{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6568.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6568.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6568.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6568.html"}],"law_id":76161,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76161,"structure_id":13900,"section_number":"3.2-6568","catch_line":"Power of search for violations of statutes against cruelty to animals","history":"1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.82; 1986, c. 362; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.113; 1994, c. 168; 1998, c. 817; 2008, cc. 543, 707, 860; 2014, c. 354.","full_text":"When an affidavit is made under oath before a magistrate or court of competent jurisdiction by any animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer, or State Veterinarian’s representative that the complainant believes and has reasonable cause to believe that the laws in relation to cruelty to animals have been, are being, or are about to be violated in any particular building or place, such magistrate or judge, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such belief, shall issue a warrant authorizing any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or police officer to search the building or place. After issuing a warrant under this section, the magistrate or judge shall file the affidavit in the manner prescribed by \u00a7 19.2-54. After executing the warrant, the animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer, or State Veterinarian’s representative shall return the warrant to the clerk of the circuit court of the city or county wherein the search was made.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":273490,"text":"When an affidavit is made under oath before a magistrate or court of competent jurisdiction by any animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer, or State Veterinarian’s representative that the complainant believes and has reasonable cause to believe that the laws in relation to cruelty to animals have been, are being, or are about to be violated in any particular building or place, such magistrate or judge, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such belief, shall issue a warrant authorizing any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or police officer to search the building or place. After issuing a warrant under this section, the magistrate or judge shall file the affidavit in the manner prescribed by \u00a7 19.2-54. After executing the warrant, the animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer, or State Veterinarian’s representative shall return the warrant to the clerk of the circuit court of the city or county wherein the search was made.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13900,"edition_id":1,"name":"Search, Seizure, Impounding, and Enforcement","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13170,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","permalink":{"id":198967,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13900,"identifier":"8","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/8\/","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":62173,"structure_id":13900,"section_number":"3.2-6564","catch_line":"Complaint of suspected violation; investigation","url":"\/3.2-6564\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8\/3.2-6564","metadata":false},{"id":54939,"structure_id":13900,"section_number":"3.2-6565","catch_line":"Impoundment; expenses; lien; disposition of animal","url":"\/3.2-6565\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8\/3.2-6565","metadata":false},{"id":68802,"structure_id":13900,"section_number":"3.2-6566","catch_line":"Preventing cruelty to animals; interference; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6566\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8\/3.2-6566","metadata":false},{"id":79880,"structure_id":13900,"section_number":"3.2-6567","catch_line":"Enforcement authority","url":"\/3.2-6567\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8\/3.2-6567","metadata":false},{"id":76161,"structure_id":13900,"section_number":"3.2-6568","catch_line":"Power of search for violations of statutes against cruelty to animals","url":"\/3.2-6568\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8\/3.2-6568","metadata":false},{"id":55376,"structure_id":13900,"section_number":"3.2-6569","catch_line":"Seizure and impoundment of animals; notice and hearing; disposition of animal; disposition of proceeds upon sale","url":"\/3.2-6569\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8\/3.2-6569","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":79880,"structure_id":13900,"section_number":"3.2-6567","catch_line":"Enforcement authority","url":"\/3.2-6567\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8\/3.2-6567","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":55376,"structure_id":13900,"section_number":"3.2-6569","catch_line":"Seizure and impoundment of animals; notice and hearing; disposition of animal; disposition of proceeds upon sale","url":"\/3.2-6569\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8\/3.2-6569","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6568\/","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 6 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 1986, chapter 362; in 1987, chapter 488; in 1994, chapter 168<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 817<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 543<\/a>, 707<\/a>, and 860<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 354<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68045,"section_number":"18.2-361.01","catch_line":"Sexual abuse of animals; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-361.01\/"},{"id":56906,"section_number":"3.2-6502","catch_line":"State Veterinarian's power to inspect premises where animals are kept; investigations and search warrants","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6502\/"},{"id":62173,"section_number":"3.2-6564","catch_line":"Complaint of suspected violation; investigation","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6564\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":78769,"section_number":"19.2-54","catch_line":"Affidavit preliminary to issuance of search warrant; general search warrant prohibited; effect of failure to file affidavit","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-54\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198985,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76161,"identifier":"3.2-6568","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8\/3.2-6568","url":"\/3.2-6568\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6568\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/8\/3.2-6568","dublin_core":{"Title":"Power of search for violations of statutes against cruelty to animals","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6568","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

When an affidavit<\/span> is made under oath<\/span> before a magistrate<\/span> or court<\/span> of competent jurisdiction<\/span> by any animal control officer<\/span>, humane investigator<\/span>, law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>, or State Veterinarian<\/span>’s representative that the complainant believes and has reasonable cause to believe that the laws<\/span> in relation to cruelty to animals<\/span> have been, are being, or are about to be violated in any particular building or place, such magistrate<\/span> or judge<\/span>, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such belief, shall issue<\/span> a warrant authorizing any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or police officer to search the building or place. After issuing a warrant under this section, the magistrate<\/span> or judge<\/span> shall file the affidavit<\/span> in the manner prescribed by \u00a7 19.2-54<\/a>. After executing the warrant, the animal control officer<\/span>, humane investigator<\/span>, law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>, or State Veterinarian<\/span>’s representative shall return the warrant to the clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the city or county wherein the search was made.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWER OF SEARCH FOR VIOLATIONS OF STATUTES AGAINST CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (\u00a7\n3.2-6568)\n\nWhen an affidavit is made under oath before a magistrate or court of competent\njurisdiction by any animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement\nofficer, or State Veterinarian’s representative that the complainant\nbelieves and has reasonable cause to believe that the laws in relation to\ncruelty to animals have been, are being, or are about to be violated in any\nparticular building or place, such magistrate or judge, if satisfied that there\nis reasonable cause for such belief, shall issue a warrant authorizing any\nsheriff, deputy sheriff, or police officer to search the building or place.\nAfter issuing a warrant under this section, the magistrate or judge shall file\nthe affidavit in the manner prescribed by \u00a7 19.2-54. After executing the\nwarrant, the animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement\nofficer, or State Veterinarian’s representative shall return the warrant\nto the clerk of the circuit court of the city or county wherein the search was\nmade.\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.82; 1986, c. 362; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.113;\n1994, c. 168; 1998, c. 817; 2008, cc. 543, 707, 860; 2014, c. 354.","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}}