{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6581.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6581.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6581.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6581.html"}],"law_id":83158,"edition_id":1,"section_id":83158,"structure_id":15823,"section_number":"3.2-6581","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1997, c. 918, \u00a7 3.1-796.126:8; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 461.","full_text":"As used in this article:\n\t\t“Adequate confinement” means that, while on the property of its owner and not under the direct supervision and control of the owner or custodian, a hybrid canine shall be confined in a humane manner in a securely enclosed and locked structure of sufficient height and design to: (i) prevent the animal’s escape; or if the hybrid canine is determined to be a dangerous dog pursuant to \u00a7 3.2-6540, the structure shall prevent direct contact with any person or animal not authorized by the owner to be in direct contact with the hybrid canine; and (ii) provide a minimum of 100 square feet of floor space for each adult animal. Tethering of a hybrid canine not under the direct supervision and control of the owner or custodian shall not be considered adequate confinement.\n\t\t“Hybrid canine” means any animal that is or can be demonstrated to be a hybrid of the domestic dog and any other species of the Canidae family; that at any time has been permitted, registered, licensed, or advertised as such; or that at any time has been described, represented, or reported as such by its owner to a licensed veterinarian, law-enforcement officer, animal control officer, humane investigator, official of the Department of Health, or State Veterinarian’s representative.\n\t\t“Responsible ownership” means the ownership and humane care of a hybrid canine in such a manner as to comply with all laws and ordinances regarding hybrid canines and prevent endangerment by the animal to public health and safety.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":297983,"text":"As used in this article:\n\t\t“Adequate confinement” means that, while on the property of its owner and not under the direct supervision and control of the owner or custodian, a hybrid canine shall be confined in a humane manner in a securely enclosed and locked structure of sufficient height and design to: (i) prevent the animal’s escape; or if the hybrid canine is determined to be a dangerous dog pursuant to \u00a7 3.2-6540, the structure shall prevent direct contact with any person or animal not authorized by the owner to be in direct contact with the hybrid canine; and (ii) provide a minimum of 100 square feet of floor space for each adult animal. Tethering of a hybrid canine not under the direct supervision and control of the owner or custodian shall not be considered adequate confinement.\n\t\t“Hybrid canine” means any animal that is or can be demonstrated to be a hybrid of the domestic dog and any other species of the Canidae family; that at any time has been permitted, registered, licensed, or advertised as such; or that at any time has been described, represented, or reported as such by its owner to a licensed veterinarian, law-enforcement officer, animal control officer, humane investigator, official of the Department of Health, or State Veterinarian’s representative.\n\t\t“Responsible ownership” means the ownership and humane care of a hybrid canine in such a manner as to comply with all laws and ordinances regarding hybrid canines and prevent endangerment by the animal to public health and safety.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15823,"edition_id":1,"name":"Hybrid Canines","identifier":"11","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13170,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:00:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:00:08","permalink":{"id":198509,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15823,"identifier":"11","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/11","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/11\/","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":83158,"structure_id":15823,"section_number":"3.2-6581","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/3.2-6581\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/11\/3.2-6581","metadata":false},{"id":63123,"structure_id":15823,"section_number":"3.2-6582","catch_line":"Hybrid canine ordinance; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6582\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/11\/3.2-6582","metadata":false},{"id":81201,"structure_id":15823,"section_number":"3.2-6583","catch_line":"Hybrid canines killing, injuring or chasing livestock","url":"\/3.2-6583\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/11\/3.2-6583","metadata":false},{"id":61037,"structure_id":15823,"section_number":"3.2-6584","catch_line":"Compensation for livestock and poultry killed by hybrid canines","url":"\/3.2-6584\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/11\/3.2-6584","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":63123,"structure_id":15823,"section_number":"3.2-6582","catch_line":"Hybrid canine ordinance; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6582\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/11\/3.2-6582","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6581\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1997. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 918<\/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 3 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 1998, chapter 817<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 461<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":86290,"section_number":"3.2-6540","catch_line":"Dangerous dogs; investigation, summons, and hearing","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6540\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198511,"object_type":"law","relational_id":83158,"identifier":"3.2-6581","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/11\/3.2-6581","url":"\/3.2-6581\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6581\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/11\/3.2-6581","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6581","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this article:\n\t\t“Adequate confinement<\/span>” means that, while on the property of its owner<\/span> and not under the direct supervision and control of the owner<\/span> or custodian, a hybrid canine<\/span> shall be confined in a humane manner in a securely enclosed and locked structure of sufficient height and design to: (i) prevent the animal’s escape; or if the hybrid canine<\/span> is determined to be a dangerous dog pursuant to \u00a7 3.2-6540<\/a>, the structure shall prevent direct contact with any person or animal not authorized by the owner<\/span> to be in direct contact with the hybrid canine<\/span>; and (ii) provide a minimum of 100 square feet of floor space for each adult animal. Tethering of a hybrid canine<\/span> not under the direct supervision and control of the owner<\/span> or custodian shall not be considered adequate confinement<\/span>.\n\t\t“Hybrid canine<\/span>” means any animal that is or can be demonstrated to be a hybrid of the domestic dog and any other species of the Canidae family; that at any time has been permitted, registered, licensed, or advertised as such; or that at any time has been described, represented, or reported as such by its owner<\/span> to a licensed veterinarian, law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>, animal control officer<\/span>, humane investigator<\/span>, official of the Department<\/span> of Health, or State Veterinarian<\/span>’s representative.\n\t\t“Responsible ownership<\/span>” means the ownership and humane care<\/span> of a hybrid canine<\/span> in such a manner as to comply with all laws<\/span> and ordinances<\/span> regarding hybrid canines<\/span> and prevent endangerment by the animal to public health and safety.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 3.2-6581)\n\nAs used in this article:\n\t\t“Adequate confinement” means that, while on the property of its\nowner and not under the direct supervision and control of the owner or\ncustodian, a hybrid canine shall be confined in a humane manner in a securely\nenclosed and locked structure of sufficient height and design to: (i) prevent\nthe animal’s escape; or if the hybrid canine is determined to be a\ndangerous dog pursuant to \u00a7 3.2-6540, the structure shall prevent direct\ncontact with any person or animal not authorized by the owner to be in direct\ncontact with the hybrid canine; and (ii) provide a minimum of 100 square feet of\nfloor space for each adult animal. Tethering of a hybrid canine not under the\ndirect supervision and control of the owner or custodian shall not be considered\nadequate confinement.\n\t\t“Hybrid canine” means any animal that is or can be demonstrated to\nbe a hybrid of the domestic dog and any other species of the Canidae family;\nthat at any time has been permitted, registered, licensed, or advertised as\nsuch; or that at any time has been described, represented, or reported as such\nby its owner to a licensed veterinarian, law-enforcement officer, animal control\nofficer, humane investigator, official of the Department of Health, or State\nVeterinarian’s representative.\n\t\t“Responsible ownership” means the ownership and humane care of a\nhybrid canine in such a manner as to comply with all laws and ordinances\nregarding hybrid canines and prevent endangerment by the animal to public health\nand safety.\n\nHISTORY: 1997, c. 918, \u00a7 3.1-796.126:8; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c.\n461.","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}}