{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6570.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6570.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6570.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6570.html"}],"law_id":72218,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72218,"structure_id":13704,"section_number":"3.2-6570","catch_line":"Cruelty to animals; penalty","history":"1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.91; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.122; 1992, c. 177; 1998, c. 817; 1999, cc. 209, 620, 645; 2002, cc. 351, 500, 583, 613; 2003, cc. 787, 788; 2004, c. 217; 2007, c. 743; 2008, c. 860; 2013, cc. 58, 732; 2015, c. 491; 2019, cc. 536, 537; 2024, cc. 179, 489.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person who (i) overrides, overdrives, overloads, ill-treats, or abandons any animal, whether belonging to himself or another; (ii) tortures any animal, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation on any animal, or cruelly or unnecessarily beats, maims, mutilates, or kills any animal, whether belonging to himself or another; (iii) deprives any animal of necessary food, drink, shelter, or emergency veterinary treatment; (iv) sores any equine for any purpose or administers drugs or medications to alter or mask such soring for the purpose of sale, show, or exhibition of any kind, unless such administration of drugs or medications is within the context of a veterinary client-patient relationship and solely for therapeutic purposes; (v) ropes, lassoes, or otherwise obstructs or interferes with one or more legs of an equine in order to intentionally cause it to trip or fall for the purpose of engagement in a rodeo, contest, exhibition, entertainment, or sport unless such actions are in the practice of accepted animal husbandry or for the purpose of allowing veterinary care; (vi) willfully sets on foot, instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal; (vii) carries or causes to be carried by any vehicle, vessel or otherwise any animal in a cruel, brutal, or inhumane manner, so as to produce torture or unnecessary suffering; or (viii) causes any of the above things, or being the owner of such animal permits such acts to be done by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\t\t\tIn addition to the penalties provided in this subsection, the court may, in its discretion, require any person convicted of a violation of this subsection to attend an anger management or other appropriate treatment program or obtain psychiatric or psychological counseling. The court may impose the costs of such a program or counseling upon the person convicted.B\n\nAny person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly and unnecessarily beats, maims, mutilates or kills any animal whether belonging to himself or another; (ii) sores any equine for any purpose or administers drugs or medications to alter or mask such soring for the purpose of sale, show, or exhibit of any kind, unless such administration of drugs or medications is under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian and solely for therapeutic purposes; (iii) ropes, lassoes, or otherwise obstructs or interferes with one or more legs of an equine in order to intentionally cause it to trip or fall for the purpose of engagement in a rodeo, contest, exhibition, entertainment, or sport unless such actions are in the practice of accepted animal husbandry or for the purpose of allowing veterinary care; (iv) maliciously deprives any companion animal of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment; (v) instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal set forth in clauses (i) through (iv); or (vi) causes any of the actions described in clauses (i) through (v), or being the owner of such animal permits such acts to be done by another; and has been within five years convicted of a violation of this subsection or subsection A, is guilty of a Class 6 felony if the current violation or any previous violation of this subsection or subsection A resulted in the death of an animal or the euthanasia of an animal based on the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such euthanasia was necessary due to the condition of the animal, and such condition was a direct result of a violation of this subsection or subsection A.C\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the dehorning of cattle conducted in a reasonable and customary manner.D\n\nThis section shall not prohibit authorized wildlife management activities or hunting, fishing or trapping as regulated under other titles of the Code of Virginia, including Title 29.1, or to farming activities as provided under this title or regulations adopted hereunder.E\n\nIt is unlawful for any person to kill a domestic dog or cat for the purpose of obtaining the hide, fur or pelt of the dog or cat. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this subsection is a Class 6 felony.F\n\nAny person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly and unnecessarily beats, maims, or mutilates any dog or cat that is a companion animal whether belonging to him or another and (ii) as a direct result causes serious bodily injury to such dog or cat that is a companion animal, the death of such dog or cat that is a companion animal, or the euthanasia of such animal on the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such euthanasia was necessary due to the condition of the animal is guilty of a Class 6 felony. If a dog or cat is attacked on its owner’s property by a dog so as to cause injury or death, the owner of the injured dog or cat may use all reasonable and necessary force against the dog at the time of the attack to protect his dog or cat. Such owner may be presumed to have taken necessary and appropriate action to defend his dog or cat and shall therefore be presumed not to have violated this subsection. The provisions of this subsection shall not overrule § 3.2-6540, 3.2-6540.1, or 3.2-6552.