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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>60877</law_id><section_number>3.2-6542</section_number><catch_line>Establishment of Dangerous Dog Registry</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-6540</reference><reference>3.2-6540.01</reference><reference>3.2-6542.2</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="V">Domestic Animals</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="65">Comprehensive Animal Care</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="6">Authority of Local Governing Bodies</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall establish the Virginia Dangerous Dog Registry to be maintained by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. The <span class="dictionary">State Veterinarian</span> shall maintain information provided and posted by <span class="dictionary">animal control officers</span> or other such officials statewide on a website. All information collected for the Dangerous Dog Registry shall be available to <span class="dictionary">animal control officers</span> via the website. The website list shall be known as the Virginia Dangerous Dog Registry. <a id="paragraph-222582" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6542/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Registration information shall include the name of the animal, a photograph, sex, age, weight, primary breed, secondary breed, color and markings, whether spayed or neutered, the acts that resulted in the dog being designated as dangerous and associated <span class="dictionary">trial</span> <span class="dictionary">docket</span> information, microchip or tattoo number, address where the animal is maintained, name of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, address of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, telephone numbers of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, and a statement that the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> has complied with the provisions of the dangerous dog <span class="dictionary">order</span>. The address of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> along with the name and breed of the dangerous dog, the acts that resulted in the dog being found dangerous, and information necessary to access <span class="dictionary">court</span> records of the adjudication shall be available to the general public. If the dangerous dog is moved to a different location or contact information for the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> changes in any way at any time, the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> shall submit a renewal containing the address of the new location or other updated information within 10 days of such move or change to an <span class="dictionary">animal control officer</span> or other such official for the new location. There shall be no charge for any updated information provided between renewals. <a id="paragraph-222583" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6542/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Each county or city shall submit to the <span class="dictionary">State Veterinarian</span> by January 31 of each year $90 for each dangerous dog it initially registered and $25 for each dangerous dog for which it renewed registration within the previous calendar year. Any funds collected pursuant to this section shall be used by the <span class="dictionary">State Veterinarian</span> to maintain the registry and website. <a id="paragraph-222584" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6542/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Actions of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> relating to the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the Virginia Dangerous Dog Registry under this section or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Renewal of dangerous dog registration" href="/3.2-6542.1/">3.2-6542.1</a> shall be exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-222585" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6542/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Copies of all records, documents, and other papers pertaining to the Dangerous Dog Registry that are duly certified and authenticated in writing on the face of such documents to be true copies by the <span class="dictionary">State Veterinarian</span> or the Dangerous Dog Registry administrator shall be received as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> with like effect as the original records, documents, or other papers in all <span class="dictionary">courts</span> of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-222586" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6542/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2006, cc. 837, 864, 898, &#xA7; 3.1-796.93:3; 2008, c. 860; 2009, c. 354; 2012, cc. 107, 236; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 464.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
