A. Every locality employing animal control officers shall require that every animal control officer and deputy animal control officer completes the following training:
1. A basic animal control course that has been approved by the State Veterinarian. The basic animal control course shall include training in recognizing suspected child abuse and neglect and information on how complaints may be filed and shall be approved and implemented. Any animal control officer hired on or after July 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2017, shall complete the basic animal control course within two years from the date of hire. Any animal control officer hired on or after July 1, 2017, shall complete the basic animal control course within one year from the date of hire or within two years if the officer is attending a law-enforcement academy; and
2. Every three years, additional training approved by the State Veterinarian, 15 hours of which shall be training in animal control and protection.
The State Veterinarian shall develop criteria to be used in approving training courses and shall provide an opportunity for public comment on proposed criteria before the final criteria are adopted.
Subdivision 1 shall not apply to animal control officers or deputy animal control officers hired before July 1, 1998. The State Veterinarian may grant exemptions from the requirements of subdivision 1 to animal control officers hired on or after July 1, 1998, based on the animal control officer's previous training.
The State Veterinarian shall work to ensure the availability of these training courses through regional criminal justice training academies or other entities as approved by him. Based on information provided by authorized training entities, the State Veterinarian shall maintain the training records for all animal control officers for the purpose of documenting and ensuring that they are in compliance with this subsection.
B. Upon cause shown by a locality, the State Veterinarian may grant additional time during which the training required by subsection A may be completed by an animal control officer for the locality.
C. Any animal control officer that fails to complete the training required by subsection A shall be removed from office, unless the State Veterinarian has granted additional time as provided in subsection B.
1998, c. 817, § 3.1-796.104:1; 2002, c. 418; 2004, c. 181; 2008, c. 860; 2016, cc. 60, 172.
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