                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

NOTIFICATION BY INDIVIDUALS FINDING COMPANION ANIMALS; PENALTY (§ 3.2-6551)

A. Any individual who finds a companion animal and (i) provides care or
safekeeping or (ii) retains the companion animal in such a manner as to control
its activities shall within 48 hours:

   1. Make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner of the companion animal if
   the owner can be ascertained from any tag, license, collar, tattoo, or other
   form of identification or markings or if the owner of the animal is otherwise
   known to the individual; and

   2. Notify the public animal shelter that serves the locality where the
   companion animal was found and provide to the shelter contact information,
   including at least a name and a contact telephone number, a description of the
   animal, including information from any tag, license, collar, tattoo, or other
   identification or markings, and the location where the companion animal was
   found.

B. If an individual finds a companion animal and (i) provides care or
safekeeping or (ii) retains the companion animal in such a manner as to control
its activities, the individual shall comply with the provisions of &#xA7;
3.2-6503.

C. Any individual who violates this section may be subject to a civil penalty
not to exceed $50 per companion animal.

HISTORY: 2003, c. 1007, § 3.1-796.96:7; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 148.