DOGS AND CATS

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 4, art. IV, div. 2

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-365 Vaccination required.

Sec. 4-365. - Vaccination required. It shall be unlawful for any person to own any dog or cat four months of age or older within the City unless such dog or cat has been vaccinated with a species-appropriate rabies vaccine approved by the State Department of Health, administered by a currently licensed veterinarian, and has received any required revaccination against rabies as specified in the certificate. (Code 1993, § 4-91; Code 2004, § 10-286; Code 2015, § 4-365; Code 2020, § 4-365)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-366 Certificate of vaccination.

Sec. 4-366. - Certificate of vaccination. (a) Upon vaccination or revaccination of a dog or cat as required by this division, a certificate of vaccination signed by the licensed veterinarian performing the vaccination shall be issued to the owner of such dog or cat for the purpose of obtaining a license. The veterinarian shall issue to the owner of such dog or cat a rabies tag supplied by the City. The tag shall be of a shape, color and size prescribed by the Director. (b) The certificate issued pursuant to Subsection (a) of this section shall be approved by the Director. The certificate shall include the following information: (1) The date of vaccination; (2) The date for required revaccination; (3) The dog's or cat's age, sex, breed, color, name; (4) The rabies tag number; (5) The name and address of the dog's or cat's owner; (6) The veterinarian's name, which shall be printed or stamped on the form; and (7) The signature of the veterinarian. (c) The certificate issued pursuant to Subsection (a) of this section shall be preserved by the owner of the dog or cat and exhibited for inspection to the Director, any animal control officer, or any other law enforcement officer upon request. (d) Within 30 days from the date on which a dog or cat is first owned or moved into the City, such dog or cat shall be vaccinated in accordance with this division, provided that the dog or cat is four months of age or older. (Code 1993, § 4-92; Code 2004, § 10-287; Code 2015, § 4-366; Code 2020, § 4-366)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-367 Rabies vaccination tag.

Sec. 4-367. - Rabies vaccination tag. The current rabies vaccination tag shall be securely fastened to a collar by the owner of any dog or cat, and the collar, with the tag attached, shall be worn by the dog or cat at all times the dog or cat is out of doors. Under the following circumstances, the owner of the dog or cat may remove the collar and tag required by this section: (1) The dog is engaged in lawful hunting; (2) The dog or cat is competing in a dog or cat show; (3) The dog or cat has a skin condition which would be exacerbated by the wearing of a collar; (4) The dog or cat is confined; or (5) The dog is under the immediate control of its owner in compliance with the restraint law. (Code 1993, § 4-93; Code 2004, § 10-288; Code 2015, § 4-367; Code 2020, § 4-367)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-368 Evidence required before issuance of license.

Sec. 4-368. - Evidence required before issuance of license. No dog or cat license shall be issued by the Director of Finance unless there is presented, at the time application is made for such license, a current and valid certificate of rabies vaccination for such dog or cat. (Code 1993, § 4-94; Code 2004, § 10-289; Code 2015, § 4-368; Code 2020, § 4-368)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-369 Temporary presence in city for showing and breeding.

Sec. 4-369. - Temporary presence in city for showing and breeding. Section 4-365 shall not apply to any dog or cat temporarily brought into the City for a period not to exceed 30 days for show or breeding purposes, if such dog or cat remains confined at all times. (Code 1993, § 4-95; Code 2004, § 10-290; Code 2015, § 4-369; Code 2020, § 4-369)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-370 Reporting rabid dogs or cats.

Sec. 4-370. - Reporting rabid dogs or cats. Every person having knowledge of the existence of a dog or cat apparently afflicted with rabies shall report immediately to the Department the existence of such animal, the place where seen, the owner's name if known, and the symptoms suggesting rabies. (Code 1993, § 4-96; Code 2004, § 10-291; Code 2015, § 4-370; Code 2020, § 4-370; Ord. No. 2008-28-48, § 2, 3-10-2008; Ord. No. 2010-21-67, § 2, 4-26-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-371 Confinement or euthanization of rabies suspect.

Sec. 4-371. - Confinement or euthanization of rabies suspect. (a) Dogs or cats found within the City which exhibit the common symptoms of rabies or otherwise are reasonably suspected of having rabies shall be taken into custody immediately by an animal control officer or any police officer and shall be confined in a place approved by the Director, under competent observation, for such time as may be necessary to determine whether such dog or cat is afflicted with rabies. (b) The Director shall cause to be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the State Veterinarian any dog or cat which, in the opinion of a currently licensed veterinarian, has rabies or any dog or cat for which confinement is impossible or impracticable. In such event, the Director shall have the head of such dog or cat examined for the purpose of ascertaining if the dog or cat was rabid. (c) If there is no evidence of vaccination and it has been determined that the dog or cat does not have rabies, the dog or cat shall be vaccinated by a currently licensed veterinarian prior to release to the owner. (d) All expenses incurred in complying with this section shall be borne by the owner of the dog or cat. (Code 1993, § 4-97; Code 2004, § 10-292; Code 2015, § 4-371; Code 2020, § 4-371)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-372 Report of bites.

