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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>358335</law_id><section_number>3.2-6562</section_number><catch_line>Capturing, confining, and euthanizing companion animals by animal control officers; approval of drugs used</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-6540.03</reference><reference>3.2-6540.1</reference><reference>3.2-6543</reference><reference>3.2-6582</reference></referred_to_by><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="8" identifier="7">Animal Control Officers and Humane Investigators</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>It shall be the duty of the <span class="dictionary">animal control officer</span> or any <span class="dictionary">other officer</span> to capture and confine any <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span> of unknown ownership found running at large on which the license fee has not been paid. Following the expiration of the holding period prescribed in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="County or city public animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties; injunctive relief" href="/3.2-6546/">3.2-6546</a>, the <span class="dictionary">animal control officer</span> or <span class="dictionary">other officer</span> may deliver such <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span> to any person in his <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> who will pay the required license fee on such <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span>. Prior to <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> by <span class="dictionary">euthanasia</span> or otherwise, all the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="County or city public animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties; injunctive relief" href="/3.2-6546/">3.2-6546</a> shall have been complied with. For all <span class="dictionary">companion animals</span> not otherwise disposed of as provided for in this chapter, it shall be the duty of the <span class="dictionary">animal control officer</span> or any <span class="dictionary">other officer</span> to euthanize such <span class="dictionary">companion animals</span>. Any person, <span class="dictionary">animal control officer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">other officer</span> euthanizing a <span class="dictionary">companion animal</span> under this chapter shall cremate, bury, or sanitarily dispose of the same.</p><p>All drugs and drug administering equipment used by <span class="dictionary">animal control officers</span> or <span class="dictionary">other officers</span> to capture <span class="dictionary">companion animals</span> pursuant to this chapter shall have been approved by the <span class="dictionary">State Veterinarian</span>.</p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492, &#xA7; 29-213.88; 1987, c. 488, &#xA7; 3.1-796.119; 1991, c. 348; 1997, c. 159; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>Toni Sue Stacey v. Commonwealth of Virginia</name><case_number>1099192</case_number><citation></citation><date>2021-03-09</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4862145/toni-sue-stacey-v-commonwealth-of-virginia/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
