Skip to main content
US Criminal Defense.org
Menu

Virginia statute

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

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 7: Damage to and Tampering with Property, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-144.2

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-144.2Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
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.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is prohibition against making a false representation of ownership of an animal to a public or private animal shelter a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

Prohibition against making a false representation of ownership of an animal to a public or private animal shelter is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-144.2.

Which Virginia statute covers prohibition against making a false representation of ownership of an animal to a public or private animal shelter?

Prohibition against making a false representation of ownership of an animal to a public or private animal shelter is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-144.2 (Prohibition against making a false representation of ownership of an animal to a public or private animal shelter; penalty).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.