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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>83607</law_id><section_number>3.2-6587</section_number><catch_line>Unlawful acts; penalties</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>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="12">Miscellaneous Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The following shall be unlawful acts and are Class 4 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanors</span>: <a id="paragraph-299594" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> For any person to make a false statement in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to secure a dog or cat license to which he is not entitled. <a id="paragraph-299595" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> For any dog or cat <span class="dictionary">owner</span> to fail to pay any license tax required by this chapter before February 1 for the year in which it is due. In addition, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">order</span> confiscation and the proper <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of the dog or cat. <a id="paragraph-299596" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> For any dog <span class="dictionary">owner</span> to allow a dog to run at large in violation of an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> passed pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Ordinance requiring dogs to be kept on leash" href="/3.2-6539/">3.2-6539</a>. <a id="paragraph-299597" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Unless otherwise punishable under subsection B, for any person to fail to obey an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> passed pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Rabid animals" href="/3.2-6522/">3.2-6522</a> and <a class="law" title="Regulations to prevent spread of rabies" href="/3.2-6525/">3.2-6525</a>. <a id="paragraph-299598" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> For any <span class="dictionary">owner</span> to fail to dispose of the body of his <span class="dictionary">companion animals</span> in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disposal of dead companion animals" href="/3.2-6554/">3.2-6554</a>. <a id="paragraph-299599" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> For the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of any dog or cat with a contagious or infectious disease, other than rabies, to permit such dog or cat to stray from his premises if such disease is known to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>. <a id="paragraph-299600" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> For any person to conceal or harbor any dog or cat on which any required license tax has not been paid. <a id="paragraph-299601" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> For any person, except the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or custodian, to remove a legally acquired license tag from a dog or cat without the permission of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or custodian. <a id="paragraph-299602" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Any other violation of this chapter for which a specific <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> is not provided. <a id="paragraph-299603" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#A9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It is a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> for any person to: <a id="paragraph-299604" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Present a false claim or to receive any money on a false claim under the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Compensation for livestock and poultry killed by dogs" href="/3.2-6553/">3.2-6553</a>. <a id="paragraph-299605" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Impersonate a <span class="dictionary">humane investigator</span>. <a id="paragraph-299606" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Permit a dog or cat that he owns or is in his <span class="dictionary">custody</span> to stray from his premises when he knows or has been told by the local health <span class="dictionary">department</span>, <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency, <span class="dictionary">animal</span> control agency, or any other person who has a duty to control or respond to a risk of rabies exposure that the dog or cat is suspected of having rabies. <a id="paragraph-299607" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6587/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492, &#xA7; 29-213.99; 1987, c. 488, &#xA7; 3.1-796.128; 1993, cc. 174, 775, 817; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860; 2020, c. 1183.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
