{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6587.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6587.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6587.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6587.html"}],"law_id":83607,"edition_id":1,"section_id":83607,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6587","catch_line":"Unlawful acts; penalties","history":"1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.99; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.128; 1993, cc. 174, 775, 817; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860; 2020, c. 1183.","full_text":"A\n\nThe following shall be unlawful acts and are Class 4 misdemeanors:1\n\nFor any person to make a false statement in order to secure a dog or cat license to which he is not entitled.2\n\nFor any dog or cat owner to fail to pay any license tax required by this chapter before February 1 for the year in which it is due. In addition, the court may order confiscation and the proper disposition of the dog or cat.3\n\nFor any dog owner to allow a dog to run at large in violation of an ordinance passed pursuant to § 3.2-6539.4\n\nUnless otherwise punishable under subsection B, for any person to fail to obey an ordinance passed pursuant to §§ 3.2-6522 and 3.2-6525.5\n\nFor any owner to fail to dispose of the body of his companion animals in accordance with § 3.2-6554.6\n\nFor the owner of any dog or cat with a contagious or infectious disease, other than rabies, to permit such dog or cat to stray from his premises if such disease is known to the owner.7\n\nFor any person to conceal or harbor any dog or cat on which any required license tax has not been paid.8\n\nFor any person, except the owner or custodian, to remove a legally acquired license tag from a dog or cat without the permission of the owner or custodian.9\n\nAny other violation of this chapter for which a specific penalty is not provided.B\n\nIt is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to:1\n\nPresent a false claim or to receive any money on a false claim under the provisions of § 3.2-6553.2\n\nImpersonate a humane investigator.3\n\nPermit a dog or cat that he owns or is in his custody to stray from his premises when he knows or has been told by the local health department, law-enforcement agency, animal control agency, or any other person who has a duty to control or respond to a risk of rabies exposure that the dog or cat is suspected of having rabies.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":299594,"text":"The following shall be unlawful acts and are Class 4 misdemeanors:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":299595,"text":"For any person to make a false statement in order to secure a dog or cat license to which he is not entitled.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":299596,"text":"For any dog or cat owner to fail to pay any license tax required by this chapter before February 1 for the year in which it is due. In addition, the court may order confiscation and the proper disposition of the dog or cat.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":299597,"text":"For any dog owner to allow a dog to run at large in violation of an ordinance passed pursuant to § 3.2-6539.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":299598,"text":"Unless otherwise punishable under subsection B, for any person to fail to obey an ordinance passed pursuant to §§ 3.2-6522 and 3.2-6525.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":299599,"text":"For any owner to fail to dispose of the body of his companion animals in accordance with § 3.2-6554.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":299600,"text":"For the owner of any dog or cat with a contagious or infectious disease, other than rabies, to permit such dog or cat to stray from his premises if such disease is known to the owner.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"A7"},"7":{"id":299601,"text":"For any person to conceal or harbor any dog or cat on which any required license tax has not been paid.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"A7","prefix_anchor":"A7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"A8"},"8":{"id":299602,"text":"For any person, except the owner or custodian, to remove a legally acquired license tag from a dog or cat without the permission of the owner or custodian.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"A8","prefix_anchor":"A8","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A7","next_prefix":"A9"},"9":{"id":299603,"text":"Any other violation of this chapter for which a specific penalty is not provided.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"A9","prefix_anchor":"A9","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A8","next_prefix":"B"},"10":{"id":299604,"text":"It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A9","next_prefix":"B1"},"11":{"id":299605,"text":"Present a false claim or to receive any money on a false claim under the provisions of § 3.2-6553.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"12":{"id":299606,"text":"Impersonate a humane investigator.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"13":{"id":299607,"text":"Permit a dog or cat that he owns or is in his custody to stray from his premises when he knows or has been told by the local health department, law-enforcement agency, animal control agency, or any other person who has a duty to control or respond to a risk of rabies exposure that the dog or cat is suspected of having rabies.