{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6555.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6555.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6555.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6555.html"}],"law_id":65545,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65545,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6555","catch_line":"Position of animal control officer created","history":"1984, cc. 254, 492, \u00a7 29-213.73; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.104; 1998, c. 817; 2003, c. 804; 2004, c. 181; 2008, cc. 852, 860.","full_text":"The governing body of each county or city shall, or each town may, employ an officer to be known as the animal control officer who shall have the power to enforce this chapter, all ordinances enacted pursuant to this chapter and all laws for the protection of domestic animals. The governing body may also employ one or more deputy animal control officers to assist the animal control officer in the performance of his duties. Animal control officers and deputy animal control officers shall have knowledge of the animal control and protection laws of the Commonwealth that they are required to enforce. When in uniform or upon displaying a badge or other credentials of office, animal control officers and deputy animal control officers shall have the power to issue a summons or obtain a felony warrant as necessary, providing the execution of such warrant shall be carried out by any law-enforcement officer as defined in \u00a7 9.1-101, to any person found in the act of violating any such law or any ordinance enacted pursuant to such law of the locality where the animal control officer or deputy animal control officer is employed. Commercial dog breeding locations shall be subject to inspection by animal control at least twice annually and additionally upon receipt of a complaint or their own motion to ensure compliance with state animal care laws and regulations. The animal control officer and the deputy animal control officers shall be paid as the governing body of each locality shall prescribe.\n\t\tAny locality where an animal control officer or deputy animal control officers have been employed may contract with one or more additional localities for enforcement of animal protection and control laws by the animal control officers or deputy animal control officers. Any such contract may provide that the locality employing the animal control officer or deputy animal control officers shall be reimbursed a portion of the salary and expenses of the animal control officer or deputy animal control officers.\n\t\tEvery locality employing an animal control officer shall submit to the State Veterinarian, on a form provided by him, information concerning the employment and training status of the animal control officers employed by the locality. The State Veterinarian may require that the locality notify him of any change in such information.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":238277,"text":"The governing body of each county or city shall, or each town may, employ an officer to be known as the animal control officer who shall have the power to enforce this chapter, all ordinances enacted pursuant to this chapter and all laws for the protection of domestic animals. The governing body may also employ one or more deputy animal control officers to assist the animal control officer in the performance of his duties. Animal control officers and deputy animal control officers shall have knowledge of the animal control and protection laws of the Commonwealth that they are required to enforce. When in uniform or upon displaying a badge or other credentials of office, animal control officers and deputy animal control officers shall have the power to issue a summons or obtain a felony warrant as necessary, providing the execution of such warrant shall be carried out by any law-enforcement officer as defined in \u00a7 9.1-101, to any person found in the act of violating any such law or any ordinance enacted pursuant to such law of the locality where the animal control officer or deputy animal control officer is employed. Commercial dog breeding locations shall be subject to inspection by animal control at least twice annually and additionally upon receipt of a complaint or their own motion to ensure compliance with state animal care laws and regulations. The animal control officer and the deputy animal control officers shall be paid as the governing body of each locality shall prescribe.\n\t\tAny locality where an animal control officer or deputy animal control officers have been employed may contract with one or more additional localities for enforcement of animal protection and control laws by the animal control officers or deputy animal control officers. Any such contract may provide that the locality employing the animal control officer or deputy animal control officers shall be reimbursed a portion of the salary and expenses of the animal control officer or deputy animal control officers.\n\t\tEvery locality employing an animal control officer shall submit to the State Veterinarian, on a form provided by him, information concerning the employment and training status of the animal control officers employed by the locality. The State Veterinarian may require that the locality notify him of any change in such information.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15216,"edition_id":1,"name":"Animal Control Officers and Humane Investigators","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13170,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:07","permalink":{"id":198921,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15216,"identifier":"7","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/7\/","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":65545,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6555","catch_line":"Position of animal control officer created","url":"\/3.2-6555\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6555","metadata":false},{"id":74461,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6556","catch_line":"Training of animal control officers","url":"\/3.2-6556\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6556","metadata":false},{"id":58132,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6557","catch_line":"Animal control officers and humane investigators; limitations; records; penalties","url":"\/3.2-6557\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6557","metadata":false},{"id":68988,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6558","catch_line":"Humane investigators; qualifications; appointment; term","url":"\/3.2-6558\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6558","metadata":false},{"id":71766,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6559","catch_line":"Powers and duties of humane investigators","url":"\/3.2-6559\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6559","metadata":false},{"id":75029,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6560","catch_line":"Expenses of humane investigators","url":"\/3.2-6560\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6560","metadata":false},{"id":85740,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6561","catch_line":"Revocation of appointment of humane investigators","url":"\/3.2-6561\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6561","metadata":false},{"id":86859,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6562","catch_line":"Capturing, confining, and euthanizing companion animals by animal control officers; approval of drugs used","url":"\/3.2-6562\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6562","metadata":false},{"id":57951,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6562.1","catch_line":"Rabies exposure; local authority and responsibility plan","url":"\/3.2-6562.