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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>358357</law_id><section_number>3.2-6582</section_number><catch_line>Hybrid canine ordinance; penalty</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="12" identifier="11">Hybrid Canines</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any locality may, by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, establish a permit system to ensure the <span class="dictionary">adequate confinement</span> and <span class="dictionary">responsible ownership</span> of <span class="dictionary">hybrid canines</span>. Such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may include requirements pertaining to (i) the term and expiration date of the permit; (ii) the number of <span class="dictionary">hybrid canines</span> that may be owned by a permittee; (iii) identification tags or tattooing of the <span class="dictionary">animal</span>; (iv) where the <span class="dictionary">animal</span> may be kept; (v) handling of the <span class="dictionary">animal</span> while not on the property of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>; and (vi) information required to be provided when applying for a permit, such as the sex, color, height, vaccination records, length, or identifying marks of the <span class="dictionary">hybrid canine</span>. The <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall not require that <span class="dictionary">hybrid canines</span> be disposed of by the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> unless the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> fails to obtain or renew any required permit or violates a provision of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> or any other <span class="dictionary">law</span> pertaining to the <span class="dictionary">responsible ownership</span> of the <span class="dictionary">hybrid canine</span>. The locality may impose a permit fee to cover the cost of the permitting system. <a id="paragraph-1333363" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6582/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Violation of an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> enacted pursuant to subsection A is a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> for the first violation and a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> for any subsequent violation. The <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may require a violator to surrender the <span class="dictionary">hybrid canine</span> for <span class="dictionary">euthanasia</span> in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Capturing, confining, and euthanizing companion animals by animal control officers; approval of drugs used" href="/3.2-6562/">3.2-6562</a>. <a id="paragraph-1333364" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6582/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The provisions of subsections A and B shall not affect any <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> adopted prior to July 1, 1997. <a id="paragraph-1333365" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6582/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Any locality may, by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, prohibit the keeping of <span class="dictionary">hybrid canines</span>. <a id="paragraph-1333366" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6582/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, c. 918, &#xA7; 3.1-796.126:9; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 461.</history><metadata><court_decisions></court_decisions></metadata></law>
