§ 10-6. Cruelty to animals; penalty.

(a)

For the purposes of this section, the word "animal" shall be construed to include birds and fowl.

(b)

Any person shall be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor if the person:

(1)

Overrides, overdrives, overloads, tortures, ill-treats, abandons, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly or unnecessarily beats, maims, mutilates, or kills any animal, whether belonging to himself or another;

(2)

Deprives any animal of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment;

(3)

Willfully sets on foot, instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal;

(4)

Carries or causes to be carried in or upon any vehicle, vessel or otherwise any animal in a cruel, brutal, or inhumane manner, so as to produce torture or unnecessary suffering; or

(5)

Causes any of the things stated in this subsection or, being the owner of such animal, permits such acts to be done by another.

(c)

Any person who abandons any dog, cat or other domesticated animal in any public place, including the right-of-way of any public highway, road or street or on the property of another, shall be guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.

(d)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the dehorning of cattle.

(e)

This section shall not prohibit authorized wildlife management activities or hunting, fishing or trapping as regulated under the Code of Virginia, including but not limited to Code of Virginia, title 29.1, or to farming activities as provided under Code of Virginia, title 3.1, or regulations promulgated thereto.

(f)

In addition to the penalties provided in subsection (b) of this section, the court may, in its discretion, require any person convicted of a violation of subsection (b) of this section to attend an anger management or other appropriate treatment program or obtain psychiatric or psychological counseling. The court may impose the costs of such a program or counseling upon the person convicted.

(g)

It is unlawful for any person to kill a domestic dog or cat for the purpose of obtaining the hide, fur or pelt of the dog or cat. A violation of this subsection shall constitute a class 1 misdemeanor.

(Code 1992, § 3-6)

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.122 et seq.

(Code 1992, § 3-6)

State law reference

Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.122 et seq.