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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62257</law_id><section_number>18.2-403.3</section_number><catch_line>Offenses involving animals &#x2014; Class 4 misdemeanors</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="8">Crimes Involving Morals and Decency</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Offenses Involving Animals</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The following unlawful acts and <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> against animals shall constitute and be punished as a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Preventing cruelty to animals; interference; penalty" href="/3.2-6566/">3.2-6566</a> pertaining to interference of agents charged with preventing cruelty to animals. <a id="paragraph-227043" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Shooting birds for amusement, and renting premises for such purposes; penalty" href="/3.2-6573/">3.2-6573</a> pertaining to shooting pigeons. <a id="paragraph-227044" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disposal of dead companion animals" href="/3.2-6554/">3.2-6554</a> pertaining to disposing of the body of a dead companion animal. <a id="paragraph-227045" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Unless otherwise punishable under subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Unlawful acts; penalties" href="/3.2-6587/">3.2-6587</a>, violation of <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> passed pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Rabid animals" href="/3.2-6522/">3.2-6522</a> and <a class="law" title="Regulations to prevent spread of rabies" href="/3.2-6525/">3.2-6525</a> pertaining to rabid dogs and preventing the spread of rabies and the running at large of vicious dogs. <a id="paragraph-227046" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Violation of an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> passed pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Ordinance requiring dogs to be kept on leash" href="/3.2-6539/">3.2-6539</a> requiring dogs to be on a leash. <a id="paragraph-227047" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Failure by any person to secure and exhibit the permits required by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Permits for field trials" href="/29.1-422/">29.1-422</a> pertaining to field trails, night trails and foxhounds. <a id="paragraph-227048" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Diseased dogs. &#x2014; For the owner of any dog with a contagious or infectious disease, other than rabies, to permit such dog to stray from his premises if such disease is known to the owner. <a id="paragraph-227049" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> License application. &#x2014; For any person to make a false statement in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to secure a dog or cat license to which he is not entitled. <a id="paragraph-227050" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> License tax. &#x2014; For any dog or cat owner to fail to pay any license tax required by subsection A or C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="When license tax payable" href="/3.2-6530/">3.2-6530</a> within one month after the date when it is due. In addition, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">order</span> confiscation and the proper <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of the dog or cat. <a id="paragraph-227051" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Concealing a dog or cat. &#x2014; For any person to conceal or harbor any dog or cat on which any required license tax has not been paid. <a id="paragraph-227052" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Removing collar and tag. &#x2014; 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. <a id="paragraph-227053" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="12"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> Violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Care of companion animals by owner; penalty" href="/3.2-6503/">3.2-6503</a> pertaining to care of animals by owner. <a id="paragraph-227054" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-403.3/#12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492; 1993, cc. 174, 817; 2017, cc. 559, 567; 2020, c. 1183.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