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6562.1","metadata":false},{"id":62687,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6562.2","catch_line":"Rabies exposure reports","url":"\/3.2-6562.2\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6562.2","metadata":false},{"id":74859,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6563","catch_line":"When animals to be euthanized; procedure","url":"\/3.2-6563\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6563","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":74461,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6556","catch_line":"Training of animal control officers","url":"\/3.2-6556\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6556","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6555\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1984. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 254 and 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 5 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 1987, chapter 488; in 1998, chapter 817<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 804<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 181<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 852<\/a> and 860<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":56127,"section_number":"18.2-460","catch_line":"Obstructing justice; resisting arrest; fleeing from a law-enforcement officer; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-460\/"},{"id":86401,"section_number":"3.2-6500","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6500\/"},{"id":78689,"section_number":"3.2-6543","catch_line":"Governing body of any locality may adopt certain ordinances","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6543\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":73488,"section_number":"9.1-101","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-101\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198923,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65545,"identifier":"3.2-6555","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6555","url":"\/3.2-6555\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6555\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6555","dublin_core":{"Title":"Position of animal control officer created","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6555","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The governing body of each county or city shall, or each town may, employ an officer to be known as the animal control officer<\/span> who shall have the power to enforce this chapter, all ordinances<\/span> enacted pursuant to this chapter and all laws<\/span> for the protection of domestic animals<\/span>. The governing body may also employ one or more deputy animal control officers<\/span> to assist the animal control officer<\/span> in the performance of his duties. Animal control officers<\/span> and deputy animal control officers<\/span> shall have knowledge of the animal control and protection laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth that they are required to enforce. When in uniform or upon displaying a badge or other credentials of office, animal control officers<\/span> and deputy animal control officers<\/span> shall have the power to issue<\/span> a summons<\/span> or obtain a felony<\/span> warrant as necessary, providing the execution of such warrant shall be carried out by any law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> as defined in \u00a7 9.1-101<\/a>, to any person found in the act of violating any such law<\/span> or any ordinance<\/span> enacted pursuant to such law<\/span> of the locality where the animal control officer<\/span> or deputy animal control officer<\/span> is employed. Commercial dog breeding locations shall be subject to inspection by animal control at least twice annually and additionally upon receipt of a complaint or their own motion<\/span> to ensure compliance with state animal care<\/span> laws<\/span> and regulations. The animal control officer<\/span> and the deputy animal control officers<\/span> shall be paid as the governing body of each locality shall prescribe.\n\t\tAny locality where an animal control officer<\/span> or deputy animal control officers<\/span> have been employed may contract<\/span> with one or more additional localities for enforcement of animal protection and control laws<\/span> by the animal control officers<\/span> or deputy animal control officers<\/span>. Any such contract<\/span> may provide that the locality employing the animal control officer<\/span> or deputy animal control officers<\/span> shall be reimbursed a portion of the salary and expenses of the animal control officer<\/span> or deputy animal control officers<\/span>.\n\t\tEvery locality employing an animal control officer<\/span> shall submit to the State Veterinarian<\/span>, on a form provided by him, information concerning the employment and training status of the animal control officers<\/span> employed by the locality. The State Veterinarian<\/span> may require that the locality notify him of any change in such information.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOSITION OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER CREATED (\u00a7 3.2-6555)\n\nThe governing body of each county or city shall, or each town may, employ an\nofficer to be known as the animal control officer who shall have the power to\nenforce this chapter, all ordinances enacted pursuant to this chapter and all\nlaws for the protection of domestic animals. The governing body may also employ\none or more deputy animal control officers to assist the animal control officer\nin the performance of his duties. Animal control officers and deputy animal\ncontrol officers shall have knowledge of the animal control and protection laws\nof the Commonwealth that they are required to enforce. When in uniform or upon\ndisplaying a badge or other credentials of office, animal control officers and\ndeputy animal control officers shall have the power to issue a summons or obtain\na felony warrant as necessary, providing the execution of such warrant shall be\ncarried out by any law-enforcement officer as defined in \u00a7 9.1-101, to any\nperson found in the act of violating any such law or any ordinance enacted\npursuant to such law of the locality where the animal control officer or deputy\nanimal control officer is employed. Commercial dog breeding locations shall be\nsubject to inspection by animal control at least twice annually and additionally\nupon receipt of a complaint or their own motion to ensure compliance with state\nanimal care laws and regulations. The animal control officer and the deputy\nanimal control officers shall be paid as the governing body of each locality\nshall prescribe.\n\t\tAny locality where an animal control officer or deputy animal control officers\nhave been employed may contract with one or more additional localities for\nenforcement of animal protection and control laws by the animal control officers\nor deputy animal control officers. Any such contract may provide that the\nlocality employing the animal control officer or deputy animal control officers\nshall be reimbursed a portion of the salary and expenses of the animal control\nofficer or deputy animal control officers.\n\t\tEvery locality employing an animal control officer shall submit to the State\nVeterinarian, on a form provided by him, information concerning the employment\nand training status of the animal control officers employed by the locality. The\nState Veterinarian may require that the locality notify him of any change in\nsuch information.\n\nHISTORY: 1984, cc. 254, 492, \u00a7 29-213.73; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.104; 1998,\nc. 817; 2003, c. 804; 2004, c. 181; 2008, cc. 852, 860.","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}}