{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-403.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-403.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-403.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-403.1.html"}],"law_id":64312,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64312,"structure_id":15043,"section_number":"18.2-403.1","catch_line":"Offenses involving animals \u2014 Class 1 misdemeanors","history":"1984, c. 492; 1992, c. 177; 1993, c. 174; 1996, c. 249; 1999, c. 620; 2018, c. 416; 2020, c. 1183.","full_text":"The following unlawful acts and offenses against animals shall constitute and be punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor:\n\n1\n\nViolation of subsection A of § 3.2-6570 pertaining to cruelty to animals, except as provided for second or subsequent violations in that section.2\n\nViolation of § 3.2-6508 pertaining to transporting animals under certain conditions.3\n\nMaking a false claim or receiving money on a false claim under § 3.2-6553 pertaining to compensation for livestock and poultry killed by dogs.4\n\nViolation of § 3.2-6518 pertaining to boarding establishments and groomers as defined in § 3.2-6500.5\n\nViolation of § 3.2-6504 pertaining to the abandonment of animals.6\n\nViolation of subdivision B 3 of § 3.2-6587 pertaining to an animal confinement agreement or plan set forth in § 3.2-6562.1.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":234065,"text":"The following unlawful acts and offenses against animals shall constitute and be punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":234066,"text":"Violation of subsection A of § 3.2-6570 pertaining to cruelty to animals, except as provided for second or subsequent violations in that section.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":234067,"text":"Violation of § 3.2-6508 pertaining to transporting animals under certain conditions.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":234068,"text":"Making a false claim or receiving money on a false claim under § 3.2-6553 pertaining to compensation for livestock and poultry killed by dogs.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":234069,"text":"Violation of § 3.2-6518 pertaining to boarding establishments and groomers as defined in § 3.2-6500.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":234070,"text":"Violation of § 3.2-6504 pertaining to the abandonment of animals.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":234071,"text":"Violation of subdivision B 3 of § 3.2-6587 pertaining to an animal confinement agreement or plan set forth in § 3.2-6562.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15043,"edition_id":1,"name":"Offenses Involving Animals","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:43","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:43","permalink":{"id":167977,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15043,"identifier":"8","token":"18.2\/8\/8","url":"\/18.2\/8\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14022,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Morals and 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misdemeanors","url":"\/18.2-403.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/8\/18.2-403.1","metadata":false},{"id":84606,"structure_id":15043,"section_number":"18.2-403.2","catch_line":"Offenses involving animals \u2014 Class 3 misdemeanors","url":"\/18.2-403.2\/","token":"18.2\/8\/8\/18.2-403.2","metadata":false},{"id":62257,"structure_id":15043,"section_number":"18.2-403.3","catch_line":"Offenses involving animals \u2014 Class 4 misdemeanors","url":"\/18.2-403.3\/","token":"18.2\/8\/8\/18.2-403.3","metadata":false},{"id":57357,"structure_id":15043,"section_number":"18.2-403.4","catch_line":"Unauthorized release of animals; penalty","url":"\/18.2-403.4\/","token":"18.2\/8\/8\/18.2-403.4","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":84606,"structure_id":15043,"section_number":"18.2-403.2","catch_line":"Offenses involving animals \u2014 Class 3 misdemeanors","url":"\/18.2-403.2\/","token":"18.2\/8\/8\/18.2-403.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-403.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1984. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 492 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1984 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1992, chapter 177; in 1993, chapter 174; in 1996, chapter 249<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 620<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 416<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 1183<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":57920,"section_number":"3.2-6504","catch_line":"Abandonment of animal; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6504\/"},{"id":54865,"section_number":"3.2-6508","catch_line":"Transporting animals; requirements; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6508\/"},{"id":81910,"section_number":"3.2-6518","catch_line":"Boarding establishments and groomers; veterinary care requirements; consumer notification; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6518\/"},{"id":74206,"section_number":"3.2-6553","catch_line":"Compensation for livestock and poultry killed by dogs","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6553\/"},{"id":57951,"section_number":"3.2-6562.1","catch_line":"Rabies exposure; local authority and responsibility plan","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6562.1\/"},{"id":72218,"section_number":"3.2-6570","catch_line":"Cruelty to animals; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6570\/"},{"id":83607,"section_number":"3.2-6587","catch_line":"Unlawful acts; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6587\/"}],"permalink":{"id":167979,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64312,"identifier":"18.2-403.1","token":"18.2\/8\/8\/18.2-403.1","url":"\/18.2-403.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-403.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/8\/18.2-403.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Offenses involving animals \u2014 Class 1 misdemeanors","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-403.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The following unlawful acts and offenses<\/span> against animals shall constitute and be punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Violation of subsection A of § 3.2-6570<\/a> pertaining to cruelty to animals, except as provided for second or subsequent violations in that section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Violation of § 3.2-6508<\/a> pertaining to transporting animals under certain conditions. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Making a false claim or receiving money on a false claim under § 3.2-6553<\/a> pertaining to compensation for livestock and poultry killed by dogs. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Violation of § 3.2-6518<\/a> pertaining to boarding establishments and groomers as defined in § 3.2-6500<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Violation of § 3.2-6504<\/a> pertaining to the abandonment of animals. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Violation of subdivision B 3 of § 3.2-6587<\/a> pertaining to an animal confinement agreement or plan set forth in § 3.2-6562.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOFFENSES INVOLVING ANIMALS \u2014 CLASS 1 MISDEMEANORS (\u00a7 18.2-403.1)\n\nThe following unlawful acts and offenses against animals shall constitute and be\npunished as a Class 1 misdemeanor:\n\n1. Violation of subsection A of § 3.2-6570 pertaining to cruelty to\nanimals, except as provided for second or subsequent violations in that section.\n\n2. Violation of § 3.2-6508 pertaining to transporting animals under certain\nconditions.\n\n3. Making a false claim or receiving money on a false claim under §\n3.2-6553 pertaining to compensation for livestock and poultry killed by dogs.\n\n4. Violation of § 3.2-6518 pertaining to boarding establishments and\ngroomers as defined in § 3.2-6500.\n\n5. Violation of § 3.2-6504 pertaining to the abandonment of animals.\n\n6. Violation of subdivision B 3 of § 3.2-6587 pertaining to an animal\nconfinement agreement or plan set forth in § 3.2-6562.1.\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 492; 1992, c. 177; 1993, c. 174; 1996, c. 249; 1999, c. 620;\n2018, c. 416; 2020, c. 1183.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}