Code of Virginia
Chapter 65 - Comprehensive Animal Care
§ 3.2-6574. Sterilization of adopted dogs and cats; enforcement; civil penalty

A. Every new owner of a dog or cat adopted from a releasing agency shall cause to be sterilized the dog or cat pursuant to the agreement required by subdivision 2 of subsection B of this article.
B. A dog or cat shall not be released for adoption from a releasing agency unless:
1. The animal has already been sterilized; or
2. The individual adopting the animal signs an agreement to have the animal sterilized by a licensed veterinarian: (i) within 30 days of the adoption, if the animal is sexually mature; or (ii) within 30 days after the animal reaches six months of age, if the animal is not sexually mature at the time of adoption.
C. A releasing agency may extend for 30 days the date by which a dog or cat must be sterilized on presentation of a written report from a veterinarian stating that the life or health of the adopted animal may be jeopardized by sterilization. In cases involving extenuating circumstances, the veterinarian and the releasing agency may negotiate the terms of an extension of the date by which the animal must be sterilized.
D. Nothing in this section shall preclude the sterilization of a sexually immature dog or cat upon the written agreement of the veterinarian, the releasing agency, and the new owner.
E. Upon the petition of an animal control officer, humane investigator, the State Veterinarian or a State Veterinarian's representative to the district court of the county or city where a violation of this article occurs, the court may order the new owner to take any steps necessary to comply with the requirements of this article. This remedy shall be exclusive of and in addition to any civil penalty that may be imposed under this article.
F. Any person who violates subsection A or B of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $250.
1993, c. 959, § 3.1-796.126:1; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860; 2010, c. 875.

Structure Code of Virginia

Code of Virginia

Title 3.2 - Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food

Chapter 65 - Comprehensive Animal Care

§ 3.2-6500. Definitions

§ 3.2-6501. Regulations and guidelines

§ 3.2-6501.1. Regulations for the keeping of certain animals

§ 3.2-6502. State Veterinarian's power to inspect premises where animals are kept; investigations and search warrants

§ 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

§ 3.2-6505. Disposal of animals by means of decompression chamber and use of gas chamber for companion animals prohibited

§ 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

§ 3.2-6507.3. Right of entry

§ 3.2-6507.4. Concurrent operation of releasing agency prohibited

§ 3.2-6507.5. Penalty

§ 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

§ 3.2-6510. Sale of unweaned or certain immature animals prohibited, vaccinations required for dogs and cats; penalty

§ 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

§ 3.2-6512. Sale without pet dealer's animal history certificate violation of Consumer Protection Act; contents of certificate

§ 3.2-6513. Inclusion of false or misleading statements in certificate violation of Consumer Protection Act

§ 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

§ 3.2-6516. Failure of pet dealer to effect registration after promise; violation of Consumer Protection Act; remedies; veterinary certification; finding of intestinal parasites; illness subsequent to sale

§ 3.2-6517. Remedies cumulative

§ 3.2-6518. Boarding establishments and groomers; veterinary care requirements; consumer notification; penalty

§ 3.2-6519. Written notice of consumer remedies required to be supplied by boarding establishments; penalty

§ 3.2-6520. Procedure for animals left unclaimed with veterinarian or boarding establishment after public notice; lien; sale

§ 3.2-6521. Rabies inoculation of companion animals; availability of certificate; rabies clinics

§ 3.2-6522. Rabid animals

§ 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

§ 3.2-6546. County or city public animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties; injunctive relief

§ 3.2-6547. Acceptance of animals for research or experimentation; prohibition

§ 3.2-6548. Private animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties; injunctive relief

§ 3.2-6549. Releasing agencies other than public or private animal shelters; confinement and disposition of companion animals; recordkeeping; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties

§ 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. Capturing, confining, and euthanizing companion animals by animal control officers; approval of drugs used

§ 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

§ 3.2-6569. Seizure and impoundment of animals; notice and hearing; disposition of animal; disposition of proceeds upon sale

§ 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

§ 3.2-6572. Reserved

§ 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

§ 3.2-6578. Exemptions

§ 3.2-6579. Releasing agency; fees and deposits

§ 3.2-6580. Civil penalties

§ 3.2-6581. Definitions

§ 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

§ 3.2-6591. Definitions

§ 3.2-6592. Manufacturers and contract testing facilities required to use alternative test methods when available

§ 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

§ 3.2-6594. Definitions

§ 3.2-6595. Direct contact with dangerous captive animals prohibited

§ 3.2-6596. Violation; penalty