properly cleaned; 4. ...

3.2-6504 (Effective October 1, 2008) Abandonment of animal; penalty.
No person shall abandon or dump any animal. Violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall be construed to ...

3.2-6505 (Effective October 1, 2008) Disposal of animals by means of decompression chamber and use of gas ch...
A. No animal shall be euthanized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter by means of a high altitude decompression chamber. B. No companion animal ...

3.2-6506 (Effective October 1, 2008) Exceptions regarding veterinarians.
Sections 3.2-6503, 3.2-6504, 3.2-6508 through 3.2-6519, 3.2-6557, 3.2-6559, 3.2-6561, 3.2-6564, 3.2-6565, and 3.2-6574 through 3.2-6580 shall not apply to: (i) a place or establishment that ...

3.2-6507 (Effective October 1, 2008) Injured or sick animal; action by veterinarian.
A. If a licensed veterinarian is called or by his own action comes upon an animal that is sick or injured and the owner of ...

3.2-6507.1 (Effective January 1, 2009) Business license required.
No commercial dog breeder shall breed dogs in the Commonwealth without a valid business license issued by any locality, as applicable, where he maintains dogs ...

3.2-6507.2 (Effective January 1, 2009) Commercial dog breeding; requirements.
Commercial dog breeders shall: 1. Maintain no more than 50 dogs over the age of one year at any time for breeding purposes. However, a ...

3.2-6507.3 (Effective January 1, 2009) Right of entry.
A. The Commissioner, the State Veterinarian or his assistant, any animal control officer, and any public health or safety official employed by the locality where ...

3.2-6507.4 (Effective January 1, 2009) Concurrent operation of releasing agency prohibited.
It is unlawful for a commercial dog breeder to operate or maintain a controlling interest in any releasing agency. (2008, c. 852, § 3.1-796.77:4.) ...

3.2-6507.5 (Effective January 1, 2008) Penalty.
Any commercial dog breeder violating any provision of this article is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (2008, c. 852, § 3.1-796.77:5.) ...

3.2-6507.6 (Effective January 1, 2009) Duty of attorneys for the Commonwealth.
It shall be the duty of each attorney for the Commonwealth to enforce this article. (2008, c. 852, § 3.1-796.77:6.) ...

3.2-6508 (Effective October 1, 2008) Transporting animals; requirements; penalty.
A. No owner, railroad or other common carrier when transporting any animal shall allow that animal to be confined in any type of conveyance more ...

3.2-6509 (Effective October 1, 2008) Misrepresentation of animal's condition; penalties.
No person shall misrepresent the physical condition of any animal at the animal's sale, trade, delivery, or other method of transfer. For the purpose of ...

3.2-6510 (Effective October 1, 2008) Sale of unweaned or certain immature animals prohibited, vaccinations r...
A. No person shall sell, raffle, give away, or offer for sale as pets or novelties, or offer or give as a prize, premium, or ...

3.2-6511 (Effective October 1, 2008) Failure of dealer or pet shop to provide adequate care; penalty...
Any dealer or pet shop that fails to adequately house, feed, water, exercise or care for animals in his or its possession or custody as ...

3.2-6511.1 (Effective January 1, 2009) Pet shops; procurement from unlicensed commercial dog breeders; penalty...
A. It is unlawful for a pet shop to sell or offer for sale any dog procured from a person who is not a dealer ...

3.2-6512 (Effective October 1, 2008) Sale without pet dealer's animal history certificate violation of Consu...
It shall be a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.) for any pet dealer to sell a dog or cat ...

3.2-6513 (Effective October 1, 2008) Inclusion of false or misleading statements in certificate violation o...
It shall be a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.) for a pet dealer to include in the pet dealer's ...

3.2-6514 (Effective October 1, 2008) Consumer remedies for receipt of diseased animal upon certification by ...
A. If, at any time within 10 days following receipt of an animal described as being registered or capable of being registered with any animal ...

