{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6562.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6562.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6562.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6562.html"}],"law_id":86859,"edition_id":1,"section_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","history":"1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.88; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.119; 1991, c. 348; 1997, c. 159; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860.","full_text":"It shall be the duty of the animal control officer or any other officer to capture and confine any companion animal of unknown ownership found running at large on which the license fee has not been paid. Following the expiration of the holding period prescribed in \u00a7 3.2-6546, the animal control officer or other officer may deliver such companion animal to any person in his jurisdiction who will pay the required license fee on such companion animal. Prior to disposition by euthanasia or otherwise, all the provisions of \u00a7 3.2-6546 shall have been complied with. For all companion animals not otherwise disposed of as provided for in this chapter, it shall be the duty of the animal control officer or any other officer to euthanize such companion animals. Any person, animal control officer, or other officer euthanizing a companion animal under this chapter shall cremate, bury, or sanitarily dispose of the same.\n\t\tAll drugs and drug administering equipment used by animal control officers or other officers to capture companion animals pursuant to this chapter shall have been approved by the State Veterinarian.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":310979,"text":"It shall be the duty of the animal control officer or any other officer to capture and confine any companion animal of unknown ownership found running at large on which the license fee has not been paid. Following the expiration of the holding period prescribed in \u00a7 3.2-6546, the animal control officer or other officer may deliver such companion animal to any person in his jurisdiction who will pay the required license fee on such companion animal. Prior to disposition by euthanasia or otherwise, all the provisions of \u00a7 3.2-6546 shall have been complied with. For all companion animals not otherwise disposed of as provided for in this chapter, it shall be the duty of the animal control officer or any other officer to euthanize such companion animals. Any person, animal control officer, or other officer euthanizing a companion animal under this chapter shall cremate, bury, or sanitarily dispose of the same.\n\t\tAll drugs and drug administering equipment used by animal control officers or other officers to capture companion animals pursuant to this chapter shall have been approved by the State Veterinarian.","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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6562\/","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 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 1991, chapter 348; in 1997, chapter 159<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 817<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":76550,"section_number":"3.2-6540.03","catch_line":"Violation of law by owner of dangerous dog; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6540.03\/"},{"id":82525,"section_number":"3.2-6540.1","catch_line":"Vicious dogs; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6540.1\/"},{"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":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\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198951,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86859,"identifier":"3.2-6562","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6562","url":"\/3.2-6562\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6562\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/7\/3.2-6562","dublin_core":{"Title":"Capturing, confining, and euthanizing companion animals by animal control officers; approval of drugs used","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6562","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

It shall be the duty of the animal control officer<\/span> or any other officer<\/span> to capture and confine any companion animal<\/span> of unknown ownership found running at large on which the license fee has not been paid. Following the expiration of the holding period prescribed in \u00a7 3.2-6546<\/a>, the animal control officer<\/span> or other officer<\/span> may deliver such companion animal<\/span> to any person in his jurisdiction<\/span> who will pay the required license fee on such companion animal<\/span>. Prior to disposition<\/span> by euthanasia<\/span> or otherwise, all the provisions of \u00a7 3.2-6546<\/a> shall have been complied with. For all companion animals<\/span> not otherwise disposed of as provided for in this chapter, it shall be the duty of the animal control officer<\/span> or any other officer<\/span> to euthanize such companion animals<\/span>. Any person, animal control officer<\/span>, or other officer<\/span> euthanizing a companion animal<\/span> under this chapter shall cremate, bury, or sanitarily dispose of the same.\n\t\tAll drugs and drug administering equipment used by animal control officers<\/span> or other officers<\/span> to capture companion animals<\/span> pursuant to this chapter shall have been approved by the State Veterinarian<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCAPTURING, CONFINING, AND EUTHANIZING COMPANION ANIMALS BY ANIMAL CONTROL\nOFFICERS; APPROVAL OF DRUGS USED (\u00a7 3.2-6562)\n\nIt shall be the duty of the animal control officer or any other officer to\ncapture and confine any companion animal of unknown ownership found running at\nlarge on which the license fee has not been paid. Following the expiration of\nthe holding period prescribed in \u00a7 3.2-6546, the animal control officer or\nother officer may deliver such companion animal to any person in his\njurisdiction who will pay the required license fee on such companion animal.\nPrior to disposition by euthanasia or otherwise, all the provisions of \u00a7\n3.2-6546 shall have been complied with. For all companion animals not otherwise\ndisposed of as provided for in this chapter, it shall be the duty of the animal\ncontrol officer or any other officer to euthanize such companion animals. Any\nperson, animal control officer, or other officer euthanizing a companion animal\nunder this chapter shall cremate, bury, or sanitarily dispose of the same.\n\t\tAll drugs and drug administering equipment used by animal control officers or\nother officers to capture companion animals pursuant to this chapter shall have\nbeen approved by the State Veterinarian.\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.88; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.119; 1991, c. 348;\n1997, c. 159; 1998, c. 817; 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}}