\n\t\t\tFor the purposes of this subsection, “serious bodily injury” means bodily injury that involves substantial risk of death, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.G\n\nAny person convicted of a violation of this section that is punishable as a felony may be prohibited by the court from possession or ownership of companion or equine animals for life, and any person convicted of a violation of this section that is punishable as a misdemeanor may be prohibited by the court from possession or ownership of such animals for a period of up to five years. In addition, a violation of any prohibition or restriction imposed by the sentencing court pursuant to this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and all animals under the court’s order may be seized and forfeited. The court may order that any animal possessed or owned by such person may be disposed of by a local governing body pursuant to subsection D of § 3.2-6546 or delivered to another person with a right of property in the animal.H\n\nAny person who has his rights to possession or ownership of companion or equine animals prohibited pursuant to a felony conviction in accordance with subsection G may petition the court where such conviction occurred for a restoration of his rights after five years from the date of conviction.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":260168,"text":"Any person who (i) overrides, overdrives, overloads, ill-treats, or abandons any animal, whether belonging to himself or another; (ii) tortures any animal, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation on any animal, or cruelly or unnecessarily beats, maims, mutilates, or kills any animal, whether belonging to himself or another; (iii) deprives any animal of necessary food, drink, shelter, or emergency veterinary treatment; (iv) sores any equine for any purpose or administers drugs or medications to alter or mask such soring for the purpose of sale, show, or exhibition of any kind, unless such administration of drugs or medications is within the context of a veterinary client-patient relationship and solely for therapeutic purposes; (v) ropes, lassoes, or otherwise obstructs or interferes with one or more legs of an equine in order to intentionally cause it to trip or fall for the purpose of engagement in a rodeo, contest, exhibition, entertainment, or sport unless such actions are in the practice of accepted animal husbandry or for the purpose of allowing veterinary care; (vi) willfully sets on foot, instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal; (vii) carries or causes to be carried by any vehicle, vessel or otherwise any animal in a cruel, brutal, or inhumane manner, so as to produce torture or unnecessary suffering; or (viii) causes any of the above things, or being the owner of such animal permits such acts to be done by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\t\t\tIn addition to the penalties provided in this subsection, the court may, in its discretion, require any person convicted of a violation of this subsection to attend an anger management or other appropriate treatment program or obtain psychiatric or psychological counseling. The court may impose the costs of such a program or counseling upon the person convicted.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":260169,"text":"Any person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly and unnecessarily beats, maims, mutilates or kills any animal whether belonging to himself or another; (ii) sores any equine for any purpose or administers drugs or medications to alter or mask such soring for the purpose of sale, show, or exhibit of any kind, unless such administration of drugs or medications is under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian and solely for therapeutic purposes; (iii) ropes, lassoes, or otherwise obstructs or interferes with one or more legs of an equine in order to intentionally cause it to trip or fall for the purpose of engagement in a rodeo, contest, exhibition, entertainment, or sport unless such actions are in the practice of accepted animal husbandry or for the purpose of allowing veterinary care; (iv) maliciously deprives any companion animal of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment; (v) instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal set forth in clauses (i) through (iv); or (vi) causes any of the actions described in clauses (i) through (v), or being the owner of such animal permits such acts to be done by another; and has been within five years convicted of a violation of this subsection or subsection A, is guilty of a Class 6 felony if the current violation or any previous violation of this subsection or subsection A resulted in the death of an animal or the euthanasia of an animal based on the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such euthanasia was necessary due to the condition of the animal, and such condition was a direct result of a violation of this subsection or subsection A.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":260170,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the dehorning of cattle conducted in a reasonable and customary manner.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":260171,"text":"This section shall not prohibit authorized wildlife management activities or hunting, fishing or trapping as regulated under other titles of the Code of Virginia, including Title 29.1, or to farming activities as provided under this title or regulations adopted hereunder.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":260172,"text":"It is unlawful for any person to kill a domestic dog or cat for the purpose of obtaining the hide, fur or pelt of the dog or cat. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this subsection is a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":260173,"text":"Any person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly and unnecessarily beats, maims, or mutilates any dog or cat that is a companion animal whether belonging to him or another and (ii) as a direct result causes serious bodily injury to such dog or cat that is a companion animal, the death of such dog or cat that is a companion animal, or the euthanasia of such animal on the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such euthanasia was necessary due to the condition of the animal is guilty of a Class 6 felony. If a dog or cat is attacked on its owner’s property by a dog so as to cause injury or death, the owner of the injured dog or cat may use all reasonable and necessary force against the dog at the time of the attack to protect his dog or cat. Such owner may be presumed to have taken necessary and appropriate action to defend his dog or cat and shall therefore be presumed not to have violated this subsection. The provisions of this subsection shall not overrule § 3.2-6540, 3.2-6540.1, or 3.2-6552.\n\t\t\tFor the purposes of this subsection, “serious bodily injury” means bodily injury that involves substantial risk of death, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":260174,"text":"Any person convicted of a violation of this section that is punishable as a felony may be prohibited by the court from possession or ownership of companion or equine animals for life, and any person convicted of a violation of this section that is punishable as a misdemeanor may be prohibited by the court from possession or ownership of such animals for a period of up to five years. In addition, a violation of any prohibition or restriction imposed by the sentencing court pursuant to this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and all animals under the court’s order may be seized and forfeited. The court may order that any animal possessed or owned by such person may be disposed of by a local governing body pursuant to subsection D of § 3.2-6546 or delivered to another person with a right of property in the animal.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"7":{"id":260175,"text":"Any person who has his rights to possession or ownership of companion or equine animals prohibited pursuant to a felony conviction in accordance with subsection G may petition the court where such conviction occurred for a restoration of his rights after five years from the date of conviction.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13704,"edition_id":1,"name":"Cruelty to Animals","identifier":"9","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13170,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:36","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:36","permalink":{"id":198993,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13704,"identifier":"9","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/9","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/9\/","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":72218,"structure_id":13704,"section_number":"3.2-6570","catch_line":"Cruelty to animals; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6570\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/9\/3.2-6570","metadata":false},{"id":64865,"structure_id":13704,"section_number":"3.2-6570.1","catch_line":"Sale of animals after cruelty or neglect conviction; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6570.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/9\/3.2-6570.1","metadata":false},{"id":54687,"structure_id":13704,"section_number":"3.2-6571","catch_line":"Animal fighting; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6571\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/9\/3.2-6571","metadata":false},{"id":78349,"structure_id":13704,"section_number":"3.2-6572","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/3.2-6572\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/9\/3.2-6572","metadata":false},{"id":73177,"structure_id":13704,"section_number":"3.2-6573","catch_line":"Shooting birds for amusement, and renting premises for such purposes; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6573\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/9\/3.2-6573","metadata":false},{"id":74705,"structure_id":13704,"section_number":"3.2-6573.1","catch_line":"Local animal cruelty registries","url":"\/3.2-6573.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/9\/3.2-6573.1","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":64865,"structure_id":13704,"section_number":"3.2-6570.1","catch_line":"Sale of animals after cruelty or neglect conviction; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6570.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/9\/3.2-6570.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6570\/","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 13 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 1992, chapter 177; in 1998, chapter 817<\/a>; in 1999, chapters 209<\/a>, 620<\/a>, and 645<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 351<\/a>, 500<\/a>, 583<\/a>, and 613<\/a>; in 2003, chapters 787<\/a> and 788<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 217<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 743<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>; in 2013, chapters 58<\/a> and 732<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 491<\/a>; in 2019, chapters 536<\/a> and 537<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 179<\/a> and 489<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":81659,"section_number":"15.2-1223","catch_line":"Regulation of horse riding