No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild, exotic or vicious animal, as those
terms are defined in Section 41.1-1-1, for any purposes, except that this prohibition shall not apply to a single certified
service animal in a household, zoological parks, traveling animal exhibitions, circuses
or veterinary clinics that are properly licensed by the Federal Government or Commonwealth
of Virginia. The wild or exotic animals of such licensed establishments shall not
be exhibited or displayed in such a manner that persons other than their handlers
can pet, fondle, or otherwise come in direct physical contact with such animals; however
this prohibition shall not apply to the riding of elephants by persons other than
the elephants' handlers while under the direct supervision of the elephants' handlers
where such elephants are performing in zoological parks, animal exhibitions or circuses
which are properly licensed by the Federal Government or the Commonwealth of Virginia
and Fairfax County. (26-04-41.1.)