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6587\/","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 1993, chapters 174, 775, and 817; in 1998, chapter 817<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 1183<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"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":62257,"section_number":"18.2-403.3","catch_line":"Offenses involving animals \u2014 Class 4 misdemeanors","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-403.3\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":75503,"section_number":"3.2-6522","catch_line":"Rabid animals","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6522\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198541,"object_type":"law","relational_id":83607,"identifier":"3.2-6587","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6587","url":"\/3.2-6587\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6587\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6587","dublin_core":{"Title":"Unlawful acts; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6587","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The following shall be unlawful acts and are Class 4 misdemeanors<\/span>: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> For any person to make a false statement in order<\/span> to secure a dog or cat license to which he is not entitled. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> For any dog or cat owner<\/span> to fail to pay any license tax required by this chapter before February 1 for the year in which it is due. In addition, the court<\/span> may order<\/span> confiscation and the proper disposition<\/span> of the dog or cat. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> For any dog owner<\/span> to allow a dog to run at large in violation of an ordinance<\/span> passed pursuant to § 3.2-6539<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Unless otherwise punishable under subsection B, for any person to fail to obey an ordinance<\/span> passed pursuant to §§ 3.2-6522<\/a> and 3.2-6525<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> For any owner<\/span> to fail to dispose of the body of his companion animals<\/span> in accordance with § 3.2-6554<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> For the owner<\/span> of any dog or cat with a contagious or infectious disease, other than rabies, to permit such dog or cat to stray from his premises if such disease is known to the owner<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> For any person to conceal or harbor any dog or cat on which any required license tax has not been paid. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> For any person, except the owner<\/span> or custodian, to remove a legally acquired license tag from a dog or cat without the permission of the owner<\/span> or custodian. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Any other violation of this chapter for which a specific penalty<\/span> is not provided. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It is a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span> for any person to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Present a false claim or to receive any money on a false claim under the provisions of § 3.2-6553<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Impersonate a humane investigator<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Permit a dog or cat that he owns or is in his custody<\/span> to stray from his premises when he knows or has been told by the local health department<\/span>, law<\/span>-enforcement agency, animal<\/span> control agency, or any other person who has a duty to control or respond to a risk of rabies exposure that the dog or cat is suspected of having rabies. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUNLAWFUL ACTS; PENALTIES (\u00a7 3.2-6587)\n\nA. The following shall be unlawful acts and are Class 4 misdemeanors:\n\n 1. For any person to make a false statement in order to secure a dog or cat\n license to which he is not entitled.\n\n 2. For any dog or cat owner to fail to pay any license tax required by this\n chapter before February 1 for the year in which it is due. In addition, the\n court may order confiscation and the proper disposition of the dog or cat.\n\n 3. For any dog owner to allow a dog to run at large in violation of an\n ordinance passed pursuant to § 3.2-6539.\n\n 4. Unless otherwise punishable under subsection B, for any person to fail to\n obey an ordinance passed pursuant to §§ 3.2-6522 and 3.2-6525.\n\n 5. For any owner to fail to dispose of the body of his companion animals in\n accordance with § 3.2-6554.\n\n 6. For the owner of any dog or cat with a contagious or infectious disease,\n other than rabies, to permit such dog or cat to stray from his premises if\n such disease is known to the owner.\n\n 7. For any person to conceal or harbor any dog or cat on which any required\n license tax has not been paid.\n\n 8. For any person, except the owner or custodian, to remove a legally acquired\n license tag from a dog or cat without the permission of the owner or\n custodian.\n\n 9. Any other violation of this chapter for which a specific penalty is not\n provided.\n\nB. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to:\n\n 1. Present a false claim or to receive any money on a false claim under the\n provisions of § 3.2-6553.\n\n 2. Impersonate a humane investigator.\n\n 3. Permit a dog or cat that he owns or is in his custody to stray from his\n premises when he knows or has been told by the local health department,\n law-enforcement agency, animal control agency, or any other person who has a\n duty to control or respond to a risk of rabies exposure that the dog or cat is\n suspected of having rabies.\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.99; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.128; 1993, cc.\n174, 775, 817; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860; 2020, c. 1183.","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}}