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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54939</law_id><section_number>3.2-6565</section_number><catch_line>Impoundment; expenses; lien; disposition of animal</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-6506</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="8">Search, Seizure, Impounding, and Enforcement</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>When an <span class="dictionary">animal control officer</span>, <span class="dictionary">humane investigator</span>, <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> or <span class="dictionary">State Veterinarian</span>&#x2019;s representative finds that an apparent violation of this chapter has rendered an animal in such a condition as to constitute a <span class="dictionary">direct and immediate threat</span> to its life, safety or health that the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or custodian has failed to remedy, such <span class="dictionary">animal control officer</span>, <span class="dictionary">humane investigator</span>, <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> or <span class="dictionary">State Veterinarian</span>&#x2019;s representative may impound the animal pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Seizure and impoundment of animals; notice and hearing; disposition of animal; disposition of proceeds upon sale" href="/3.2-6569/">3.2-6569</a> in a <span class="dictionary">facility</span> that will provide the elements of good <span class="dictionary">care</span> as set forth in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Care of companion animals by owner; penalty" href="/3.2-6503/">3.2-6503</a> and shall then proceed to take such steps as are required to dispose of the animal pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Seizure and impoundment of animals; notice and hearing; disposition of animal; disposition of proceeds upon sale" href="/3.2-6569/">3.2-6569</a>.</p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492, &#xA7; 29-213.77; 1987, c. 488, &#xA7; 3.1-796.108; 1994, c. 387; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
