Virginia § 18.2-144.2 Prohibition against making a false representation of ownership of an animal to a public or private animal shelter; penalty

Virginia Statutes

§ 18.2-144.2 — Prohibition against making a false representation of ownership of an animal to a public or private animal shelter; penalty

Virginia § 18.2-144.2

Title 18.2CRIMES AND OFFENSES GENERALLY

Ch. 5CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY

Art. 7DAMAGE TO AND TAMPERING WITH PROPERTY

This text of Virginia § 18.2-144.2 (Prohibition against making a false representation of ownership of an animal to a public or private animal shelter; penalty) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-144.2 (2026).

Text

A.It shall be unlawful for any person to deliver or release any animal not owned by that person to a public or private animal shelter or humane society, as these terms are defined in § 3.2-6500, or to any other similar facility for animals, or any agent thereof, and to falsely represent to such facility or agent that such person is the owner of the animal.

B.A violation of subsection A is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

C.No public or private animal shelter, humane society or other similar facility for animals, or the directors or employees of any such business or facility, shall, in the absence of gross negligence, be civilly liable for accepting and disposing of any animal in good faith from a person who falsely claims to be the owner of the animal.

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A. It shall be unlawful for any person to deliver or release any animal not owned by that person to a public or private animal shelter or humane society, as these terms are defined in § 3.2-6500, or to any other similar facility for animals, or any agent thereof, and to falsely represent to such facility or agent that such person is the owner of the animal.

B. A violation of subsection A is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

C. No public or private animal shelter, humane society or other similar facility for animals, or the directors or employees of any such business or facility, shall, in the absence of gross negligence, be civilly liable for accepting and disposing of any animal in good faith from a person who falsely claims to be the owner of the animal.