Bill Ahern
Email: wahern@gilescounty.org
Phone: (540) 235-6096
In an emergency, please contact the
Giles Sheriff’s Office
Phone: (540) 921-3842
The Virginia General Assembly has changed the law regarding the tethering of dogs outdoors. The new law is effective July 1st, 2020. The change will drastically change the way to legally keep outside dogs. The revised law requires the following:
This Public Notice gives dog owners approximately 2 months to prepare for the change in the law. Violations of the new law can range from misdemeanor Care violations to felony Animal Cruelty charges.
County Dog Tags have also changed. Tags are now issued for the lifetime of your dog and can be purchased at participating Vet offices or at the County Treasurer’s office. The change does not affect kennel licenses or previously issued 3-year licenses that are still valid.
Animal Control officers enforce County and State regulations for fowl, poultry, livestock, and dangerous animals:check dog tags: and control stray animals. They administer the dog shelter and investigate animal cruelty and abuse cases and bite/rabies cases.
Read the Giles County Pet Ordinance PDF
Virginia State Law
Most of the laws in Virginia related to animal health and welfare are included in Title 3.2, Chapter 65 (“Comprehensive Animal Care”), of the Code of Virginia. These laws, among other things, proscribe the standard of care that an owner must provide to his or her companion animal; regulate the operation pet shops, breeders, boarding establishments and groomers; sets forth the authority of local governing bodies to adopt ordinances regulating companion animals and the operation of a pound such as the Regional Center; and defining and setting for penalties for animal cruelty. Click on this link to view a copy of Virginia’s Comprehensive Animal Care law.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, through its Division of Animal Food and Industry Services, is responsible for administering Virginia’s Comprehensive Animal Care law. You can learn more about the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs by visiting its website: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/index.shtml.