Virginia § 3.2-6588 Intentional interference with a guide or leader dog; penalty

Virginia Statutes

§ 3.2-6588 — Intentional interference with a guide or leader dog; penalty

Virginia § 3.2-6588

JurisdictionVirginia

Title 3.2Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food

Subtitle VDomestic Animals

Ch. 65Comprehensive Animal Care

Art. 12Miscellaneous Provisions

This text of Virginia § 3.2-6588 (Intentional interference with a guide or leader dog; 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. § 3.2-6588 (2026).

Text

A. It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully impede or interfere with the duties performed by a dog if the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 misdemeanor. B. It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully injure a dog if the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor. "Guide or leader dog" means a dog that:

(i)serves as a dog guide for a blind person as defined in § 51.5-60 or for a person with a visual disability;

(ii)serves as a listener for a deaf or hard-of-hearing person as defined in § 51.5-111; or (iii) provides support or assistance for an individual with a physical disability.

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A. It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully impede or interfere with the duties performed by a dog if the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

B. It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully injure a dog if the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

"Guide or leader dog" means a dog that: (i) serves as a dog guide for a blind person as defined in § 51.5-60 or for a person with a visual disability; (ii) serves as a listener for a deaf or hard-of-hearing person as defined in § 51.5-111; or (iii) provides support or assistance for an individual with a physical disability.