3.2-6515 (Effective October 1, 2008) Written notice of consumer remedies required to be supplied by pet deal...
A pet dealer shall give the notice hereinafter set forth in writing to a consumer prior to the delivery of a dog or cat. Such ...

3.2-6516 (Effective October 1, 2008) Failure of pet dealer to effect registration after promise; violation o...
A. It shall be a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.) for a pet dealer to state, promise, or represent ...

3.2-6517 (Effective October 1, 2008) Remedies cumulative.
The remedies provided for pursuant to this article are cumulative and not exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedy provided for by ...

3.2-6518 (Effective October 1, 2008) Boarding establishments and groomers; veterinary care requirements; con...
A. When an animal is boarded at a boarding establishment, or under the care, custody or subject to the actions of a groomer, the boarding ...

3.2-6519 (Effective October 1, 2008) Written notice of consumer remedies required to be supplied by boardin...
A. A boarding establishment shall give the notice hereinafter set forth in writing to a consumer prior to the consumer's delivery of the animal to ...

3.2-6520 (Effective October 1, 2008) Procedure for animals left unclaimed with veterinarian or boarding esta...
Any animal not claimed by its owner from a licensed veterinarian or boarding establishment within 14 days after a letter of notice has been sent ...

3.2-6521 (Effective October 1, 2008) Rabies inoculation of dogs and domesticated cats; availability of certi...
A. The owner or custodian of all dogs and domesticated cats four months of age and older shall have them currently vaccinated for rabies by ...

3.2-6522 (Effective October 1, 2008) Rabid animals.
When there is sufficient reason to believe that a rabid animal is at large, the governing body of any locality shall have the power to ...

3.2-6523 (Effective October 1, 2008) Inoculation for rabies at animal shelters.
Dogs and cats being adopted from an animal shelter during the period an emergency ordinance is in force, as provided for in § 3.2-6522 may ...

3.2-6524 (Effective October 1, 2008) Unlicensed dogs prohibited; ordinances for licensing cats.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person other than a releasing agency that has registered as such annually with local animal control to own ...

3.2-6525 (Effective October 1, 2008) Regulations to prevent spread of rabies.
A. The governing body of any locality may adopt such ordinances, regulations or other measures as may be deemed reasonably necessary to prevent the spread ...

3.2-6526 (Effective October 1, 2008) What dog or cat license shall consist of.
A. A dog or cat license shall consist of a license receipt and a metal tag. The tag shall be stamped or otherwise permanently marked ...

3.2-6527 (Effective October 1, 2008) How to obtain license.
Any person may obtain a dog license or cat license if required by an ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection B of § 3.2-6524, by making ...

3.2-6528 (Effective October 1, 2008) Amount of license tax.
The governing body of each county or city shall impose by ordinance a license tax on the ownership of dogs within its jurisdiction. The governing ...

3.2-6529 (Effective October 1, 2008) Veterinarians to provide treasurer with rabies certificate information...
A. Each veterinarian who vaccinates a dog against rabies or directs a veterinary technician in his employ to vaccinate a dog against rabies shall provide ...

3.2-6530 (Effective October 1, 2008) When license tax payable.
A. The license tax as prescribed in § 3.2-6528 is due not later than 30 days after a dog or cat has reached the age ...

3.2-6531 (Effective October 1, 2008) Displaying receipts; dogs to wear tags.
Dog and cat license receipts shall be carefully preserved by the licensees and exhibited promptly on request for inspection by any animal control officer or ...

3.2-6532 (Effective October 1, 2008) Duplicate license tags.
If a dog or cat license tag is lost, destroyed or stolen, the owner or custodian shall at once apply to the treasurer or his ...

3.2-6533 (Effective October 1, 2008) Effect of dog or cat not wearing a license tag as evidence.
Any dog or cat not wearing a collar bearing a valid license tag shall prima facie be deemed to be unlicensed, and in any proceedings ...

3.2-6534 (Effective October 1, 2008) Disposition of funds.
Unless otherwise provided by ordinance of the local governing body, the treasurer of each locality shall keep all moneys collected by him for dog and ...

