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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>358262</law_id><section_number>3.2-6507</section_number><catch_line>Injured or sick animal; action by veterinarian</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="5" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="5" identifier="V">Domestic Animals</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="5" identifier="65">Comprehensive Animal Care</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="2" identifier="2">Animal Welfare</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If a licensed veterinarian is called or by his own action comes upon an <span class="dictionary">animal</span> that is sick or injured and the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of such <span class="dictionary">animal</span> cannot be immediately located, then the licensed veterinarian, in his professional <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>, may treat, hospitalize or euthanize the <span class="dictionary">animal</span> without the permission of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>. The veterinarian shall make such reports and keep such records of such sick or injured <span class="dictionary">animals</span> as may be prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Veterinary Medicine, including the information required under subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Animal control officers and humane investigators; limitations; records; penalties" href="/3.2-6557/">3.2-6557</a>. <a id="paragraph-1332962" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6507/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In no event shall a licensed veterinarian who has acted in good faith and properly exercised professional <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> regarding an <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">animals</span>. <a id="paragraph-1332963" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6507/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492, &#xA7; 29-213.46; 1987, c. 488, &#xA7; 3.1-796.76; 1999, c. 620; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
