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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67608</law_id><section_number>3.2-6551</section_number><catch_line>Notification by individuals finding companion animals; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-6546</reference><reference>3.2-6585.1</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> Any individual who finds a <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span> and (i) provides <span class="dictionary">care</span> or safekeeping or (ii) retains the <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span> in such a manner as to control its activities shall within 48 hours: <a id="paragraph-244938" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6551/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Make a reasonable attempt to notify the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span> if the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> can be ascertained from any tag, license, <span class="dictionary">collar</span>, tattoo, or other form of identification or markings or if the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the animal is otherwise known to the individual; and <a id="paragraph-244939" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6551/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Notify the <span class="dictionary">public animal shelter</span> that serves the locality where the <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span> was found and provide to the shelter contact information, including at least a name and a contact telephone number, a description of the animal, including information from any tag, license, <span class="dictionary">collar</span>, tattoo, or other identification or markings, and the location where the <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span> was found. <a id="paragraph-244940" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6551/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If an individual finds a <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span> and (i) provides <span class="dictionary">care</span> or safekeeping or (ii) retains the <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span> in such a manner as to control its activities, the individual shall comply with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Care of companion animals by owner; penalty" href="/3.2-6503/">3.2-6503</a>. <a id="paragraph-244941" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6551/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any individual who violates this section may be subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> not to exceed $50 per <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span>. <a id="paragraph-244942" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6551/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2003, c. 1007, &#xA7; 3.1-796.96:7; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 148.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