3.2-6535 (Effective October 1, 2008) Supplemental funds.
Localities may supplement the dog and cat license tax fund with other funds as they consider appropriate. Localities shall supplement the dog and cat license ...

3.2-6536 (Effective October 1, 2008) Payment of license tax subsequent to summons.
Payment of the license tax subsequent to a summons to appear before a court for failure to pay the license tax within the time required ...

3.2-6537 (Effective October 1, 2008) Ordinances; penalties.
The governing body of any locality may, by ordinance, require a person operating a pet shop or operating as a dealer in companion animals to ...

3.2-6538 (Effective October 1, 2008) Governing body of any locality may prohibit dogs from running at large...
The governing body of any locality may prohibit the running at large of all or any category of dogs in all or any designated portion ...

3.2-6539 (Effective October 1, 2008) Ordinance requiring dogs to be kept on leash.
The governing body of any locality may adopt ordinances requiring that dogs within any such locality be kept on a leash or otherwise restrained and ...

3.2-6540 (Effective October 1, 2008) Control of dangerous or vicious dogs; penalties.
A. As used in this section: "Dangerous dog" means a canine or canine crossbreed that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a person or ...

3.2-6541 (Effective October 1, 2008) Authority to prohibit training of attack dogs.
Fairfax County may enact an ordinance that prohibits persons from training dogs on residential property to attack. As used in this section, "attack" means to ...

3.2-6542 (Effective October 1, 2008) Establishment of Dangerous Dog Registry.
The Commissioner shall establish the Commonwealth of Virginia Dangerous Dog Registry to be maintained by the Department, Office of Veterinary Services. Each owner of any ...

3.2-6543 (Effective October 1, 2008) Governing body of any locality may adopt certain ordinances.
A. The governing body of any locality of the Commonwealth may adopt, and make more stringent, ordinances that parallel §§ 3.2-6521 through 3.2-6539, 3.2-6546 through ...

3.2-6544 (Effective October 1, 2008) Regulation of keeping of animals and fowl.
A. Any locality may, for the preservation of public health, regulate by ordinance the keeping of animals or fowl, other than dogs and cats, within ...

3.2-6545 (Effective October 1, 2008) Regulation of sale of animals procured from animal shelters.
Any locality that maintains or supports, in whole or in part, a pound or animal shelter may by ordinance provide that no person who acquires ...

3.2-6546 (Effective October 1, 2008) County or city pounds; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliat...
A. For purposes of this section: "Animal" shall not include agricultural animals. "Rightful owner" means a person with a right of property in the animal. ...

3.2-6547 (Effective October 1, 2008) Acceptance of animals for research or experimentation; prohibition...
No person shall use or accept for the purpose of medical research or experimentation any animal bearing a tag, license, or tattooed identification, unless the ...

3.2-6548 (Effective October 1, 2008) Animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation wi...
A. An animal shelter may confine and dispose of animals in accordance with the provisions of subsections B through G of § 3.2-6546. B. Each ...

3.2-6549 (Effective October 1, 2008) Releasing agencies other than pounds or animal shelters; confinement an...
A. A releasing agency other than a pound or animal shelter: 1. May confine and dispose of companion animals in accordance with subsections B through ...

3.2-6550 (Effective October 1, 2008) Requirements for foster homes; penalty.
In addition to any other requirements of this chapter, foster homes shall be subject to the following: 1. No foster home shall be operated in ...

3.2-6551 (Effective October 1, 2008) Notification by individuals finding companion animals; penalty...
A. Any individual who finds a companion animal and: (i) provides care or safekeeping; or (ii) retains a companion animal in such a manner as ...

3.2-6552 (Effective October 1, 2008) Dogs killing, injuring or chasing livestock or poultry.
It shall be the duty of any animal control officer or other officer who may find a dog in the act of killing or injuring ...

