                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE WITH A GUIDE OR LEADER DOG; PENALTY (§ 3.2-6588)

A. It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully impede or
interfere with the duties performed by a dog if the person knows or has reason
to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog. A violation of this subsection is a
Class 3 misdemeanor.

B. It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully injure a dog if
the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog. A
violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
			&#8220;Guide or leader dog&#8221; means a dog that: (i) serves as a dog guide
for a blind person as defined in &#xA7; 51.5-60 or for a person with a visual
disability; (ii) serves as a listener for a deaf or hard-of-hearing person as
defined in &#xA7; 51.5-111; or (iii) provides support or assistance for an
individual with a physical disability.

HISTORY: 1995, c. 209, § 3.1-796.128:1; 2008, c. 860; 2023, cc. 148, 149.