A. 
All dogs shall be deemed personal property and may be the subject of larceny and malicious or unlawful trespass. Owners, as defined in § 62-1, may maintain any action for the killing of any such animals, or injury thereto or unlawful detention or use thereof as in the case of other personal property. The owner of any dog which is injured or killed contrary to the provisions of this chapter by any person shall be entitled to recover the value thereof or the damage done thereto in an appropriate action at law from such person.
B. 
An animal control officer finding a stolen dog or a dog held or detained contrary to law shall have authority to seize and hold such animal pending action before a general district court or other court. If no such action is instituted within seven days, the animal control officer or other officer shall deliver the dog to its owner.
C. 
The presence of a dog on the premises of a person other than its legal owner shall raise no presumption of theft against the owner, and the animal control officer may take such animal in charge and notify its legal owner to remove it. The legal owner of the animal shall pay the impoundment fee set forth in § 62-13C.
A. 
The following shall be unlawful acts and constitute Class 4 misdemeanors:
(1) 
License application. For any person to make a false statement in order to secure a dog license to which he is not entitled.
(2) 
License tax. For any dog owner to fail to pay any license tax required by this chapter before February 1 for the year in which it is due. In addition, the court may order confiscation and the property disposition of the dog.
(3) 
Leash ordinance. For any dog owner to allow a dog to run at large in violation of § 62-12.
(4) 
Rabies regulations. For any person to fail to obey the provision of Article VII hereof.
(5) 
Dead dogs. For any owner to fail to dispose of the body of his dog in accordance with § 62-18.
(6) 
Diseased dogs. For the owner of any dog with a contagious or infectious disease to permit such dog to stray from his premises if such disease is known to the owner.
(7) 
Concealing a dog. For any person to conceal or harbor any dog on which any required license tax has not been paid.
(8) 
Removing collar and tag. For any person, except the owner or custodian, to remove a legally acquired license tag from a dog without the permission of the owner or custodian.
(9) 
Other violations. Any other violation of this chapter for which a specific penalty is not provided.
B. 
It shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to:
(1) 
Present a false claim or to receive any money on a false claim under the provisions of § 62-16.1; or
(2) 
Impersonate a humane investigator.
A. 
It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully impede or interfere with the duties performed by a dog if the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog. A violation of this subsection is punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor.
B. 
It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully injure a dog if the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog. A violation of this subsection is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
C. 
"Guide" or "leader dog" means a dog that serves as a dog guide for a blind person as defined in 63.1-142 of the Code of Virginia or for a person with a visual disability; serves as a listener for a deaf or hard-of-hearing person as defined in § 63.1-85.3:1 of the Code of Virginia; or provides support or assistance for a physically disabled or handicapped person.
It shall be unlawful to harbor or keep any dog which by loud, frequent, habitual barking or howling disturbs the peace and quiet of any person or neighborhood. Any person annoyed by such loud, frequent or habitual barking or howling may enter his or her written complaint by summons returnable to the general district court. A violation of this section shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor.