§ 3.2-6544. 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 a certain distance of residences or other buildings or wells, springs, streams, creeks, or brooks, and provide that all or certain of such animals shall not be kept within certain […]
§ 3.2-6545. Regulation of sale of animals procured from animal shelters
Any locality that maintains or supports, in whole or in part, a public or private animal shelter may by ordinance provide that no person who acquires an animal from such shelter shall be able to sell the animal within a period of six months from the time the animal is acquired from the shelter. Violation […]
§ 3.2-6541.1. Authority to prohibit ownership of particular breed
No locality shall prohibit the ownership of a particular breed of dog. 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 464.
§ 3.2-6542. Establishment of Dangerous Dog Registry
A. The Commissioner shall establish the Virginia Dangerous Dog Registry to be maintained by the Department. The State Veterinarian shall maintain information provided and posted by animal control officers or other such officials statewide on a website. All information collected for the Dangerous Dog Registry shall be available to animal control officers via the website. […]
§ 3.2-6542.1. Renewal of dangerous dog registration
A. By January 31 of each year, until the animal is deceased, the owner of an animal found to be a dangerous dog pursuant to § 3.2-6540 shall update and renew the dangerous dog registration certificate obtained pursuant to § 3.2-6540.01 for a fee of $85 in the same manner as the initial certificate was […]
§ 3.2-6540. Dangerous dogs; investigation, summons, and hearing
A. As used in this section, “dog” includes a hybrid canine as defined in § 3.2-6581. B. Any law-enforcement officer or animal control officer who (i) has reason to believe that an animal is a dangerous dog and (ii) is located in the jurisdiction where the animal resides or in the jurisdiction where the act […]
§ 3.2-6540.01. Obligations of officer and owner following dangerous dog finding
A. After an animal is found to be a dangerous dog pursuant to § 3.2-6540, the local animal control officer or treasurer shall provide the owner with a uniformly designed tag that identifies the animal as a dangerous dog. The owner shall affix the tag to the animal’s collar and ensure that the animal wears […]
§ 3.2-6540.02. Notice of dangerous dog finding; penalty
A. Any releasing agency transferring or releasing for adoption within the Commonwealth an animal found to be a dangerous dog pursuant to § 3.2-6540 shall notify in writing the receiving party of the requirements of this section and §§ 3.2-6540, 3.2-6540.01, 3.2-6540.03, and 3.2-6540.04. B. Any releasing agency transferring or releasing for adoption outside the […]
§ 3.2-6540.03. Violation of law by owner of dangerous dog; penalty
A. If an owner of an animal previously found to be a dangerous dog pursuant to § 3.2-6540 is charged with a violation of § 3.2-6540, 3.2-6540.01, 3.2-6540.02, or 3.2-6540.04, the animal control officer shall confine the dangerous dog until such time as evidence shall be heard and a verdict rendered pursuant to § 3.2-6540. […]
§ 3.2-6540.04. Subsequent attack or bite by dangerous dog; penalty
A. Any owner of an animal found to be a dangerous dog pursuant to § 3.2-6540, when such finding arose out of a separate and distinct incident, is guilty of a: 1. Class 2 misdemeanor if such dog attacks and injures or kills a cat or dog that is a companion animal belonging to another […]