{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6589.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6589.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6589.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6589.1.html"}],"law_id":69678,"edition_id":1,"section_id":69678,"structure_id":15561,"section_number":"3.2-6589.1","catch_line":"Certain training devices for elephants prohibited; attachment; civil penalty","history":"2024, c. 333.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is unlawful for any person to (i) use electricity, martingales, or block and tackle, engage in physical punishment resulting in damage, scarring, or breaking of skin, or insert any instrument into any bodily orifice of an elephant to discipline an elephant; (ii) use a bullhook, ankus, baseball bat, axe handle, or other device designed to inflict fear or pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant; or (iii) brandish, exhibit, or display any device described in clause (ii) in the presence of an elephant.B\n\nA person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for the first offense and not to exceed $5,000 for subsequent violations. Each incident during which the violation is found to have existed shall constitute a separate offense.C\n\nThe Attorney General, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for the locality may cause an action in equity to be brought in the name of the Commonwealth or of the locality, as applicable, to request an attachment for any devices described in subsection A against a person violating the provisions of this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":251897,"text":"It is unlawful for any person to (i) use electricity, martingales, or block and tackle, engage in physical punishment resulting in damage, scarring, or breaking of skin, or insert any instrument into any bodily orifice of an elephant to discipline an elephant; (ii) use a bullhook, ankus, baseball bat, axe handle, or other device designed to inflict fear or pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant; or (iii) brandish, exhibit, or display any device described in clause (ii) in the presence of an elephant.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":251898,"text":"A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for the first offense and not to exceed $5,000 for subsequent violations. Each incident during which the violation is found to have existed shall constitute a separate offense.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":251899,"text":"The Attorney General, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for the locality may cause an action in equity to be brought in the name of the Commonwealth or of the locality, as applicable, to request an attachment for any devices described in subsection A against a person violating the provisions of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6589.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2024. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 333<\/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":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":198553,"object_type":"law","relational_id":69678,"identifier":"3.2-6589.1","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6589.1","url":"\/3.2-6589.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6589.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/12\/3.2-6589.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Certain training devices for elephants prohibited; attachment; civil penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6589.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It is unlawful for any person to (i) use electricity, martingales, or block and tackle, engage in physical punishment resulting in damage, scarring, or breaking of skin, or insert any instrument into any bodily orifice of an elephant to discipline an elephant; (ii) use a bullhook, ankus, baseball bat, axe handle, or other device designed to inflict fear or pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant; or (iii) brandish, exhibit, or display any device described in clause (ii) in the presence of an elephant. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty<\/span> not to exceed $2,500 for the first offense<\/span> and not to exceed $5,000 for subsequent violations. Each incident during which the violation is found to have existed shall constitute a separate offense<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Attorney General<\/span>, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for the locality may cause an action in equity<\/span> to be brought in the name of the Commonwealth or of the locality, as applicable, to request an attachment<\/span> for any devices described in subsection A against a person violating the provisions of this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCERTAIN TRAINING DEVICES FOR ELEPHANTS PROHIBITED; ATTACHMENT; CIVIL PENALTY (\u00a7\n3.2-6589.1)\n\nA. It is unlawful for any person to (i) use electricity, martingales, or block\nand tackle, engage in physical punishment resulting in damage, scarring, or\nbreaking of skin, or insert any instrument into any bodily orifice of an\nelephant to discipline an elephant; (ii) use a bullhook, ankus, baseball bat,\naxe handle, or other device designed to inflict fear or pain for the purpose of\ntraining or controlling the behavior of an elephant; or (iii) brandish, exhibit,\nor display any device described in clause (ii) in the presence of an elephant.\n\nB. A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty not to\nexceed $2,500 for the first offense and not to exceed $5,000 for subsequent\nviolations. Each incident during which the violation is found to have existed\nshall constitute a separate offense.\n\nC. The Attorney General, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for\nthe locality may cause an action in equity to be brought in the name of the\nCommonwealth or of the locality, as applicable, to request an attachment for any\ndevices described in subsection A against a person violating the provisions of\nthis section.\n\nHISTORY: 2024, c. 333.","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}}