§ 3.2-6570. Cruelty to animals; penalty
A. Any person who (i) overrides, overdrives, overloads, ill-treats, or abandons any animal, whether belonging to himself or another; (ii) tortures any animal, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation on any animal, or cruelly or unnecessarily beats, maims, mutilates, or kills any animal, whether belonging to […]
§ 3.2-6570.1. 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 trades any companion animal is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, a person may dispose of animals under the provisions of a court order. 2008, c. 852, § 3.1-796.122:1.
§ 3.2-6564. 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 of domestic animals, any animal control officer, law-enforcement officer, or State Veterinarian’s representative may, for the purpose of investigating the allegations of the complaint, enter upon, during business hours, any […]
§ 3.2-6565. 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 in such a condition as to constitute a direct and immediate threat to its life, safety or health that the owner or custodian has failed to remedy, such animal control […]
§ 3.2-6566. 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 his presence. Any person who shall interfere with or obstruct or resist any humane investigator or State Veterinarian’s representative in the discharge of his rights, powers, and duties as authorized […]
§ 3.2-6567. 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 Commonwealth are enforced. 1984, c. 492, § 29-213.81; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.112; 1991, c. 121; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860.
§ 3.2-6568. Power of search for violations of statutes against cruelty to animals
When an affidavit is made under oath before a magistrate or court of competent jurisdiction by any animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer, or State Veterinarian’s representative that the complainant believes and has reasonable cause to believe that the laws in relation to cruelty to animals have been, are being, or are about to […]
§ 3.2-6558. 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 a humane investigator prior to July 1, 2003; and 2. Has never been convicted of animal cruelty or neglect, any felony, or any crime of moral turpitude according to a […]
§ 3.2-6559. 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 and disposal of dead animals. B. Each humane investigator shall carry during the performance of his powers and duties under this chapter an identification card issued by the locality where […]
§ 3.2-6560. 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 pay any cost or expense incurred by or on behalf of a humane investigator. Any locality may reimburse any humane investigator appointed for that locality for reasonable expenses incurred as […]