{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/3.2-6507.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/3.2-6507.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/3.2-6507.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/3.2-6507.html"}],"law_id":358262,"edition_id":2,"section_id":358262,"structure_id":51236,"section_number":"3.2-6507","catch_line":"Injured or sick animal; action by veterinarian","history":"1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.46; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.76; 1999, c. 620; 2008, c. 860.","full_text":"A\n\nIf a licensed veterinarian is called or by his own action comes upon an animal that is sick or injured and the owner of such animal cannot be immediately located, then the licensed veterinarian, in his professional judgment, may treat, hospitalize or euthanize the animal without the permission of the owner. The veterinarian shall make such reports and keep such records of such sick or injured animals as may be prescribed by the Board of Veterinary Medicine, including the information required under subsection B of § 3.2-6557.\n\nB\n\nIn no event shall a licensed veterinarian who has acted in good faith and properly exercised professional judgment regarding an animal be subject to liability for his actions in: (i) acting in accordance with subsection A; or (ii) reporting cases of suspected cruelty to animals.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1332962,"text":"If a licensed veterinarian is called or by his own action comes upon an animal that is sick or injured and the owner of such animal cannot be immediately located, then the licensed veterinarian, in his professional judgment, may treat, hospitalize or euthanize the animal without the permission of the owner. The veterinarian shall make such reports and keep such records of such sick or injured animals as may be prescribed by the Board of Veterinary Medicine, including the information required under subsection B of § 3.2-6557.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1332963,"text":"In no event shall a licensed veterinarian who has acted in good faith and properly exercised professional judgment regarding an animal be subject to liability for his actions in: (i) acting in accordance with subsection A; or (ii) reporting cases of suspected cruelty to animals.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":51236,"edition_id":2,"name":"Animal Welfare","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":2,"parent_id":51234,"metadata":{"child_laws":7,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:39:34","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:45","permalink":{"id":1425607,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51236,"identifier":"2","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51234,"edition_id":2,"name":"Comprehensive Animal Care","identifier":"65","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":5,"parent_id":51220,"metadata":{"child_laws":132,"child_structures":15},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:39:34","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:44","permalink":{"id":1425461,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51234,"identifier":"65","token":"3.2\/V\/65","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51220,"edition_id":2,"name":"Domestic Animals","identifier":"V","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":51103,"metadata":{"child_laws":207,"child_structures":28},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:39:26","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:43","permalink":{"id":1425135,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51220,"identifier":"V","token":"3.2\/V","url":"\/3.2\/V\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51103,"edition_id":2,"name":"Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","identifier":"3.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":5,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1194,"child_structures":151},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:37:33","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:27","permalink":{"id":1420941,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51103,"identifier":"3.2","token":"3.2","url":"\/3.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":358251,"structure_id":51236,"section_number":"3.2-6503","catch_line":"Care of companion animals by owner; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6503\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2\/3.2-6503","metadata":false},{"id":358250,"structure_id":51236,"section_number":"3.2-6503.1","catch_line":"Care of agricultural animals by owner; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6503.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2\/3.2-6503.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":358253,"structure_id":51236,"section_number":"3.2-6504","catch_line":"Abandonment of animal; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6504\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2\/3.2-6504","metadata":false},{"id":358252,"structure_id":51236,"section_number":"3.2-6504.1","catch_line":"Civil immunity; forcible entry of motor vehicle to remove unattended companion animal","url":"\/3.2-6504.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2\/3.2-6504.1","metadata":false},{"id":358254,"structure_id":51236,"section_number":"3.2-6505","catch_line":"Disposal of animals by means of decompression chamber and use of gas chamber for companion animals prohibited","url":"\/3.2-6505\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2\/3.2-6505","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":358255,"structure_id":51236,"section_number":"3.2-6506","catch_line":"Exceptions regarding veterinarians","url":"\/3.2-6506\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2\/3.2-6506","metadata":false},{"id":358262,"structure_id":51236,"section_number":"3.2-6507","catch_line":"Injured or sick animal; action by veterinarian","url":"\/3.2-6507\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2\/3.2-6507","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":358255,"structure_id":51236,"section_number":"3.2-6506","catch_line":"Exceptions regarding veterinarians","url":"\/3.2-6506\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2\/3.2-6506","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6507\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1984. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 492 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1984 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1987, chapter 488; in 1999, chapter 620<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":358328,"section_number":"3.2-6557","catch_line":"Animal control officers and humane investigators; limitations; records; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6557\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1425633,"object_type":"law","relational_id":358262,"identifier":"3.2-6507","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2\/3.2-6507","url":"\/3.2-6507\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6507\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/2\/3.2-6507","dublin_core":{"Title":"Injured or sick animal; action by veterinarian","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6507","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If a licensed veterinarian is called or by his own action comes upon an animal<\/span> that is sick or injured and the owner<\/span> of such animal<\/span> cannot be immediately located, then the licensed veterinarian, in his professional judgment<\/span>, may treat, hospitalize or euthanize the animal<\/span> without the permission of the owner<\/span>. The veterinarian shall make such reports and keep such records of such sick or injured animals<\/span> as may be prescribed by the Board<\/span> of Veterinary Medicine, including the information required under subsection B of § 3.2-6557<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In no event shall a licensed veterinarian who has acted in good faith and properly exercised professional judgment<\/span> regarding an animal<\/span> be subject to liability for his actions in: (i) acting in accordance with subsection A; or (ii) reporting cases of suspected cruelty to animals<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINJURED OR SICK ANIMAL; ACTION BY VETERINARIAN (\u00a7 3.2-6507)\n\nA. If a licensed veterinarian is called or by his own action comes upon an\nanimal that is sick or injured and the owner of such animal cannot be\nimmediately located, then the licensed veterinarian, in his professional\njudgment, may treat, hospitalize or euthanize the animal without the permission\nof the owner. The veterinarian shall make such reports and keep such records of\nsuch sick or injured animals as may be prescribed by the Board of Veterinary\nMedicine, including the information required under subsection B of §\n3.2-6557.\n\nB. In no event shall a licensed veterinarian who has acted in good faith and\nproperly exercised professional judgment regarding an animal be subject to\nliability for his actions in: (i) acting in accordance with subsection A; or\n(ii) reporting cases of suspected cruelty to animals.\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.46; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.76; 1999, c. 620;\n2008, c. 860.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}