Virginia § 18.2-52.2 Animal attack resulting from owner's disregard for human life; penalty

Virginia Statutes

§ 18.2-52.2 — Animal attack resulting from owner's disregard for human life; penalty

Virginia § 18.2-52.2

Title 18.2Crimes and Offenses Generally

Ch. 4Crimes Against the Person

Art. 4Assaults and Bodily Woundings

This text of Virginia § 18.2-52.2 (Animal attack resulting from owner's disregard for human life; 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. § 18.2-52.2 (2026).

Text

A.Any owner of an animal is guilty of a Class 6 felony if his willful act or omission in the care, control, or containment of such animal is so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life and is the proximate cause of such animal attacking and causing serious bodily injury to any person.

B.The provisions of subsection A shall not apply to any animal that at the time of the act complained of was responding to pain or injury, was protecting itself, its kennel, its offspring, a person, or its owner's property, or was a police dog engaged in the performance of its duties at the time of the attack.

C.The court may determine that a person convicted under this section shall be prohibited from owning, possessing, or residing on the same property with an animal o

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A. Any owner of an animal is guilty of a Class 6 felony if his willful act or omission in the care, control, or containment of such animal is so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life and is the proximate cause of such animal attacking and causing serious bodily injury to any person.

B. The provisions of subsection A shall not apply to any animal that at the time of the act complained of was responding to pain or injury, was protecting itself, its kennel, its offspring, a person, or its owner's property, or was a police dog engaged in the performance of its duties at the time of the attack.

C. The court may determine that a person convicted under this section shall be prohibited from owning, possessing, or residing on the same property with an animal of the type that led to such conviction.