As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ADEQUATE CONFINEMENT
While on the property of its owner and not under the direct supervision and control of the owner or custodian, a wild carnivore shall be confined in a humane manner in a securely enclosed and locked structure of sufficient height and design to prevent the animal's escape or, if the wild carnivore is determined to be a dangerous dog pursuant to Virginia Code § 3.2-6540 (Warren County Code §
66-14.1), the structure shall prevent direct contact with any person or animal not authorized by the owner to be in direct contact with the wild carnivore; and to provide a minimum of 100 square feet of floor space for each adult animal. Tethering of a wild carnivore not under the direct supervision and control of the owner or custodian shall not be considered adequate confinement. Confinement of a wild carnivore in any structure not approved in writing by an Animal Control Officer shall not be considered adequate confinement.
[Amended 9-16-2008]
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
A person appointed as an Animal Control Officer or Deputy
Animal Control Officer as provided in Virginia Code § 3.2-6555,
or its successor statute.
[Amended 9-16-2008]
COMPANION ANIMAL
Any domestic or feral dog, domestic or feral 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 animals or any animals regulated
under federal law as research animals shall not be considered companion
animals for purposes of this chapter.
EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY
Includes, but is not limited to, a certificate signed by
a currently licensed veterinarian that the animal has been inoculated
or vaccinated against rabies, and the certificate does not have an
expiration date which is prior to the date on which the application
for a wild carnivore permit is made.
HYBRID CANINE
Any animal which is or can be demonstrated to be a hybrid
of the domestic dog and any other species of the Canidae family; that
at any time has been permitted, registered, licensed, or advertised
as such; or that at any time has been described, represented or reported
as such by its owner to a licensed veterinarian, law enforcement officer,
Animal Control Officer, humane investigator, official of the Department
of Health, or State Veterinarian's representative.
[Amended 7-15-2014]
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Any person who is a full-time or part-time employee of a
police department or sheriff's office which is part of or administered
by the Commonwealth of Virginia or any political subdivision thereof
and who is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and
the enforcement of the penal, traffic or highway laws of the commonwealth.
Part-time employees are compensated officers who are not full-time
employees as defined by the employing police department or sheriff's
office.
LIVESTOCK
Includes all domestic or domesticated bovine animals; equine
animals; ovine animals; porcine animals; cervidae animals; capradae
animals; animals of the genus Lama; large, flightless birds; ratites;
fish or shellfish in aquaculture facilities, as defined in Virginia
Code § 3.2-2600 or its successor statute; enclosed domesticated
rabbits or hares raised for human food or fiber; or any other individual
animal specifically raised for food or fiber, except companion animals.
[Amended 9-16-2008; 7-15-2014]
RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP
The ownership and humane care of a wild carnivore in such
a manner as to comply with all laws and ordinances regarding wild
carnivores and prevent endangerment by the animal to public health
and safety.
TREASURER
The Treasurer of Warren County, Virginia, or the Treasurer's
designee.
WILD CARNIVORE
Any carnivorous or omnivorous nonprimate mammal, other than
a domesticated dog or domesticated housecat, of greater than 10 pounds'
weight and shall include, but not be limited to, bears, cats, hybrid
canines, wolves, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and members of the weasel
family which is owned, harbored, kept, possessed, or confined by a
person.
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess,
own, harbor, keep or confine more than two wild carnivores more than
six months of age.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own,
harbor, possess, keep or confine any wild carnivore on any property
unless such person shall cause to be placed on such property a sign
or signs, of not less than one foot by one foot in size, in a place
or places where it or they may be readily seen from any place of entry
onto such property, which sign shall have on it the words "WARNING
- BEWARE OF WILD CARNIVORE ON PROPERTY" and which words shall be composed
of letters, each not less than one inch in height and width and conspicuously
colored in black or red.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning,
harboring, possessing, keeping or confining any wild carnivore to
allow such wild carnivore off the property of the owner, harborer,
possessor, keeper or confiner of such wild carnivore unless the wild
carnivore is kept on a leash or other restraint of sufficient size
and strength to cause such wild carnivore to be under the handler's
immediate control, and with the wild carnivore's jaws muzzled and
claws covered in such a manner as not to cause injury to the animal
or interfere with the animal's vision or respiration, but so as to
prevent it from biting or clawing a person or other animal.
It shall be deemed a violation of this article
for any person to own, keep, harbor, possess, or have custody of any
wild carnivore which has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on
a person or companion animal.