                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ANIMAL FIGHTING; PENALTY (§ 3.2-6571)

A. No person shall knowingly:

   1. Promote, prepare for, engage in, or be employed in, the fighting of animals
   for amusement, sport, or gain;

   2. Attend an exhibition of the fighting of animals;

   3. Authorize or allow any person to undertake any act described in this
   section on any premises under his charge or control; or

   4. Aid or abet any such acts.
   				Except as provided in subsection B, any person who violates any provision
   of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

B. Any person who violates any provision of subsection A in combination with one
or more of the following is guilty of a Class 6 felony:

   1. When a dog is one of the animals;

   2. When any device or substance intended to enhance an animal&#8217;s ability
   to fight or to inflict injury upon another animal is used, or possessed with
   intent to use it for such purpose;

   3. When money or anything of value is wagered on the result of such fighting;

   4. When money or anything of value is paid or received for the admission of a
   person to a place for animal fighting;

   5. When any animal is possessed, owned, trained, transported, or sold with the
   intent that the animal engage in an exhibition of fighting with another
   animal; or

   6. When he permits or causes a minor to (i) attend an exhibition of the
   fighting of any animals or (ii) undertake or be involved in any act described
   in this subsection.

C. 1. Any animal control officer, as defined in § 3.2-6500, shall confiscate
any tethered cock or any other animal that he determines has been, is, or is
intended to be used in animal fighting and any equipment used in training such
animal or used in animal fighting.

   2. Upon confiscation of an animal, the animal control officer shall petition
   the appropriate court for a hearing for a determination of whether the animal
   has been, is, or is intended to be used in animal fighting. The hearing shall
   be not more than 10 business days from the date of the confiscation of the
   animal. If the court finds that the animal has not been used, is not used, and
   is not intended to be used in animal fighting, it shall order the animal
   released to its owner. However, if the court finds probable cause to believe
   that the animal has been, is, or is intended to be used in animal fighting,
   the court shall order the animal forfeited to the locality unless the owner
   posts bond in surety with the locality in an amount sufficient to compensate
   the locality for its cost of caring for the animal for a period of nine
   months. He shall post additional bond for each successive nine-month period
   until a final determination by the trial court on any criminal charges brought
   pursuant to subsection A or B.

   3. Upon a final determination of guilt by the trial court on criminal charges
   brought pursuant to subsection A or B, the court shall order that the animal
   be forfeited to the locality. Upon a final determination of not guilty by the
   trial court on the underlying criminal charges, a confiscated animal shall be
   returned to its owner and any bond shall be refunded to him.

D. Any person convicted of violating any provision of subsection A or B shall be
prohibited by the court from possession or ownership of companion animals or
fowl.

E. In addition to fines and costs, the court shall order any person who is
convicted of a violation of this section to pay all reasonable costs incurred in
housing, caring for, or euthanizing any confiscated animal. If the court finds
that the actual costs are reasonable, it may order payment of actual costs.

F. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any law-enforcement officer
in the performance of his duties. This section shall not prohibit (i) authorized
wildlife management activities or hunting, fishing, or trapping authorized under
any title of the Code of Virginia or regulations promulgated thereto or (ii)
farming activities authorized under Title 3.2 of the Code of Virginia or
regulations promulgated thereto.

HISTORY: 1985, c. 408, § 29-213.92:1; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.124; 1998, c.
817; 1999, c. 113; 2003, c. 857; 2008, cc. 543, 707, 860; 2019, c. 345.