3.2-6553 (Effective October 1, 2008) Compensation for livestock and poultry killed by dogs.
Any person who has any livestock or poultry killed or injured by any dog not his own shall be entitled to receive as compensation the ...

3.2-6554 (Effective October 1, 2008) Disposal of dead companion animals.
The owner of any companion animal shall forthwith cremate, bury, or sanitarily dispose of the animal upon its death. If, after notice, any owner fails ...

3.2-6555 (Effective from October 1, 2008, until January 1, 2009) Position of animal control officer created...
The governing body of each county or city shall, or each town may, employ an officer to be known as the animal control officer who ...

3.2-6556 (Effective October 1, 2008) Training of animal control officers.
A. Every locality employing animal control officers shall require that every animal control officer and deputy animal control officer completes the following training: 1. Within ...

3.2-6557 (Effective October 1, 2008) Animal control officers and humane investigators; limitations; records...
A. No animal control officer, humane investigator, humane society or custodian of any pound or animal shelter shall: (i) obtain the release or transfer of ...

3.2-6558 (Effective October 1, 2008) Humane investigators; qualifications; appointment; term.
A. A circuit court may reappoint any person as a humane investigator for any locality within its jurisdiction if the person: 1. Was appointed as ...

3.2-6559 (Effective October 1, 2008) Powers and duties of humane investigators.
A. Any humane investigator may, within the locality where he has been appointed, investigate violations of laws and ordinances regarding care and treatment of animals ...

3.2-6560 (Effective October 1, 2008) Expenses of humane investigators.
Neither the appointment of any humane investigator, nor the performance of any service or duty by him, shall require any locality or the Commonwealth to ...

3.2-6561 (Effective October 1, 2008) Revocation of appointment of humane investigators.
A. Upon a motion by the attorney for the Commonwealth, the circuit court that appointed a humane investigator may revoke his appointment if he is ...

3.2-6562 (Effective October 1, 2008) Capturing, confining, and euthanizing companion animals by animal contr...
It shall be the duty of the animal control officer or any other officer to capture and confine any companion animal of unknown ownership found ...

3.2-6563 (Effective October 1, 2008) When animals to be euthanized; procedure.
Any humane investigator may lawfully cause to be euthanized any animal in his charge or found abandoned or not properly cared for when, in the ...

3.2-6564 (Effective October 1, 2008) Complaint of suspected violation; investigation.
A. Upon receiving a complaint of a suspected violation of this chapter, any ordinance enacted pursuant to this chapter or any law for the protection ...

3.2-6565 (Effective October 1, 2008) Impoundment; expenses; lien; disposition of animal.
When an animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer or State Veterinarian's representative finds that an apparent violation of this chapter has rendered an animal ...

3.2-6566 (Effective October 1, 2008) Preventing cruelty to animals; interference; penalty.
Each animal control officer, humane investigator or State Veterinarian's representative shall interfere to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty upon any animal in ...

3.2-6567 (Effective October 1, 2008) Enforcement authority.
All law-enforcement officers in the Commonwealth and State Veterinarian's representatives shall enforce the provisions of this chapter to the same extent other laws in the ...

3.2-6568 (Effective October 1, 2008) Power of search for violations of statutes against cruelty to animals...
When a sworn complaint is made to any proper authority by any animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer or State Veterinarian's representative that the ...

3.2-6569 (Effective October 1, 2008) Seizure and impoundment of animals; notice and hearing; disposition of ...
A. Any humane investigator, law-enforcement officer or animal control officer may lawfully seize and impound any animal that has been abandoned, has been cruelly treated, ...

3.2-6570 (Effective October 1, 2008) Cruelty to animals; penalty.
A. Any person who: (i) overrides, overdrives, overloads, tortures, ill-treats, abandons, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical ...

3.2-6570.1 (Effective January 1, 2009) Sale of animals after cruelty or neglect conviction; penalty.
Any person who has been convicted of a violation of any law concerning abuse, neglect, or cruelty to animals that sells, offers for sale, or ...

