{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6585.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6585.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6585.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6585.1.html"}],"law_id":59361,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59361,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6585.1","catch_line":"Duty to identify; scanning for microchip","history":"2022, c. 387.","full_text":"Any veterinarian, public or private animal shelter, or releasing agency that releases or receives companion animals for adoption or is authorized to euthanize companion animals shall seek to identify the lawful owner of each unidentified companion animal submitted to it, including, for any weaned companion animal that may be safely handled, making a reasonable attempt to scan the animal for an embedded microchip at the time of intake, at the time of assessment, and prior to disposition. If a chip is detected, the veterinarian, shelter, or agency shall make every reasonable effort to contact the owner by the most expedient method available. Such veterinarian, shelter, or agency shall maintain documentation for at least 30 days from the date of the final disposition of the animal that includes the reason an animal could not be scanned, any scanning that located or failed to locate a microchip, whether a located microchip was registered to an owner, and any attempt to contact any owner. Veterinarians shall notify the local public shelter, in compliance with \u00a7 3.2-6551, when taking possession of a stray animal. The requirements of this section shall not apply to the transfer of animals between veterinarians, public or private animal shelters, or releasing agencies.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":217555,"text":"Any veterinarian, public or private animal shelter, or releasing agency that releases or receives companion animals for adoption or is authorized to euthanize companion animals shall seek to identify the lawful owner of each unidentified companion animal submitted to it, including, for any weaned companion animal that may be safely handled, making a reasonable attempt to scan the animal for an embedded microchip at the time of intake, at the time of assessment, and prior to disposition. If a chip is detected, the veterinarian, shelter, or agency shall make every reasonable effort to contact the owner by the most expedient method available. Such veterinarian, shelter, or agency shall maintain documentation for at least 30 days from the date of the final disposition of the animal that includes the reason an animal could not be scanned, any scanning that located or failed to locate a microchip, whether a located microchip was registered to an owner, and any attempt to contact any owner. Veterinarians shall notify the local public shelter, in compliance with \u00a7 3.2-6551, when taking possession of a stray animal. The requirements of this section shall not apply to the transfer of animals between veterinarians, public or private animal shelters, or releasing agencies.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15561,"edition_id":1,"name":"Miscellaneous Provisions","identifier":"12","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13170,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:56:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:56:21","permalink":{"id":198527,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15561,"identifier":"12","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/12\/","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":82320,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6585","catch_line":"Dogs and cats deemed personal property; rights relating thereto","url":"\/3.2-6585\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6585","metadata":false},{"id":59361,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6585.1","catch_line":"Duty to identify; scanning for microchip","url":"\/3.2-6585.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6585.1","metadata":false},{"id":64675,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6586","catch_line":"Dog injuring or killing other companion animals","url":"\/3.2-6586\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6586","metadata":false},{"id":83607,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6587","catch_line":"Unlawful acts; penalties","url":"\/3.2-6587\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6587","metadata":false},{"id":71254,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6588","catch_line":"Intentional interference with a guide or leader dog; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6588\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6588","metadata":false},{"id":64958,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6589","catch_line":"Selling garments containing dog or cat fur prohibited; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6589\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6589","metadata":false},{"id":69678,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6589.1","catch_line":"Certain training devices for elephants prohibited; attachment; civil penalty","url":"\/3.2-6589.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6589.1","metadata":false},{"id":62704,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6590","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of general district courts; right of appeal","url":"\/3.2-6590\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6590","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82320,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6585","catch_line":"Dogs and cats deemed personal property; rights relating thereto","url":"\/3.2-6585\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6585","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":64675,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6586","catch_line":"Dog injuring or killing other companion animals","url":"\/3.2-6586\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6586","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6585.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2022. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 387<\/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.<\/p>","references":[{"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":86437,"section_number":"3.2-6549","catch_line":"Releasing agencies other than public or private animal shelters; confinement and disposition of companion animals; recordkeeping; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6549\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":67608,"section_number":"3.2-6551","catch_line":"Notification by individuals finding companion animals; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6551\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198533,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59361,"identifier":"3.2-6585.1","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6585.1","url":"\/3.2-6585.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6585.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6585.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Duty to identify; scanning for microchip","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6585.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any veterinarian, public or private animal shelter<\/span>, or releasing agency<\/span> that releases or receives companion animals<\/span> for adoption<\/span> or is authorized to euthanize companion animals<\/span> shall seek to identify the lawful owner<\/span> of each unidentified companion animal<\/span> submitted to it, including, for any weaned<\/span> companion animal<\/span> that may be safely handled, making a reasonable attempt to scan the animal for an embedded microchip at the time of intake, at the time of assessment, and prior to disposition<\/span>. If a chip is detected, the veterinarian, shelter, or agency shall make every reasonable effort to contact the owner<\/span> by the most expedient method available. Such veterinarian, shelter, or agency shall maintain documentation for at least 30 days from the date of the final disposition<\/span> of the animal that includes the reason an animal could not be scanned, any scanning that located or failed to locate a microchip, whether a located microchip was registered to an owner<\/span>, and any attempt to contact any owner<\/span>. Veterinarians shall notify the local public shelter, in compliance with \u00a7 3.2-6551<\/a>, when taking possession<\/span> of a stray animal. The requirements of this section shall not apply to the transfer of animals between veterinarians, public or private animal shelters<\/span>, or releasing agencies.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDUTY TO IDENTIFY; SCANNING FOR MICROCHIP (\u00a7 3.2-6585.1)\n\nAny veterinarian, public or private animal shelter, or releasing agency that\nreleases or receives companion animals for adoption or is authorized to\neuthanize companion animals shall seek to identify the lawful owner of each\nunidentified companion animal submitted to it, including, for any weaned\ncompanion animal that may be safely handled, making a reasonable attempt to scan\nthe animal for an embedded microchip at the time of intake, at the time of\nassessment, and prior to disposition. If a chip is detected, the veterinarian,\nshelter, or agency shall make every reasonable effort to contact the owner by\nthe most expedient method available. Such veterinarian, shelter, or agency shall\nmaintain documentation for at least 30 days from the date of the final\ndisposition of the animal that includes the reason an animal could not be\nscanned, any scanning that located or failed to locate a microchip, whether a\nlocated microchip was registered to an owner, and any attempt to contact any\nowner. Veterinarians shall notify the local public shelter, in compliance with\n\u00a7 3.2-6551, when taking possession of a stray animal. The requirements of this\nsection shall not apply to the transfer of animals between veterinarians, public\nor private animal shelters, or releasing agencies.\n\nHISTORY: 2022, c. 387.","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}}