Sec. 4-372. - Report of bites. (a) Every dog or cat bite of a person which occurs in the City shall be reported within 24 hours of occurrence to the Department. If occurring at night, on weekends or on holidays, the report may be made to the Department of Police. (b) Such report shall include the following: (1) The name and address of the person bitten; (2) The name and address of the owner of the biting dog or cat, if known; (3) A reasonable description of the dog or cat; (4) The date and time of day of the injury and the address where it occurred; (5) The part of the body on which the bite was inflicted; and (6) If known, whether the biting dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies. (c) The responsibility for reporting is mutually charged to attending physicians, veterinarians, emergency responders, and the person bitten, to such person's parent or guardian if a minor, and to the owner of the dog or cat. (Code 1993, § 4-98; Code 2004, § 10-293; Code 2015, § 4-372; Code 2020, § 4-372; Ord. No. 2008-28-48, § 2, 3-10-2008; Ord. No. 2010-21-67, § 2, 4-26-2010; Ord. No. 2018-274, § 1, 11-13-2018; Ord. No. 2023-129, § 3[4], 5-8-2023)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-373 Confinement of biting dogs or cats.

Sec. 4-373. - Confinement of biting dogs or cats. (a) Upon receipt of information by the Department of Police or the Office of Animal Care and Control that a dog or cat has bitten a person, it shall be the duty of the Director, upon ascertaining the identity of such dog or cat, to direct it to be confined under competent observation for a period of ten days from the date the bite occurred, such confinement to be in a place approved by the Director. The person who owns such dog or cat shall bear the cost of such confinement. (b) The Director shall order the dog or cat released if it is safe to do so at the end of the ten-day period. If there is no evidence of vaccination, the dog or cat shall be vaccinated by a currently licensed veterinarian, at the expense of the owner, prior to release. (Code 1993, § 4-99; Code 2004, § 10-294; Code 2015, § 4-373; Code 2020, § 4-373; Ord. No. 2008-28-48, § 2, 3-10-2008; Ord. No. 2010-21-67, § 2, 4-26-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-374 Confinement or euthanization of dog or cat bitten by rabid animal.

Sec. 4-374. - Confinement or euthanization of dog or cat bitten by rabid animal. Any dog or cat bitten by an animal believed to be afflicted with rabies, where the owner has proof of a valid rabies vaccination, shall be revaccinated immediately by a currently licensed veterinarian at the expense of the owner and shall be confined, at a place approved by the Director, for a period of 90 days. If the owner of such dog or cat does not have proof of a valid rabies vaccination, the dog or cat shall be confined in a pound, kennel or enclosure approved by the Director for a period not to exceed six months. In the latter event, the dog or cat shall receive a rabies vaccination at the expense of the owner at least one month prior to its release. If confinement is not feasible, the dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the State Veterinarian. (Code 1993, § 4-100; Code 2004, § 10-295; Code 2015, § 4-374; Code 2020, § 4-374)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-375 Confinement of unvaccinated dogs or cats.

Sec. 4-375. - Confinement of unvaccinated dogs or cats. (a) Any dog or cat found in the City not wearing a valid rabies tag or any dog or cat which, after reasonable investigation, cannot be determined to be currently vaccinated, may be impounded at the City animal shelter. (b) A dog or cat confined under Subsection (a) of this section which is not suspected of being rabid may be released to the owner upon payment of a fee of $25.00, plus $5.00 for each day or portion of a day the dog or cat has been confined, in addition to the rabies vaccination fee and the license fee if the dog or cat is not licensed. (Code 1993, § 4-101; Code 2004, § 10-296; Code 2015, § 4-375; Code 2020, § 4-375)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-376 Euthanization of seriously injured or sick dogs or cats.

Sec. 4-376. - Euthanization of seriously injured or sick dogs or cats. Nothing in this division shall prohibit the euthanization by one of the methods approved by the State Veterinarian of a seriously injured or sick dog or cat. (Code 1993, § 4-102; Code 2004, § 10-297; Code 2015, § 4-376; Code 2020, § 4-376)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 4-377 Concealing or withholding to prevent euthanization or confinement.

Sec. 4-377. - Concealing or withholding to prevent euthanization or confinement. It shall be unlawful for any person to conceal or withhold surrender of any dog or cat in order to keep it from being confined in accordance with this division or from being euthanized when ordered by the Director. (Code 1993, § 4-103; Code 2004, § 10-298; Code 2015, § 4-377; Code 2020, § 4-377)

Source: City of Richmond, Virginia, Code (2026 recodification) and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICICO_CH4AN_ARTIVRACO_DIV2DOCAFetched: 11/8/2026