Authority of Local Governing Bodies

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This is Article 6 of the Code of Virginia, titled “Authority of Local Governing Bodies.” It is part of Chapter 65 “Comprehensive Animal Care”, which is part of Subtitle V “Domestic Animals”, which is part of Title 3.2 “Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food”. It contains 28 laws.

It’s comprised of the following 28 sections.

§ 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