A. The following shall be unlawful acts and are Class 4 misdemeanors:
- 1. For any person to make a false statement in order to secure a dog or cat license to which he is not entitled.
- 2. For any dog or cat owner to fail to pay any license tax required by this chapter before February 1 for the year in which it is due. In addition, the court may order confiscation and the proper disposition of the dog or cat.
- 3. For any dog owner to allow a dog to run at large in violation of an ordinance passed pursuant to § 3.2-6539.
- 4. Unless otherwise punishable under subsection B, for any person to fail to obey an ordinance passed pursuant to §§ 3.2-6522 and 3.2-6525.
- 5. For any owner to fail to dispose of the body of his companion animals in accordance with § 3.2-6554.
- 6. For the owner of any dog or cat with a contagious or infectious disease, other than rabies, to permit such dog or cat to stray from his premises if such disease is known to the owner.
- 7. For any person to conceal or harbor any dog or cat on which any required license tax has not been paid.
- 8. For any person, except the owner or custodian, to remove a legally acquired license tag from a dog or cat without the permission of the owner or custodian.
- 9. Any other violation of this chapter for which a specific penalty is not provided.
B. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to:
- 1. Present a false claim or to receive any money on a false claim under the provisions of § 3.2-6553.
- 2. Impersonate a humane investigator.
- 3. Permit a dog or cat that he owns or is in his custody to stray from his premises when he knows or has been told by the local health department, law-enforcement agency, animal control agency, or any other person who has a duty to control or respond to a risk of rabies exposure that the dog or cat is suspected of having rabies.
1984, c. 492, § 29-213.99; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.128; 1993, cc. 174, 775, 817; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860; 2020, c. 1183.