[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
For the purposes of this chapter the following words and terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
ADULT CAT OR DOG
A cat or dog four months old or older.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
The officer appointed by the City Council who shall have the power to enforce Title 3.1, Chapter 27.4, Comprehensive Animal Laws, of the Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.66 et seq., and this chapter, including all laws passed for the protection of domestic animals.
BOARD
The board of agriculture and consumer services.
COMPANION ANIMAL
Any domestic or feral dog or cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit not raised for human food or fiber, exotic or native animal, reptile, exotic or native bird, or any feral animal or any animal under the care, custody or ownership of a person or any animal which is bought, sold, traded or bartered by any person. Agricultural animals, game species or any animals regulated under federal law as research animals shall not be considered companion animals for the purposes of this chapter.
DANGEROUS DOG
A canine or canine crossbreed which has bitten, attacked or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal other than a dog or killed a companion animal.
FERAL DOG OR CAT
A dog or cat which is wild or undomesticated.
KENNEL
An enclosure or structure wherein seven or more adult dogs or cats or a combination of seven adult dogs and cats are kept for the purpose of breeding, hunting, training, renting, showing or as a hobby and from which they cannot escape. It shall not mean a structure, wall or fence used to demarcate a property line.
KENNEL LICENSE
A license for adult dogs or cats or hybrids of either usually kept in a kennel except for breeding, hunting, training, renting, showing or as a hobby.
OTHER OFFICER
All persons (other than the animal control officer) employed by the City, whose duty it is to preserve the peace, to make arrests or to enforce the law.
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in a dog or cat and any person who keeps or harbors a dog or cat or has a dog or cat in his care, or who acts as its custodian.
POUND
A facility operated by the City for the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, stray, homeless, abandoned or unwanted dogs, cats or other animals.
RUNNING AT LARGE
Roaming, running or self-hunting off the property of its owner or custodian and not on leash or otherwise under its owner's or custodian's immediate control.
VICIOUS DOG
A canine or canine cross-breed which has (i) killed a person; (ii) inflicted serious injury to a person, including multiple bites, serious disfigurement or serious impairment of health or serious impairment of bodily function or (iii) continued to exhibit the behavior which resulted in a prior finding by a court that it is a dangerous dog, provided that its owner has been given notice of that finding.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
(a) 
The City Council shall appoint an officer to be known as the animal control officer. The council may also appoint one or more deputy animal control officers to assist the animal control officer in the enforcement of the Comprehensive Animal Laws of the Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.66 et seq. and in the enforcement of this chapter.
(b) 
The animal control officer and any deputy animal control officers shall serve under the supervision of the Chief of Police.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to bring into or keep in the City any dangerous animal.
(b) 
This section shall not apply to canines or canine cross-breeds or to animals kept or brought in the City in cages or other confinement in such manner as to not constitute a danger to the public at large as a part of a circus, carnival or zoo that is operated in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
(c) 
If the owner of any animal known or reasonably suspected of being dangerous fails to take it into custody after being notified to do so by the animal control officer or any police officer or if the owner of such animal cannot be determined or located within a reasonable time, such animal may be killed by the animal control officer or any police officer, if it is deemed by such officer necessary for the safety of the public.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
No person shall own, allow, permit, keep or harbor, on or about any premises in the City, any dog or other companion animal which, by barking, howling or causing frequent or long-continued noises, or which, by causing an unsanitary condition, seriously disturbs the reasonable enjoyment, sleep, rest and comfort of persons of normal nervous sensibilities and ordinary tastes, habits and modes of living. Violation of this section constitutes a Class 4 misdemeanor. Conviction of a second or subsequent violation of this section constitutes a Class 3 misdemeanor.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
(a) 
No person shall:
(1) 
Override, overdrive, overload, torture, ill-treat, abandon, willfully inflict inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation to, or cruelly or unnecessarily beat, maim, mutilate or kill any animal, belonging to himself or another.
(2) 
Deprive any animal of necessary sustenance, food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment.
(3) 
Willfully set of foot, instigate, engage in or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal.
(4) 
Carry or cause to be carried on a vehicle or other means of conveyance any animal in a cruel, brutal or inhumane manner, which produces torture or unnecessary suffering.
(5) 
Cause any of the above things, or being the owner or custodian of an animal, permit such acts to be committed by another person.
(b) 
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the dehorning of cattle.
(c) 
For the purpose of this section and § 5-8 hereinbelow, the word animal shall include birds and fowl.
(d) 
A violation of this section shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
When a sworn complaint is made to a magistrate by the animal control officer or any other officer of the City that the complainant believes and has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of the laws in relation to cruelty to animals have been, are being, or are about to be violated in any particular building or place, such magistrate, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such belief, shall issue a warrant authorizing any police officer to search such building or place. No search shall be made after sunset unless specially authorized by such magistrate upon satisfactory cause shown.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
If any person engages in the fighting of cocks, dogs or other animals or fowl for money, prize or anything of value, or upon the result of which any money or other thing of value is bet or wagered, or to which an admission fee is charged, directly or indirectly, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
Any person who abandons any dog, cat or other domesticated animal in any public place, including the right-of-way of any public highway, road or street or on the property of another, shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
It shall be unlawful for any person within the City to place or throw any dead animal onto any public property or any private property of another, to knowingly permit any dead animal to remain unburied upon his property or to retain custody of any maimed, diseased or infirm animal without submitting such animal to veterinary care. A violation of this section shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
The owner of any companion animal which has died from disease or other cause shall forthwith cremate, bury or sanitarily dispose of the same. If, after notice, any owner fails to do so, the animal control officer or other officer shall bury or cremate the companion animal and may recover for the City the cost of this service from the owner.