§ 3.2-6551. Notification by individuals finding companion animals; penalty
A. Any individual who finds a companion animal and (i) provides care or safekeeping or (ii) retains the companion animal in such a manner as to control its activities shall within 48 hours: 1. Make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner of the companion animal if the owner can be ascertained from any tag, […]
§ 3.2-6552. Dogs killing, injuring, or chasing livestock or poultry
A. 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 livestock or poultry to seize or kill such dog forthwith whether such dog bears a tag or not. Any person finding a dog committing any of the depredations mentioned […]
§ 3.2-6546. County or city public animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties; injunctive relief
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. B. The governing body of each county or city shall maintain or cause to be maintained a public animal shelter and shall require dogs running at large without the tag […]
§ 3.2-6547. 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 individual who owns such animal consents thereto in writing. 1990, c. 904, § 3.1-796.96:1; 2008, c. 860.
§ 3.2-6548. Private animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties; injunctive relief
A. A private animal shelter may confine and dispose of animals in accordance with the provisions of subsections B through G of § 3.2-6546. B. Each private animal shelter shall obtain a signed statement from each of its directors, operators, staff, and animal caregivers specifying that the individual has never been convicted of animal cruelty, […]
§ 3.2-6549. Releasing agencies other than public or private animal shelters; confinement and disposition of companion animals; recordkeeping; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties
A. A releasing agency other than a public or private animal shelter: 1. May confine and dispose of companion animals in accordance with subsections B through G of § 3.2-6546 if incorporated and not operated for profit; 2. Shall keep accurate records of each companion animal received for two years from the date of disposition […]
§ 3.2-6550. 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 violation of any local zoning ordinance; and 2. No private residential dwelling and its surrounding grounds that serves as a foster home shall keep more than 50 companion animals on […]
§ 3.2-6542.2. Dangerous dog fees; local fund
All fees collected by a locality pursuant to § 3.2-6540, 3.2-6540.01, 3.2-6540.02, 3.2-6540.03, 3.2-6540.04, 3.2-6542, or 3.2-6542.1, less the costs incurred by the animal control officer in producing and distributing any certificate or tag required by such section and any fees due to the Department for maintenance of the Virginia Dangerous Dog Registry established by […]
§ 3.2-6543. 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 3.2-6555, 3.2-6562, 3.2-6569, 3.2-6570, 3.2-6574 through 3.2-6580, and 3.2-6585 through 3.2-6590. Any town may choose to adopt by reference any ordinance of the surrounding county adopted under this section to […]
§ 3.2-6543.1. Authority to enact parallel dangerous dog ordinance
The governing body of any locality may enact an ordinance regulating dangerous dogs that is parallel to § 3.2-6540, 3.2-6540.01, 3.2-6540.02, 3.2-6540.03, or 3.2-6540.04. No locality shall impose a felony penalty for violation of such ordinance. 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 464.