3.2-6571 (Effective October 1, 2008) Animal fighting; penalty
A. No person shall knowingly: 1. Promote, prepare for, engage in, or be employed in, the fighting of animals for amusement, sport or gain; 2. ...

3.2-6572 Description unavailable
Reserved. ...

3.2-6573 (Effective October 1, 2008) Shooting birds for amusement, and renting premises for such purposes; p...
Live pigeons or other birds or fowl shall not be kept or used for the purpose of a target, or to be shot at either ...

3.2-6574 (Effective October 1, 2008) Sterilization of adopted dogs and cats; enforcement; civil penalty...
A. Every new owner of a dog or cat adopted from a releasing agency shall cause to be sterilized the dog or cat pursuant to ...

3.2-6575 (Effective October 1, 2008) Sterilization agreement.
Any agreement used by a releasing agency pursuant to subsection B of § 3.2-6574 shall contain: 1. The date of the agreement; 2. The names, ...

3.2-6576 (Effective October 1, 2008) Sterilization confirmation; civil penalty.
Each new owner who signs a sterilization agreement shall, within seven days of the sterilization, cause to be delivered or mailed to the releasing agency ...

3.2-6577 (Effective October 1, 2008) Notification concerning lost, stolen or dead dogs or cats; civil penalt...
If an adopted dog or cat is lost or stolen or dies before the animal is sterilized and before the date by which the dog ...

3.2-6578 (Effective October 1, 2008) Exemptions.
This article shall not apply to: 1. An owner reclaiming his dog or cat from a releasing agency; 2. A releasing agency within a locality ...

3.2-6579 (Effective October 1, 2008) Releasing agency; fees and deposits.
A local governing body or releasing agency may charge and collect from the new owner a fee or deposit before releasing a dog or cat ...

3.2-6580 (Effective October 1, 2008) Civil penalties.
Any animal control officer, humane investigator, releasing agency, the State Veterinarian or State Veterinarian's representative shall be entitled to bring a civil action for any ...

3.2-6581 (Effective October 1, 2008) Definitions.
As used in this article: "Adequate confinement" means that, while on the property of its owner and not under the direct supervision and control of ...

3.2-6582 (Effective October 1, 2008) Hybrid canine ordinance; penalty.
A. Any locality may, by ordinance, establish a permit system to ensure the adequate confinement and responsible ownership of hybrid canines. Such ordinance may include ...

3.2-6583 (Effective October 1, 2008) Hybrid canines killing, injuring or chasing livestock.
It shall be the duty of any animal control officer or other officer who may find a hybrid canine in the act of killing or ...

3.2-6584 (Effective October 1, 2008) Compensation for livestock and poultry killed by hybrid canines...
Any person who has any livestock or poultry killed or injured by any hybrid canine not his own shall be entitled to receive as compensation ...

3.2-6585 (Effective October 1, 2008) Dogs and cats deemed personal property; rights relating thereto...
All dogs and cats shall be deemed personal property and may be the subject of larceny and malicious or unlawful trespass. Owners, as defined in ...

3.2-6586 (Effective October 1, 2008) Dog injuring or killing other companion animals.
The owner of any companion animal that is injured or killed by a dog shall be entitled to recover damages consistent with the provisions of ...

3.2-6587 (Effective October 1, 2008) Unlawful acts; penalties.
A. The following shall be unlawful acts and are Class 4 misdemeanors: 1. For any person to make a false statement in order to secure ...

3.2-6588 (Effective October 1, 2008) Intentional interference with a guide or leader dog; penalty.
A. It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully impede or interfere with the duties performed by a dog if the person ...

3.2-6589 (Effective October 1, 2008) Selling garments containing dog or cat fur prohibited; penalty...
It is unlawful for any person to sell a garment containing the hide, fur, or pelt that he knows to be that of a domestic ...

3.2-6590 (Effective October 1, 2008) Jurisdiction of general district courts; right of appeal.
Unless otherwise provided, the provisions of this article may be enforced by any general district court in cities or counties wherein the offense is committed ...