{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6556.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6556.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6556.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6556.html"}],"law_id":74461,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74461,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6556","catch_line":"Training of animal control officers","history":"1998, c. 817, \u00a7 3.1-796.104:1; 2002, c. 418; 2004, c. 181; 2008, c. 860; 2016, cc. 60, 172.","full_text":"A\n\nEvery locality employing animal control officers shall require that every animal control officer and deputy animal control officer completes the following training:1\n\nA basic animal control course that has been approved by the State Veterinarian. The basic animal control course shall include training in recognizing suspected child abuse and neglect and information on how complaints may be filed and shall be approved and implemented. Any animal control officer hired on or after July 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2017, shall complete the basic animal control course within two years from the date of hire. Any animal control officer hired on or after July 1, 2017, shall complete the basic animal control course within one year from the date of hire or within two years if the officer is attending a law-enforcement academy; and2\n\nEvery three years, additional training approved by the State Veterinarian, 15 hours of which shall be training in animal control and protection.\n\t\t\t\tThe State Veterinarian shall develop criteria to be used in approving training courses and shall provide an opportunity for public comment on proposed criteria before the final criteria are adopted.\n\t\t\t\tSubdivision 1 shall not apply to animal control officers or deputy animal control officers hired before July 1, 1998. The State Veterinarian may grant exemptions from the requirements of subdivision 1 to animal control officers hired on or after July 1, 1998, based on the animal control officer’s previous training.\n\t\t\t\tThe State Veterinarian shall work to ensure the availability of these training courses through regional criminal justice training academies or other entities as approved by him. Based on information provided by authorized training entities, the State Veterinarian shall maintain the training records for all animal control officers for the purpose of documenting and ensuring that they are in compliance with this subsection.B\n\nUpon cause shown by a locality, the State Veterinarian may grant additional time during which the training required by subsection A may be completed by an animal control officer for the locality.C\n\nAny animal control officer that fails to complete the training required by subsection A shall be removed from office, unless the State Veterinarian has granted additional time as provided in subsection B.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":267623,"text":"Every locality employing animal control officers shall require that every animal control officer and deputy animal control officer completes the following training:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":267624,"text":"A basic animal control course that has been approved by the State Veterinarian. The basic animal control course shall include training in recognizing suspected child abuse and neglect and information on how complaints may be filed and shall be approved and implemented. Any animal control officer hired on or after July 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2017, shall complete the basic animal control course within two years from the date of hire. Any animal control officer hired on or after July 1, 2017, shall complete the basic animal control course within one year from the date of hire or within two years if the officer is attending a law-enforcement academy; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":267625,"text":"Every three years, additional training approved by the State Veterinarian, 15 hours of which shall be training in animal control and protection.\n\t\t\t\tThe State Veterinarian shall develop criteria to be used in approving training courses and shall provide an opportunity for public comment on proposed criteria before the final criteria are adopted.\n\t\t\t\tSubdivision 1 shall not apply to animal control officers or deputy animal control officers hired before July 1, 1998. The State Veterinarian may grant exemptions from the requirements of subdivision 1 to animal control officers hired on or after July 1, 1998, based on the animal control officer’s previous training.\n\t\t\t\tThe State Veterinarian shall work to ensure the availability of these training courses through regional criminal justice training academies or other entities as approved by him. Based on information provided by authorized training entities, the State Veterinarian shall maintain the training records for all animal control officers for the purpose of documenting and ensuring that they are in compliance with this subsection.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"B"},"3":{"id":267626,"text":"Upon cause shown by a locality, the State Veterinarian may grant additional time during which the training required by subsection A may be completed by an animal control officer for the locality.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":267627,"text":"Any animal control officer that fails to complete the training required by subsection A shall be removed from office, unless the State Veterinarian has granted additional time as provided in subsection B.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6556\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1998. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 817<\/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 4 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 2002, chapter 418<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 181<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>; in 2016, chapters 60<\/a> and 172<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":81226,"section_number":"3.2-6542.2","catch_line":"Dangerous dog fees; local fund","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6542.2\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":198927,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74461,"identifier":"3.2-6556","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6556","url":"\/3.2-6556\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6556\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6556","dublin_core":{"Title":"Training of animal control officers","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6556","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Every locality employing animal control officers<\/span> shall require that every animal control officer<\/span> and deputy animal control officer<\/span> completes the following training: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> A basic animal control course that has been approved by the State Veterinarian<\/span>. The basic animal control course shall include training in recognizing suspected child abuse and neglect and information on how complaints may be filed and shall be approved and implemented. Any animal control officer<\/span> hired on or after July 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2017, shall complete the basic animal control course within two years from the date of hire. Any animal control officer<\/span> hired on or after July 1, 2017, shall complete the basic animal control course within one year from the date of hire or within two years if the officer is attending a law<\/span>-enforcement academy; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Every three years, additional training approved by the State Veterinarian<\/span>, 15 hours of which shall be training in animal control and protection.\n\t\t\t\tThe State Veterinarian<\/span> shall develop criteria to be used in approving training courses and shall provide an opportunity for public comment on proposed criteria before the final criteria are adopted.\n\t\t\t\tSubdivision 1 shall not apply to animal control officers<\/span> or deputy animal control officers<\/span> hired before July 1, 1998. The State Veterinarian<\/span> may grant exemptions from the requirements of subdivision 1 to animal control officers<\/span> hired on or after July 1, 1998, based on the animal control officer<\/span>’s previous training.\n\t\t\t\tThe State Veterinarian<\/span> shall work to ensure the availability of these training courses through regional criminal justice training academies or other entities as approved by him. Based on information provided by authorized training entities, the State Veterinarian<\/span> shall maintain the training records for all animal control officers<\/span> for the purpose of documenting and ensuring that they are in compliance with this subsection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Upon cause shown by a locality, the State Veterinarian<\/span> may grant additional time during which the training required by subsection A may be completed by an animal control officer<\/span> for the locality. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any animal control officer<\/span> that fails to complete the training required by subsection A shall be removed from office, unless the State Veterinarian<\/span> has granted additional time as provided in subsection B. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTRAINING OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS (\u00a7 3.2-6556)\n\nA. Every locality employing animal control officers shall require that every\nanimal control officer and deputy animal control officer completes the following\ntraining:\n\n 1. A basic animal control course that has been approved by the State\n Veterinarian. The basic animal control course shall include training in\n recognizing suspected child abuse and neglect and information on how\n complaints may be filed and shall be approved and implemented. Any animal\n control officer hired on or after July 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2017, shall\n complete the basic animal control course within two years from the date of\n hire. Any animal control officer hired on or after July 1, 2017, shall\n complete the basic animal control course within one year from the date of hire\n or within two years if the officer is attending a law-enforcement academy; and\n\n 2. Every three years, additional training approved by the State Veterinarian,\n 15 hours of which shall be training in animal control and protection.\n \t\t\t\tThe State Veterinarian shall develop criteria to be used in approving\n training courses and shall provide an opportunity for public comment on\n proposed criteria before the final criteria are adopted.\n \t\t\t\tSubdivision 1 shall not apply to animal control officers or deputy animal\n control officers hired before July 1, 1998. The State Veterinarian may grant\n exemptions from the requirements of subdivision 1 to animal control officers\n hired on or after July 1, 1998, based on the animal control officer’s\n previous training.\n \t\t\t\tThe State Veterinarian shall work to ensure the availability of these\n training courses through regional criminal justice training academies or other\n entities as approved by him. Based on information provided by authorized\n training entities, the State Veterinarian shall maintain the training records\n for all animal control officers for the purpose of documenting and ensuring\n that they are in compliance with this subsection.\n\nB. Upon cause shown by a locality, the State Veterinarian may grant additional\ntime during which the training required by subsection A may be completed by an\nanimal control officer for the locality.\n\nC. Any animal control officer that fails to complete the training required by\nsubsection A shall be removed from office, unless the State Veterinarian has\ngranted additional time as provided in subsection B.\n\nHISTORY: 1998, c. 817, \u00a7 3.1-796.104:1; 2002, c. 418; 2004, c. 181; 2008, c.\n860; 2016, cc. 60, 172.","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}}