schools","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1223\/"},{"id":64312,"section_number":"18.2-403.1","catch_line":"Offenses involving animals \u2014 Class 1 misdemeanors","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-403.1\/"},{"id":84606,"section_number":"18.2-403.2","catch_line":"Offenses involving animals \u2014 Class 3 misdemeanors","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-403.2\/"},{"id":77143,"section_number":"19.2-215.1","catch_line":"Functions of a multi-jurisdiction grand jury","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-215.1\/"},{"id":82582,"section_number":"19.2-390","catch_line":"Reports to be made by local law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, clerks of court, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Corrections officials to State Police; material submitted by other agencies","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-390\/"},{"id":74660,"section_number":"19.2-392.12","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.12\/"},{"id":71434,"section_number":"19.2-8","catch_line":"Limitation of prosecutions","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-8\/"},{"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\/"},{"id":55376,"section_number":"3.2-6569","catch_line":"Seizure and impoundment of animals; notice and hearing; disposition of animal; disposition of proceeds upon sale","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6569\/"},{"id":74705,"section_number":"3.2-6573.1","catch_line":"Local animal cruelty registries","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6573.1\/"},{"id":63586,"section_number":"53.1-202.3","catch_line":"Rate at which sentence credits may be earned; prerequisites","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-202.3\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":86290,"section_number":"3.2-6540","catch_line":"Dangerous dogs; investigation, summons, and hearing","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6540\/"},{"id":82525,"section_number":"3.2-6540.1","catch_line":"Vicious dogs; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6540.1\/"},{"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\/"},{"id":76046,"section_number":"3.2-6552","catch_line":"Dogs killing, injuring, or chasing livestock or poultry","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6552\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198995,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72218,"identifier":"3.2-6570","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/9\/3.2-6570","url":"\/3.2-6570\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6570\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/9\/3.2-6570","dublin_core":{"Title":"Cruelty to animals; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6570","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person who (i) overrides, overdrives, overloads, ill-treats, or abandons<\/span> any animal<\/span>, whether belonging to himself or another; (ii) tortures any animal<\/span>, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation on any animal<\/span>, or cruelly or unnecessarily beats, maims, mutilates, or kills any animal<\/span>, whether belonging to himself or another; (iii) deprives any animal<\/span> of necessary food, drink, shelter, or emergency veterinary treatment<\/span>; (iv) sores any equine for any purpose or administers drugs or medications to alter or mask such soring for the purpose of sale, show, or exhibition of any kind, unless such administration of drugs or medications is within the context of a veterinary client-patient relationship and solely for therapeutic purposes; (v) ropes, lassoes, or otherwise obstructs or interferes with one or more legs of an equine in order<\/span> to intentionally cause it to trip or fall for the purpose of engagement in a rodeo, contest, exhibition, entertainment, or sport unless such actions are in the practice of accepted animal<\/span> husbandry or for the purpose of allowing veterinary care<\/span>; (vi) willfully sets on foot, instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal<\/span>; (vii) carries or causes to be carried by any vehicle, vessel or otherwise any animal<\/span> in a cruel, brutal, or inhumane manner, so as to produce torture or unnecessary suffering; or (viii) causes any of the above things, or being the owner<\/span> of such animal<\/span> permits such acts to be done by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>.\n\t\t\tIn addition to the penalties provided in this subsection, the court<\/span> may, in its discretion, require any person convicted of a violation of this subsection to attend an anger management or other appropriate treatment program or obtain psychiatric or psychological counseling. The court<\/span> may impose the costs of such a program or counseling upon the person convicted. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly and unnecessarily beats, maims, mutilates or kills any animal whether belonging to himself or another; (ii) sores any equine for any purpose or administers drugs or medications to alter or mask such soring for the purpose of sale, show, or exhibit of any kind, unless such administration of drugs or medications is under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian and solely for therapeutic purposes; (iii) ropes, lassoes, or otherwise obstructs or interferes with one or more legs of an equine in order<\/span> to intentionally cause it to trip or fall for the purpose of engagement in a rodeo, contest, exhibition, entertainment, or sport unless such actions are in the practice of accepted animal husbandry or for the purpose of allowing veterinary care<\/span>; (iv) maliciously deprives any companion animal<\/span> of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment<\/span>; (v) instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal set forth in clauses (i) through (iv); or (vi) causes any of the actions described in clauses (i) through (v), or being the owner<\/span> of such animal permits such acts to be done by another; and has been within five years convicted of a violation of this subsection or subsection A, is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span> if the current violation or any previous violation of this subsection or subsection A resulted in the death of an animal or the euthanasia<\/span> of an animal based on the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such euthanasia<\/span> was necessary due to the condition of the animal, and such condition was a direct result of a violation of this subsection or subsection A. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the dehorning of cattle conducted in a reasonable and customary manner. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> This section shall not prohibit authorized wildlife management activities or hunting, fishing or trapping as regulated under other titles of the Code of Virginia, including Title 29.1, or to farming activities as provided under this title or regulations adopted hereunder. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> It is unlawful for any person to kill a domestic dog or cat for the purpose of obtaining the hide, fur or pelt of the dog or cat. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. A second or subsequent violation of this subsection is a Class 6 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Any person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly and unnecessarily beats, maims, or mutilates any dog or cat that is a companion animal<\/span> whether belonging to him or another and (ii) as a direct result causes serious bodily injury<\/span> to such dog or cat that is a companion animal<\/span>, the death of such dog or cat that is a companion animal<\/span>, or the euthanasia<\/span> of such animal on the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such euthanasia<\/span> was necessary due to the condition of the animal is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. If a dog or cat is attacked on its owner<\/span>’s property by a dog so as to cause injury or death, the owner<\/span> of the injured dog or cat may use all reasonable and necessary force against the dog at the time of the attack to protect his dog or cat. Such owner<\/span> may be presumed to have taken necessary and appropriate action to defend his dog or cat and shall therefore be presumed not to have violated this subsection. The provisions of this subsection shall not overrule<\/span> § 3.2-6540<\/a>, 3.2-6540.1<\/a>, or 3.2-6552<\/a>.\n\t\t\tFor the purposes of this subsection, “serious bodily injury<\/span>” means bodily injury that involves substantial risk of death, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> Any person convicted of a violation of this section that is punishable as a felony<\/span> may be prohibited by the court<\/span> from possession<\/span> or ownership of companion or equine animals<\/span> for life, and any person convicted of a violation of this section that is punishable as a misdemeanor<\/span> may be prohibited by the court<\/span> from possession<\/span> or ownership of such animals<\/span> for a period of up to five years. In addition, a violation of any prohibition or restriction imposed by the sentencing court<\/span> pursuant to this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>, and all animals<\/span> under the court<\/span>’s order<\/span> may be seized and forfeited. The court<\/span> may order<\/span> that any animal possessed or owned by such person may be disposed of by a local governing body pursuant to subsection D of § 3.2-6546<\/a> or delivered to another person with a right of property in the animal. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> Any person who has his rights to possession<\/span> or ownership of companion or equine animals<\/span> prohibited pursuant to a felony<\/span> conviction<\/span> in accordance with subsection G may petition<\/span> the court<\/span> where such conviction<\/span> occurred for a restoration of his rights after five years from the date of conviction<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCRUELTY TO ANIMALS; PENALTY (\u00a7 3.2-6570)\n\nA. Any person who (i) overrides, overdrives, overloads, ill-treats, or abandons\nany animal, whether belonging to himself or another; (ii) tortures any animal,\nwillfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide\nscientific or medical experimentation on any animal, or cruelly or unnecessarily\nbeats, maims, mutilates, or kills any animal, whether belonging to himself or\nanother; (iii) deprives any animal of necessary food, drink, shelter, or\nemergency veterinary treatment; (iv) sores any equine for any purpose or\nadministers drugs or medications to alter or mask such soring for the purpose of\nsale, show, or exhibition of any kind, unless such administration of drugs or\nmedications is within the context of a veterinary client-patient relationship\nand solely for therapeutic purposes; (v) ropes, lassoes, or otherwise obstructs\nor interferes with one or more legs of an equine in order to intentionally cause\nit to trip or fall for the purpose of engagement in a rodeo, contest,\nexhibition, entertainment, or sport unless such actions are in the practice of\naccepted animal husbandry or for the purpose of allowing veterinary care; (vi)\nwillfully sets on foot, instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act\nof cruelty to any animal; (vii) carries or causes to be carried by any vehicle,\nvessel or otherwise any animal in a cruel, brutal, or inhumane manner, so as to\nproduce torture or unnecessary suffering; or (viii) causes any of the above\nthings, or being the owner of such animal permits such acts to be done by\nanother is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\t\t\tIn addition to the penalties provided in this subsection, the court may, in\nits discretion, require any person convicted of a violation of this subsection\nto attend an anger management or other appropriate treatment program or obtain\npsychiatric or psychological counseling. The court may impose the costs of such\na program or counseling upon the person convicted.