{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-3.2-6504","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 3.2-6504","heading":"Abandonment of animal; penalty","body":"No person shall abandon or dump any animal. Violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the release of an animal by its owner to a public or private animal shelter or other releasing agency.1984, c. 492, § 29-213.43; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.73; 1993, c. 174; 2002, cc. 351, 787; 2003, c. 1007; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 148; 2018, c. 416.","path":["Title 3.2. Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","Subtitle V. Domestic Animals","Chapter 65. Comprehensive Animal Care","Article 2. Animal Welfare"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/3.2-6504/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:19Z","sha256":"aea17a736e6f331278e554832424b39758706882d4a5d4eb4bc63f503872d471","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-3.2-6503.1","next":"us-va/va.-code-3.2-6504.1"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}