{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6559.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6559.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6559.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6559.html"}],"law_id":71766,"edition_id":1,"section_id":71766,"structure_id":15216,"section_number":"3.2-6559","catch_line":"Powers and duties of humane investigators","history":"1998, c. 817, \u00a7 3.1-796.106:2; 2003, c. 858; 2008, c. 860.","full_text":"A\n\nAny humane investigator may, within the locality where he has been appointed, investigate violations of laws and ordinances regarding care and treatment of animals and disposal of dead animals.B\n\nEach humane investigator shall carry during the performance of his powers and duties under this chapter an identification card issued by the locality where the humane investigator is appointed. The identification card shall include the following information regarding the humane investigator:1\n\nHis full name;2\n\nThe locality where he has been appointed;3\n\nThe name of the circuit court that appointed him;4\n\nThe signature of the circuit court judge that appointed him;5\n\nA photograph of his face; and6\n\nThe date of expiration of his appointment.C\n\nEach humane investigator shall record on a form approved by the administrative entity that oversees animal control every investigation he performs, maintain such record for five years, and make such record available upon request to any law-enforcement officer, animal control officer or State Veterinarian’s representative. Each humane investigator shall file quarterly a report summarizing such records with the administrative agency that oversees animal control on an approved form. A humane investigator’s appointment may be revoked as provided in § 3.2-6561 if he fails to file such report.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":258551,"text":"Any humane investigator may, within the locality where he has been appointed, investigate violations of laws and ordinances regarding care and treatment of animals and disposal of dead animals.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":258552,"text":"Each humane investigator shall carry during the performance of his powers and duties under this chapter an identification card issued by the locality where the humane investigator is appointed. The identification card shall include the following information regarding the humane investigator:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":258553,"text":"His full name;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":258554,"text":"The locality where he has been appointed;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":258555,"text":"The name of the circuit court that appointed him;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":258556,"text":"The signature of the circuit court judge that appointed him;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":258557,"text":"A photograph of his face; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"7":{"id":258558,"text":"The date of expiration of his appointment.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"C"},"8":{"id":258559,"text":"Each humane investigator shall record on a form approved by the administrative entity that oversees animal control every investigation he performs, maintain such record for five years, and make such record available upon request to any law-enforcement officer, animal control officer or State Veterinarian’s representative. Each humane investigator shall file quarterly a report summarizing such records with the administrative agency that oversees animal control on an approved form. A humane investigator’s appointment may be revoked as provided in § 3.2-6561 if he fails to file such report.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B6"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6559\/","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 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 2003, chapter 858<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":66794,"section_number":"3.2-6506","catch_line":"Exceptions regarding veterinarians","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6506\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":85740,"section_number":"3.2-6561","catch_line":"Revocation of appointment of humane investigators","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6561\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198939,"object_type":"law","relational_id":71766,"identifier":"3.2-6559","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6559","url":"\/3.2-6559\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6559\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6559","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers and duties of humane investigators","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6559","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any humane investigator<\/span> may, within the locality where he has been appointed, investigate violations of laws<\/span> and ordinances<\/span> regarding care<\/span> and treatment<\/span> of animals<\/span> and disposal of dead animals<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Each humane investigator<\/span> shall carry during the performance of his powers and duties under this chapter an identification card issued by the locality where the humane investigator<\/span> is appointed. The identification card shall include the following information regarding the humane investigator<\/span>: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> His full name; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The locality where he has been appointed; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The name of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> that appointed him; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The signature of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> judge<\/span> that appointed him; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> A photograph of his face; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> The date of expiration of his appointment. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Each humane investigator<\/span> shall record on a form approved by the administrative entity that oversees animal control every investigation he performs, maintain such record for five years, and make such record available upon request to any law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>, animal control officer<\/span> or State Veterinarian<\/span>’s representative. Each humane investigator<\/span> shall file quarterly a report summarizing such records with the administrative agency that oversees animal control on an approved form. A humane investigator<\/span>’s appointment may be revoked as provided in § 3.2-6561<\/a> if he fails to file such report. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS AND DUTIES OF HUMANE INVESTIGATORS (\u00a7 3.2-6559)\n\nA. Any humane investigator may, within the locality where he has been appointed,\ninvestigate violations of laws and ordinances regarding care and treatment of\nanimals and disposal of dead animals.\n\nB. Each humane investigator shall carry during the performance of his powers and\nduties under this chapter an identification card issued by the locality where\nthe humane investigator is appointed. The identification card shall include the\nfollowing information regarding the humane investigator:\n\n 1. His full name;\n\n 2. The locality where he has been appointed;\n\n 3. The name of the circuit court that appointed him;\n\n 4. The signature of the circuit court judge that appointed him;\n\n 5. A photograph of his face; and\n\n 6. The date of expiration of his appointment.\n\nC. Each humane investigator shall record on a form approved by the\nadministrative entity that oversees animal control every investigation he\nperforms, maintain such record for five years, and make such record available\nupon request to any law-enforcement officer, animal control officer or State\nVeterinarian’s representative. Each humane investigator shall file\nquarterly a report summarizing such records with the administrative agency that\noversees animal control on an approved form. A humane investigator’s\nappointment may be revoked as provided in § 3.2-6561 if he fails to file\nsuch report.\n\nHISTORY: 1998, c. 817, \u00a7 3.1-796.106:2; 2003, c. 858; 2008, c. 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}}