§ 3.2-6571. 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. Attend an exhibition of the fighting of animals; 3. Authorize or allow any person to undertake any act described in this section on any premises under his charge or control; […]
§ 3.2-6572. Reserved
Reserved.
§ 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 […]
§ 3.2-6562. Capturing, confining, and euthanizing companion animals by animal control officers; approval of drugs used
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 running at large on which the license fee has not been paid. Following the expiration of the holding period prescribed in § 3.2-6546, the animal control officer or other officer […]
§ 3.2-6562.1. Rabies exposure; local authority and responsibility plan
The local health director, in conjunction with the governing body of the locality, shall adopt a plan to control and respond to the risk of rabies exposure to persons and companion animals. Such plan shall set forth a procedure that promptly ensures the capture, confinement, isolation, or euthanasia of any animal that has exposed, or […]
§ 3.2-6562.2. Rabies exposure reports
Each local department of health shall make available to its local animal control officer and shall report to the State Department of Health any exposure report involving a dog bite to a human that is maintained with such local department of health through a state-mandated retention period. 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 464.