Get free answers to your Animal / Dog Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I’ve been buying things for him for over a year. There was poop in the house, he would eat her pull-ups and trash. No vet visit or shots and only went outside when she felt like letting him out. I would bring him to my house for several nights to bathe and care for him. She has memory issues and... View More 
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answered on Oct 17, 2024
Animal control is authorized by the Code of Virginia to seize animals that are being abused or neglected, and it sounds like this probably should have been done before the dog came into your possession. You say that she gave you the dog, but that's a little ambiguous. If you were of the... View More
My friend was recently banned from possession/ownership of animals. He has not had a final hearing yet and been convicted of anything but the judge already ordered the ban. Does living with my friend mean that I also wouldn't be able to own any? What are the chances of them appealing the ban?
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answered on Nov 25, 2024
If he is not allowed to possess animals or own them then he would be wise to not be in a home where there are animals lest he get charged with an offense.
Dogs owners walk their dogs, then allow and watch their dogs intrusion on private property and pee on my lawn in my front yard. My home security cams captures 4 instances in a day. What should I do to prevent this repeatedly happen?
It is unlawful. What penalty can be? Is there any... View More
answered on Jan 26, 2022
You should contact the animal protection officers in fairfax and tell them what is going on and show them the proof you have
They can go talk to them about stopping the behavior or charge them under the county code
answered on Jun 8, 2021
In Virginia, constructive eviction is generally applied when there is physical damage to the premises, such as the roof caving in, that causes the tenant to not be able to live in the premises. Animal noise, by itself, would not be considered in Virginia a claim for constructive eviction.
We were only allowed to put her in one person's name and we put her in his name well his legal wife and they've been separate for 10 14 years is trying to get my dog she has going as far as stealing all the dogs papers out of the house cuz she's a special needs dog she is in a... View More
answered on Feb 19, 2021
I am so sorry for your loss. Dogs are considered personal property. The decedent’s personal property can only be legally transferred to another person by virtue of either a will or by intestate succession. Either way, the wife has no rights unless she applies to be the personal representative of... View More
Ultimately want to regain custody of dog due to previous owners neglect, (also found that she has 4 previous unrelated missing dog posts on fb in the last few years) the puppy was not on their property, had no collar or chip, and was in need of medical attention. I had her 5 weeks and then saw... View More
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answered on Nov 10, 2020
You will want to hire a lawyer for the felony charges. Usually those should play out first and then if you are successful in getting those dismissed you may or may not want to talk to a civil lawyer about potential remedies.
We had court on Jun 24 2020 and we were turned away because we didn’t meet the criteria to enter the building due to Covid. The deputy told me to call the clerk and and it was to late to even call because the judge declared my dog dangerous. I need a lawyer my dog hasn’t hurt a fly? The dog is... View More
answered on Oct 2, 2020
Unfortunately unless you already noted your appeal, your options are going to be severely limited. I would get an attorney ASAP who can advise you if you can have a motion to rehear on the case, if you haven't appealed. Someone locally should be able to better advise you of a potential... View More
On the bottom of each page on the lease states this contract is for use by ___. Use by any other party is illegal and voids the contract. So can the new landlord put an X where the pets section is without us both signing? Is this contract valid? Is my landlord in the wrong for threatening me about... View More
answered on Aug 11, 2020
Generally in Virginia, when there is an existing lease in place and the owner/landlord sells the premises to a buyer, the lease remains in place, the buyer assumes the rights and obligations under the existing lease, and the lease's terms remain unchanged between the new owner/landlord and the... View More
answered on Jul 24, 2020
Probably had Parvo or distemper. You should take the other dog to the vet immediately to make sure it isn’t sick, too. You might be able to sue the seller, but there’s a lot more information needed to say whether or not you can file a lawsuit.
What is my dads liability or how much does he have to pay the owner of the horse.
This happened in Catlett, Virginia
answered on Jul 23, 2020
It kind of depends on how much of the horse running through the fence can be attributed to your dad’s dog. And legally, he would only have to pay if the horse owners sued him and won; this isn’t a criminal matter.
My bf of 11 years and I are about to break up due to issues. He is not able to take care of these dogs. He works to much and they will be kept in a crate or in a house for 13 to 14 hours a day. Legally I am the owner, the vet records and they are registered to me. He paid for them though. Can he... View More
answered on Jul 14, 2020
No. If your name is on their purchase/adoption paperwork plus all the other paperwork, he does not have any rights to them, regardless of his relationship with/to the dogs and/or any financial contribution. Dogs are property under the law, so they are like a couch or a car. If he continues to... View More
dog was acting strange and had reddish diarrhea. The dog rested on sofa for the afternoon. I was at work til 6pm & he texted me at 6:02 that this wasn't our dog (after 5 hours) & to meet him at groomer, which was closed. My dog is diabetic and nearly blind and was due for insulin in an... View More
answered on Jun 1, 2020
I regret that I do not handle dog injury or animal law matters. Sorry.
It’s a Farm Bureau Insurance Policy
answered on May 20, 2020
I regret that I do not handle slip and fall cases or personal injury matters. Sorry.
Owners of hunting dogs can access private property with or with out permission of the owner at any time. In fact, by code, a property owner can't deny access to private land under any circumstance.
I think the General Assembly has this wrong. How can I challenge this in court. Seems... View More
answered on Nov 26, 2019
One thing I love about law practice is that I keep learning new things 35 years after I started practice and about 29 years after I became a Virginia lawyer. Interesting Code section. A trip to a real library rather than the Internet version would get the history of the statute first enacted before... View More
answered on Sep 1, 2019
Did you steal it or did you get it with the intent to pay?
There is no debtor's prison
I gave my dog away to a girl i knew from school cause i just had a newborn and he stayed by my feet and i was so heartbroken she said when she came to get him that i could get him back when i was ready. Now she is taken back what she said and will not let me have him.
answered on Apr 15, 2019
Even though your female friend has not told her side of the story here, this appears to be another "he said she said" situation. Unless I miss my guess, your female friend would probably say that you gave the dog to her, and that she never said she would return the dog "whenever you... View More
If my ex has threatened taking me to court before and never did anything. My ex also stated in a phone call "you just made your life harder for you"... Can I sue for emotional harassment?
My ex is also in possession of my cat (which I pay monthly vet bills for) can I 1) get... View More
answered on Feb 1, 2019
Rather than suing for emotional harassment, which may require your physiatrist's testimony to prove your claim, you would be better served to go to the Court and apply for a "protective order" based on harassment.
I do not handle domestic cases, especially with regard to cats. Sorry.
My parents bought the dog for me and the dog has lived with me at college. She is very attached to me and I have been the primary caretaker of the dog. I even have ESA paperwork filed at my college for the dog. The problem is that all of the dogs paperwork is in my mothers name. I am recently... View More
answered on Jan 16, 2019
Probably not.
Generally speaking, Virginia law treats animals as property, making theft of animals in Virginia a crime. Va. Code 18.2-97 defines this as larceny and a felony.
In order for anyone to be prosecuted for this, a complaining witness must first establish that the animal in... View More
My grandmothers dog was taken by her x and was later found in a complete different location by animal control after we went and got him from animal control had pictures and vet info they called me and told me that they had found the actual owner because that person had recent pictures and charged... View More
answered on Jun 17, 2018
If you have been charged with a crime, the burden of persuasion before the court if on the Government. In other words, the government has to convince the judge / jury that there is no reasonable doubt that you lied to them. That is an extremely high burden to meet. Obviously, preparation of a... View More
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