§ 41.1-2-7. Controlling dangerous and vicious dogs.

1.

If a canine or canine crossbreed previously found by the court to be a dangerous dog pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 3.2-6540 attacks and injures or kills a cat or dog that is a companion animal belonging to another person, and that attack is a separate and distinct incident from the incident that led to the finding, then the owner or custodian of the dangerous dog is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

2.

If a canine or canine crossbreed previously found by the court to be a dangerous dog pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 3.2-6540 bites a human being or attacks a human being causing bodily injury, and that bite or attack is a separate and distinct incident from the incident that led to the finding, then the owner or custodian of the dangerous dog is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 of this section shall not apply to any animal that, at the time of the acts complained of, was responding to pain or injury or was protecting itself, its kennel, its offspring, a person, or its owner's or custodian's property, or when the animal is a police dog that is engaged in the performance of its duties at the time of the attack.

3.

If the owner of any canine or canine crossbreed previously found by the court to be a dangerous dog pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 3.2-6540 willfully fails to comply with the requirements imposed as a result of the finding that the animal is a dangerous dog, then that owner is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (20-06-41.1; 67-08-41.1.)