A. When an animal is boarded at a boarding establishment, or under the care, custody or subject to the actions of a groomer, the boarding establishment or groomer shall be responsible for providing the animal care requirements for each animal as specified in § 3.2-6503.
B. If an animal becomes ill or injured while in the custody of the boarding establishment or groomer, the boarding establishment or groomer shall provide the animal with emergency veterinary treatment for the illness or injury. The consumer shall bear the reasonable and necessary costs of emergency veterinary treatment for any illness or injury occurring while the animal is in the custody of the boarding establishment or groomer. The boarding establishment or groomer shall pay for veterinary treatment of any injury that the animal sustains while at the establishment or under the care or custody of a groomer if the injury resulted from the establishment's or groomer's failure, whether accidental or intentional, to provide the care required by § 3.2-6503, or if the injury is a result of the actions of the boarding establishment or groomer. Boarding establishments and groomers shall not be required to bear the cost of veterinary treatment for injuries resulting from the animal's self-mutilation.
C. If an animal is seized from a boarding establishment or groomer because of the establishment's or groomer's failure to provide adequate food, water, shelter, exercise, and care as defined in § 3.2-6500 and required by § 3.2-6503 or because of any other violation of this chapter, the animal shall be returned to the rightful owner as soon as possible or, if the owner refuses to reclaim the animal, be impounded and disposition made pursuant to § 3.2-6569.
D. Violation of this section by a boarding establishment or groomer is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
1993, c. 174, § 3.1-796.83:1; 1996, c. 249; 2008, c. 860.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 3.2 - Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food
Chapter 65 - Comprehensive Animal Care
§ 3.2-6501. Regulations and guidelines
§ 3.2-6501.1. Regulations for the keeping of certain animals
§ 3.2-6503. Care of companion animals by owner; penalty
§ 3.2-6503.1. Care of agricultural animals by owner; penalty
§ 3.2-6504. Abandonment of animal; penalty
§ 3.2-6504.1. Civil immunity; forcible entry of motor vehicle to remove unattended companion animal
§ 3.2-6506. Exceptions regarding veterinarians
§ 3.2-6507. Injured or sick animal; action by veterinarian
§ 3.2-6507.1. Business license required
§ 3.2-6507.2. Commercial dog breeding; requirements
§ 3.2-6507.4. Concurrent operation of releasing agency prohibited
§ 3.2-6507.6. Duty of attorneys for the Commonwealth
§ 3.2-6508. Transporting animals; requirements; penalty
§ 3.2-6508.1. Sale of dogs or cats prohibited in certain places
§ 3.2-6509. Misrepresentation of animal's condition; penalties
§ 3.2-6509.1. Disclosure of animal bite history; penalties
§ 3.2-6511. Failure of dealer or pet shop to provide adequate care; penalty; report
§ 3.2-6511.1. Pet shops; procurement of dogs; penalty
§ 3.2-6511.2. Dealers; importation and sale of dogs and cats; penalty
§ 3.2-6513.1. Pet shops; posting of information about dogs
§ 3.2-6513.2. Rental or lease of dog or cat prohibited; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6514. Consumer remedies for receipt of diseased animal upon certification by veterinarian
§ 3.2-6515. Written notice of consumer remedies required to be supplied by pet dealers
§ 3.2-6517. Remedies cumulative
§ 3.2-6521. Rabies inoculation of companion animals; availability of certificate; rabies clinics
§ 3.2-6523. Inoculation for rabies at public or private animal shelters
§ 3.2-6524. Unlicensed dogs prohibited; ordinances for licensing cats
§ 3.2-6525. Regulations to prevent spread of rabies
§ 3.2-6526. What dog or cat license shall consist of
§ 3.2-6527. How to obtain license
§ 3.2-6528. Amount of license tax
§ 3.2-6529. Veterinarians to provide treasurer with rabies certificate information; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6530. When license tax payable
§ 3.2-6531. Displaying receipts; dogs to wear tags
