{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6551.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6551.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6551.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6551.html"}],"law_id":67608,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67608,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6551","catch_line":"Notification by individuals finding companion animals; penalty","history":"2003, c. 1007, \u00a7 3.1-796.96:7; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 148.","full_text":"A\n\nAny 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\n\nMake a reasonable attempt to notify the owner of the companion animal if the owner can be ascertained from any tag, license, collar, tattoo, or other form of identification or markings or if the owner of the animal is otherwise known to the individual; and2\n\nNotify the public animal shelter that serves the locality where the companion animal was found and provide to the shelter contact information, including at least a name and a contact telephone number, a description of the animal, including information from any tag, license, collar, tattoo, or other identification or markings, and the location where the companion animal was found.B\n\nIf an individual 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, the individual shall comply with the provisions of § 3.2-6503.C\n\nAny individual who violates this section may be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $50 per companion animal.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":244938,"text":"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:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":244939,"text":"Make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner of the companion animal if the owner can be ascertained from any tag, license, collar, tattoo, or other form of identification or markings or if the owner of the animal is otherwise known to the individual; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":244940,"text":"Notify the public animal shelter that serves the locality where the companion animal was found and provide to the shelter contact information, including at least a name and a contact telephone number, a description of the animal, including information from any tag, license, collar, tattoo, or other identification or markings, and the location where the companion animal was found.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"B"},"3":{"id":244941,"text":"If an individual 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, the individual shall comply with the provisions of § 3.2-6503.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":244942,"text":"Any individual who violates this section may be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $50 per companion animal.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13171,"edition_id":1,"name":"Authority of Local Governing Bodies","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13170,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","permalink":{"id":198807,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13171,"identifier":"6","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13170,"edition_id":1,"name":"Comprehensive Animal Care","identifier":"65","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13169,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","permalink":{"id":198459,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13170,"identifier":"65","token":"3.2\/V\/65","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13169,"edition_id":1,"name":"Domestic Animals","identifier":"V","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12793,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","permalink":{"id":198133,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13169,"identifier":"V","token":"3.2\/V","url":"\/3.2\/V\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12793,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","identifier":"3.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":193939,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12793,"identifier":"3.2","token":"3.2","url":"\/3.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81839,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6537","catch_line":"Ordinances; 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local fund","url":"\/3.2-6542.2\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6542.2","metadata":false},{"id":78689,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6543","catch_line":"Governing body of any locality may adopt certain ordinances","url":"\/3.2-6543\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6543","metadata":false},{"id":66579,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6543.1","catch_line":"Authority to enact parallel dangerous dog ordinance","url":"\/3.2-6543.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6543.1","metadata":false},{"id":64002,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6544","catch_line":"Regulation of keeping of animals and fowl","url":"\/3.2-6544\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6544","metadata":false},{"id":65760,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6545","catch_line":"Regulation of sale of animals procured from animal shelters","url":"\/3.2-6545\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6545","metadata":false},{"id":84667,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6546","catch_line":"County or city public animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties; injunctive relief","url":"\/3.2-6546\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6546","metadata":false},{"id":73172,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6547","catch_line":"Acceptance of animals for research or experimentation; prohibition","url":"\/3.2-6547\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6547","metadata":false},{"id":83344,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6548","catch_line":"Private animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties; injunctive relief","url":"\/3.2-6548\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6548","metadata":false},{"id":86437,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6549","catch_line":"Releasing agencies other than public or private animal shelters; confinement and disposition of companion animals; recordkeeping; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties","url":"\/3.2-6549\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6549","metadata":false},{"id":85287,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6550","catch_line":"Requirements for foster homes; 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penalty","url":"\/3.2-6550\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6550","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":76046,"structure_id":13171,"section_number":"3.2-6552","catch_line":"Dogs killing, injuring, or chasing livestock or poultry","url":"\/3.2-6552\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6552","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6551\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2003. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 1007<\/a> 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. It has been modified 2 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 2008, chapter 860<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 148<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":84667,"section_number":"3.2-6546","catch_line":"County or city public animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties; injunctive relief","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6546\/"},{"id":59361,"section_number":"3.2-6585.1","catch_line":"Duty to identify; scanning for microchip","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6585.1\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":198905,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67608,"identifier":"3.2-6551","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6551","url":"\/3.2-6551\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6551\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/6\/3.2-6551","dublin_core":{"Title":"Notification by individuals finding companion animals; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6551","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any individual who finds a companion animal<\/span> and (i) provides care<\/span> or safekeeping or (ii) retains the companion animal<\/span> in such a manner as to control its activities shall within 48 hours: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner<\/span> of the companion animal<\/span> if the owner<\/span> can be ascertained from any tag, license, collar<\/span>, tattoo, or other form of identification or markings or if the owner<\/span> of the animal is otherwise known to the individual; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Notify the public animal shelter<\/span> that serves the locality where the companion animal<\/span> was found and provide to the shelter contact information, including at least a name and a contact telephone number, a description of the animal, including information from any tag, license, collar<\/span>, tattoo, or other identification or markings, and the location where the companion animal<\/span> was found. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If an individual finds a companion animal<\/span> and (i) provides care<\/span> or safekeeping or (ii) retains the companion animal<\/span> in such a manner as to control its activities, the individual shall comply with the provisions of § 3.2-6503<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any individual who violates this section may be subject to a civil penalty<\/span> not to exceed $50 per companion animal<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nNOTIFICATION BY INDIVIDUALS FINDING COMPANION ANIMALS; PENALTY (\u00a7 3.2-6551)\n\nA. Any individual who finds a companion animal and (i) provides care or\nsafekeeping or (ii) retains the companion animal in such a manner as to control\nits activities shall within 48 hours:\n\n 1. Make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner of the companion animal if\n the owner can be ascertained from any tag, license, collar, tattoo, or other\n form of identification or markings or if the owner of the animal is otherwise\n known to the individual; and\n\n 2. Notify the public animal shelter that serves the locality where the\n companion animal was found and provide to the shelter contact information,\n including at least a name and a contact telephone number, a description of the\n animal, including information from any tag, license, collar, tattoo, or other\n identification or markings, and the location where the companion animal was\n found.\n\nB. If an individual finds a companion animal and (i) provides care or\nsafekeeping or (ii) retains the companion animal in such a manner as to control\nits activities, the individual shall comply with the provisions of §\n3.2-6503.\n\nC. Any individual who violates this section may be subject to a civil penalty\nnot to exceed $50 per companion animal.\n\nHISTORY: 2003, c. 1007, \u00a7 3.1-796.96:7; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 148.","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}}