The following words used in this chapter shall
have the following meanings:
ANIMAL
Any nonhuman vertebrate species except fish. For the purposes of §
62-20, "animal" means any nonhuman species susceptible to rabies.
ANIMAL SHELTER
A facility which is used to house or contain animals and
which is owned, operated or maintained by a duly incorporated humane
society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty
to animals, animal rescue group or any other organization devoted
to the welfare, protection and humane treatment of animals.
COLLAR
A well-fitted device, appropriate to the age and size of
the animal, attached to the animal's neck in such a way as to prevent
trauma or injury to the animal.
EUTHANASIA
The humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a method
that involves instantaneous unconsciousness and immediate death or
by a method that involves anesthesia, produced by an agent which causes
painless loss of consciousness and death during such loss of consciousness.
HUMANE INVESTIGATOR
A person who has been appointed by a circuit court as a humane
investigator as provided in § 3.1-796.106 of the Code of
Virginia.
KENNEL
Any establishment in which five or more canines or hybrids
are kept for the purpose of breeding, hunting, training, renting,
buying, boarding, selling or showing.
LIVESTOCK
Includes all domestic or domesticated bovine animals; equine
animals; ovine animals; porcine animals; and animals of the genus
Lama.
OWNER
Any person who has a right of property in an animal, keeps
or harbors an animal, has an animal in his care or acts as custodian
of an animal.
POULTRY
Includes all domestic fowl and game birds raised in captivity.
POUND
A facility operated by the commonwealth or any locality for
the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, stray, homeless, abandoned
or unwanted animals; or a facility operated for the same purpose under
a contract with any County, city, town or incorporated society for
the prevention of cruelty to animals.
RELEASING AGENCY
A pound, animal shelter, humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or other similar entity that releases a dog for adoption pursuant to Article
VIII (§
62-22 et seq.) of this chapter.
The Board of Supervisors may promulgate rules
and regulations or guidelines consistent with the objectives and intent
of this chapter and of state law concerning the charge for impoundment
of animals and operation of the pound.
The animal control officer and deputy animal
control officer shall be trained as required by state law.