§ 3.2-6532. Duplicate license tags
§ 3.2-6533. Effect of dog or cat not wearing a license tag as evidence
§ 3.2-6534. Disposition of funds
§ 3.2-6535. Supplemental funds
§ 3.2-6536. Payment of license tax subsequent to summons
§ 3.2-6537. Ordinances; penalties
§ 3.2-6537.1. Cash bond for a pet shop obtaining certain dogs
§ 3.2-6538. Governing body of any locality may prohibit dogs from running at large; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6539. Ordinance requiring dogs to be kept on leash
§ 3.2-6540. Dangerous dogs; investigation, summons, and hearing
§ 3.2-6540.01. Obligations of officer and owner following dangerous dog finding
§ 3.2-6540.02. Notice of dangerous dog finding; penalty
§ 3.2-6540.03. Violation of law by owner of dangerous dog; penalty
§ 3.2-6540.04. Subsequent attack or bite by dangerous dog; penalty
§ 3.2-6540.1. Vicious dogs; penalties
§ 3.2-6541. Authority to prohibit training of attack dogs
§ 3.2-6541.1. Authority to prohibit ownership of particular breed
§ 3.2-6542. Establishment of Dangerous Dog Registry
§ 3.2-6542.1. Renewal of dangerous dog registration
§ 3.2-6542.2. Dangerous dog fees; local fund
§ 3.2-6543. Governing body of any locality may adopt certain ordinances
§ 3.2-6543.1. Authority to enact parallel dangerous dog ordinance
§ 3.2-6544. Regulation of keeping of animals and fowl
§ 3.2-6545. Regulation of sale of animals procured from animal shelters
§ 3.2-6547. Acceptance of animals for research or experimentation; prohibition
§ 3.2-6550. Requirements for foster homes; penalty
§ 3.2-6551. Notification by individuals finding companion animals; penalty
§ 3.2-6552. Dogs killing, injuring, or chasing livestock or poultry
§ 3.2-6553. Compensation for livestock and poultry killed by dogs
§ 3.2-6554. Disposal of dead companion animals
§ 3.2-6555. Position of animal control officer created
§ 3.2-6556. Training of animal control officers
§ 3.2-6557. Animal control officers and humane investigators; limitations; records; penalties
§ 3.2-6558. Humane investigators; qualifications; appointment; term
§ 3.2-6559. Powers and duties of humane investigators
§ 3.2-6560. Expenses of humane investigators
§ 3.2-6561. Revocation of appointment of humane investigators
§ 3.2-6562.1. Rabies exposure; local authority and responsibility plan
§ 3.2-6562.2. Rabies exposure reports
§ 3.2-6563. When animals to be euthanized; procedure
§ 3.2-6564. Complaint of suspected violation; investigation
§ 3.2-6565. Impoundment; expenses; lien; disposition of animal
§ 3.2-6566. Preventing cruelty to animals; interference; penalty
§ 3.2-6567. Enforcement authority
§ 3.2-6568. Power of search for violations of statutes against cruelty to animals
§ 3.2-6570. Cruelty to animals; penalty
§ 3.2-6570.1. Sale of animals after cruelty or neglect conviction; penalty
§ 3.2-6571. Animal fighting; penalty
§ 3.2-6573. Shooting birds for amusement, and renting premises for such purposes; penalty
§ 3.2-6574. Sterilization of adopted dogs and cats; enforcement; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6575. Sterilization agreement
§ 3.2-6576. Sterilization confirmation; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6577. Notification concerning lost, stolen or dead dogs or cats; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6579. Releasing agency; fees and deposits
§ 3.2-6582. Hybrid canine ordinance; penalty
§ 3.2-6583. Hybrid canines killing, injuring or chasing livestock
§ 3.2-6584. Compensation for livestock and poultry killed by hybrid canines
§ 3.2-6585. Dogs and cats deemed personal property; rights relating thereto
§ 3.2-6585.1. Duty to identify; scanning for microchip
§ 3.2-6586. Dog injuring or killing other companion animals
§ 3.2-6587. Unlawful acts; penalties
§ 3.2-6588. Intentional interference with a guide or leader dog; penalty
§ 3.2-6589. Selling garments containing dog or cat fur prohibited; penalty
§ 3.2-6590. Jurisdiction of general district courts; right of appeal
§ 3.2-6592.1. Breeding cats and dogs for experimental purposes
§ 3.2-6593. Enforcement; civil action; penalty
§ 3.2-6593.1. Animal testing facilities; adoption of dogs and cats
§ 3.2-6595. Direct contact with dangerous captive animals prohibited