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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>74206</law_id><section_number>3.2-6553</section_number><catch_line>Compensation for livestock and poultry killed by dogs</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-403.1</reference><reference>3.2-6534</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><p>Any person who has any <span class="dictionary">livestock</span> or <span class="dictionary">poultry</span> killed or injured by any dog not his own shall be entitled to receive as compensation the fair market value of such <span class="dictionary">livestock</span> or <span class="dictionary">poultry</span> not to exceed $1,000 per animal or $25 per fowl if (i) the claimant has furnished <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> within 60 days of <span class="dictionary">discovery</span> of the quantity and value of the dead or injured <span class="dictionary">livestock</span> and the reasons the claimant believes that death or injury was caused by a dog; (ii) the <span class="dictionary">animal control officer</span> or <span class="dictionary">other officer</span> shall have been notified of the incident within 72 hours of its <span class="dictionary">discovery</span>; and (iii) the claimant first has exhausted his legal remedies against the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, if known, of the dog doing the damage for which compensation under this section is sought. Exhaustion shall mean a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> against the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the dog upon which an execution has been returned unsatisfied.
		Local <span class="dictionary">jurisdictions</span> may by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> <span class="dictionary">waive</span> the requirements of clause (ii) or (iii) or both provided that the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> adopted requires that the <span class="dictionary">animal control officer</span> has conducted an investigation and that his investigation supports the claim. Upon payment under this section, the local governing body shall be subrogated to the extent of compensation paid to the right of action to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">livestock</span> or <span class="dictionary">poultry</span> against the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the dog and may enforce the same in an appropriate action at <span class="dictionary">law</span>.</p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492, &#xA7; 29-213.87; 1986, c. 108; 1987, c. 488, &#xA7; 3.1-796.118; 1992, c. 461; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860; 2014, cc. 116, 160; 2025, c. 319.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