\n\nB. Any person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not\nconnected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly and\nunnecessarily beats, maims, mutilates or kills any animal whether belonging to\nhimself or another; (ii) sores any equine for any purpose or administers drugs\nor medications to alter or mask such soring for the purpose of sale, show, or\nexhibit of any kind, unless such administration of drugs or medications is under\nthe supervision of a licensed veterinarian and solely for therapeutic purposes;\n(iii) ropes, lassoes, or otherwise obstructs or interferes with one or more legs\nof an equine in order to intentionally cause it to trip or fall for the purpose\nof engagement in a rodeo, contest, exhibition, entertainment, or sport unless\nsuch actions are in the practice of accepted animal husbandry or for the purpose\nof allowing veterinary care; (iv) maliciously deprives any companion animal of\nnecessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment; (v)\ninstigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal\nset forth in clauses (i) through (iv); or (vi) causes any of the actions\ndescribed in clauses (i) through (v), or being the owner of such animal permits\nsuch acts to be done by another; and has been within five years convicted of a\nviolation of this subsection or subsection A, is guilty of a Class 6 felony if\nthe current violation or any previous violation of this subsection or subsection\nA resulted in the death of an animal or the euthanasia of an animal based on the\nrecommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such\neuthanasia was necessary due to the condition of the animal, and such condition\nwas a direct result of a violation of this subsection or subsection A.\n\nC. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the dehorning of\ncattle conducted in a reasonable and customary manner.\n\nD. This section shall not prohibit authorized wildlife management activities or\nhunting, fishing or trapping as regulated under other titles of the Code of\nVirginia, including Title 29.1, or to farming activities as provided under this\ntitle or regulations adopted hereunder.\n\nE. It is unlawful for any person to kill a domestic dog or cat for the purpose\nof obtaining the hide, fur or pelt of the dog or cat. A violation of this\nsubsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this\nsubsection is a Class 6 felony.\n\nF. Any person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not\nconnected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly and\nunnecessarily beats, maims, or mutilates any dog or cat that is a companion\nanimal whether belonging to him or another and (ii) as a direct result causes\nserious bodily injury to such dog or cat that is a companion animal, the death\nof such dog or cat that is a companion animal, or the euthanasia of such animal\non the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such\neuthanasia was necessary due to the condition of the animal is guilty of a Class\n6 felony. If a dog or cat is attacked on its owner’s property by a dog so\nas to cause injury or death, the owner of the injured dog or cat may use all\nreasonable and necessary force against the dog at the time of the attack to\nprotect his dog or cat. Such owner may be presumed to have taken necessary and\nappropriate action to defend his dog or cat and shall therefore be presumed not\nto have violated this subsection. The provisions of this subsection shall not\noverrule § 3.2-6540, 3.2-6540.1, or 3.2-6552.\n\t\t\tFor the purposes of this subsection, “serious bodily injury”\nmeans bodily injury that involves substantial risk of death, extreme physical\npain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of\nthe function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.\n\nG. Any person convicted of a violation of this section that is punishable as a\nfelony may be prohibited by the court from possession or ownership of companion\nor equine animals for life, and any person convicted of a violation of this\nsection that is punishable as a misdemeanor may be prohibited by the court from\npossession or ownership of such animals for a period of up to five years. In\naddition, a violation of any prohibition or restriction imposed by the\nsentencing court pursuant to this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and all\nanimals under the court’s order may be seized and forfeited. The court may\norder that any animal possessed or owned by such person may be disposed of by a\nlocal governing body pursuant to subsection D of § 3.2-6546 or delivered to\nanother person with a right of property in the animal.\n\nH. Any person who has his rights to possession or ownership of companion or\nequine animals prohibited pursuant to a felony conviction in accordance with\nsubsection G may petition the court where such conviction occurred for a\nrestoration of his rights after five years from the date of conviction.\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.91; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.122; 1992, c. 177;\n1998, c. 817; 1999, cc. 209, 620, 645; 2002, cc. 351, 500, 583, 613; 2003, cc.\n787, 788; 2004, c. 217; 2007, c. 743; 2008, c. 860; 2013, cc. 58, 732; 2015, c.\n491; 2019, cc. 536, 537; 2024, cc. 179, 489.","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}}