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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68802</law_id><section_number>3.2-6566</section_number><catch_line>Preventing cruelty to animals; interference; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-403.3</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>Each <span class="dictionary">animal control officer</span>, <span class="dictionary">humane investigator</span> or <span class="dictionary">State Veterinarian</span>&#x2019;s representative shall interfere to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty upon any animal in his presence. Any person who shall interfere with or obstruct or resist any <span class="dictionary">humane investigator</span> or <span class="dictionary">State Veterinarian</span>&#x2019;s representative in the discharge of his rights, powers, and duties as authorized and prescribed by <span class="dictionary">law</span> is guilty of a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>.</p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492, &#xA7; 29-213.80; 1986, c. 362; 1987, c. 488, &#xA7; 3.1-796.111; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860; 2010, c. 240.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
