§ 5-27. Dogs killing or injuring livestock or poultry.

It shall be the duty of the animal protection police officer supervisor or other officer who may find a dog in the act of killing or injuring livestock or poultry to seize or kill such dog forthwith whether such dog bears a tag or not. Any person finding a dog committing any of the depredations mentioned in this section shall have the right to kill such dog on sight, as shall any owner of livestock or his agent finding a dog chasing livestock on land utilized by the livestock when the circumstances show that such chasing is harmful to the livestock. If the animal protection police officer supervisor has reason to believe that a dog is killing livestock or poultry, he is empowered to seize such dog solely for the purpose of examining such dog in order to determine whether it committed any of the depredations mentioned in this section. The animal protection police officer supervisor or any other person who has reason to believe that any dog is killing livestock or committing any of the depredations mentioned in this section shall apply to any magistrate of the county for a warrant requiring the owner or custodian, if known, to appear before the county general district court at a time and place named therein, at which time evidence shall be heard.

(Code 1980, § 4-19; Code 1995, § 5-31; Ord. No. 1148, § 6(5-31), 8-10-2010; Ord. No. 1201, § 1, 8-12-2014)

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6652.

(Code 1980, § 4-19; Code 1995, § 5-31; Ord. No. 1148, § 6(5-31), 8-10-2010; Ord. No. 1201, § 1, 8-12-2014)

State law reference

Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6652.