Any person who, without justification, and with the unlawful intent to inflict serious physical injury or death, causes the death of any trained dog or horse used by law-enforcement officials, the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety or by fire prevention or investigation officials in the performance of their official duties is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 and imprisoned in a correctional facility for a definite term of not less than one year nor more than three years.
Any person who, without justification, willfully and unlawfully causes physical injury to any trained dog or horse used by law-enforcement officials, the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety or by fire prevention or investigation officials in the performance of their official duties is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $500 or confined in jail not more than six months, or both.
Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be ordered to make restitution to the law-enforcement agency, the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety or to the State Fire Marshal or other fire prevention or investigation department or agency owning the animal for any veterinary bills, and replacement costs of any disabled or killed animal.
Structure West Virginia Code
§19-20-1. Dogs Subject to Taxation; Declared to Be Personal Property
§19-20-3. Registration of Dog Kennels; Application; Fee; Expiration of Certificate of Registration
§19-20-4. Forms for Registration; Records; Registration Tags; Loss Thereof
§19-20-5. Wearing of Registration Tag by Dog
§19-20-7. Dog Pound and Equipment to Be Provided by County Court [County Commission]; Exception
§19-20-8. Impounding and Disposition of Dogs; Costs and Fees
§19-20-9a. Dogs, Cats, etc.; Rabies Observation
§19-20-10. Dog and Kennel Fund; Disposition Thereof
§19-20-11. Assessment of Dogs as Personal Property
§19-20-13. Dog Running at Large; Liability of Owner
§19-20-14. Dog Killing, Wounding or Worrying Livestock or Poultry -- Recovery of Damages
§19-20-15. Same -- Assessment of Damages; Appraisers
§19-20-16. Same -- When Lawful to Kill Dog
§19-20-17. Same -- Unlawful to Harbor Dog; Penalty
§19-20-19. Offenses; Criminal Penalties; Jurisdiction
§19-20-19a. Dog Warden and Deputy Dog Wardens; Power to Issue Citations
§19-20-20. Keeping Vicious Dogs; Humane Officers May Kill Such Dogs
§19-20-21. License Fee for Keeping Vicious or Dangerous Dog
§19-20-22. Confinement of Female Dogs
§19-20-23. Prohibition of the Use of Impounded Dogs and Cats
§19-20-25. Retirement, Transfer or Disposal of State Owned Dogs and Horses