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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76161</law_id><section_number>3.2-6568</section_number><catch_line>Power of search for violations of statutes against cruelty to animals</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-361.01</reference><reference>3.2-6502</reference><reference>3.2-6564</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">affidavit</span> is made under <span class="dictionary">oath</span> before a <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span> or <span class="dictionary">court</span> of competent <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> by any <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 that the complainant believes and has reasonable cause to believe that the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> in relation to cruelty to <span class="dictionary">animals</span> have been, are being, or are about to be violated in any particular building or place, such <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span> or <span class="dictionary">judge</span>, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such belief, shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a warrant authorizing any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or police officer to search the building or place. After issuing a warrant under this section, the <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span> or <span class="dictionary">judge</span> shall file the <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> in the manner prescribed by &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Affidavit preliminary to issuance of search warrant; general search warrant prohibited; effect of failure to file affidavit" href="/19.2-54/">19.2-54</a>. After executing the warrant, the <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 shall return the warrant to the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the city or county wherein the search was made.</p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492, &#xA7; 29-213.82; 1986, c. 362; 1987, c. 488, &#xA7; 3.1-796.113; 1994, c. 168; 1998, c. 817; 2008, cc. 543, 707, 860; 2014, c. 354.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
