Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia

Your Pets and the Law

Pet Issues

By Dave Conway and the County Animal Shelter, June 2001

Lost and Found. Lost a pet cat or dog? Found a pet and can't find any identification of the owner on the collar? The first thing to do is call the Fairfax County animal shelter at 703-830-1100. If there is one thing you remember about this article, it is to call the animal shelter.

If you lost a cat or dog, the animal shelter will want you to bring them a photograph of your pet, as descriptions over the phone are not nearly as accurate as you might think. A few other steps that often work:

Call nearby veterinary hospitals and animal clinics. They will want a picture of your pet, too.

Put up a few missing pet sings on your property that include a picture of the pet, the pet's name, and your phone number.

Ask some of your neighbors at nearby intersections if you can put signs on their fences for a few weeks. Except for large dogs, cats and dogs generally stay within five blocks of their home.

Do not put signs up on utility poles, street signs, or other public property. Signs are not allowed, no matter how worthy the cause.

It is a good idea to include your address or phone number on your pet's collar. At a minimum, you can write your phone number on the inside of the collar with a permanent marker.

Animals Running Loose. Animals are not allowed to trespass on, destroy, or damage another person's property. They also are prohibited from habitually making loud and objectionable noises. Nuisance noises may be reported to Animal Control at 703-830-3310 or to the Police at 703-691-2131.

Cruelty to Animals. It is unlawful to maliciously kill, disfigure, or poison animals. All pets must be provided adequate food, water, shelter, and exercise. Violations should be reported to Animal Control.

Animals Running Loose. Animals cannot run loose on public property (except certain designated dog run areas) or private property of others. If Animal Control Officers have impounded your pet, you may pick it up after you have shown a valid rabies certificate and a current license (if it's a dog) and pay a $15 fee plus $8 per day boarding fee.

County of Fairfax Animal Regulation Ordinances

Summary of chapter 41, Animals & Fowl, Fairfax County Code, June 2001

LICENSES AND VACCINATIONS
ADOPTION OF PETS
REDEMPTION OF IMPOUNDED DOGS AND CATS
CATS
REPORTING INJURED ANIMALS
DISPOSAL OF DEAD ANIMALS
ANIMALS CREATING NUISANCE
ANIMALS RUNNING LOOSE
VICIOUS AND DANGEROUS ANIMALS
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
WILD ANIMAL PROBLEMS
ANIMALS THAT HAVE BITTEN HUMANS
YOUR ANIMAL WARDEN & GAME WARDEN
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

LICENSES AND VACCINATIONS
Dogs over four months old must be licensed annually and vaccinated against rabies. Dog Licenses will be sold only upon presentation of a certificate that the dog has been inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Dog Licenses cost $5.00 per year for spayed/neutered animals and $10.00 for fertile animals. to obtain a $5.00 license, certification must be provided that the animal has been spayed/neutered by a veterinarian or is infertile.

All dogs must have the license tag securely attached to a collar and worn whenever the dog is off the owner's property.

Cats over four months old must be inoculated against rabies but are not required to be licensed.
(County Code Section 41-2-1, 41-2-2 and 41-2-3)

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ADOPTION OF PETS
Dogs, cats and other pets are available for adoption at the Animal Shelter From:

Tuesday through Saturday 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m.

A legally binding adoption contract must be signed agreeing to humanely house and treat the animal, have the animal spayed/neutered and other reasonable rules concerned with the welfare of the animal. An adoption fee of $20.00 for dogs and cats is charged. At the time of adoption, a certificate is provided which authorizes a free physical examination of the animal from any of the Participating Veterinarians. The certificate is also good for spaying/neutering of the animal at a reasonable price under a reduce cost program offered as a public service by Northern Virginia Veterinarians. Virginia State Law mandates all dogs and cats adopted from a shelter must be spayed/neutered. The citizen is responsible for paying 50% of the cost for spaying/neutering to the Shelter at the time of the adoption and the remaining 50% tot he Participating Veterinarian at the time of the surgery. both dogs and cats are inoculated with one shot of vaccine for Distemper at the time they enter the Shelter.
(County Code Section 41-10-1)

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REDEMPTION OF IMPOUNDED DOGS AND CATS
If your dog or cat has been impounded at the Animal Shelter, you may redeem your pet by:

Presentation of a valid Rabies Certificate

Current Dog License. (If applicable)

Payment of a $15.00 fee plus $8.00 board fee for each day the pet was impounded after the first day.

Purchase of a Dog License, if the dog is not currently licensed.

(County Code Section 41-2.2, 41-2-5)

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CATS
County Ordinance and State law require rabies inoculation of cats over four months of age. Licensing of cats in not required; however, the wearing of an identification tag on a safety collar is recommended. If you have a problem with unowned roaming cats, you may rent a humane trap to capture the cats and bring them to the Shelter. Animal Wardens will respond to nuisance cat complaints when the owner is known as well as bite cases and rescue of injured cats or cats in distress. Roaming cats cause injuries to themselves, wildlife and people. for the protection of your cat and the community, it is best to keep your cat indoors.

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REPORTING INJURED ANIMALS
Any vehicle operator who strikes a domestic animal must stop (unless stopping would endanger human life), render assistance as soon as possible, and report the injury or death to the animal's owner. If the owner cannot be identified, the accident should be reported to the Department of Animal Control or the Police Department. Injury or death of wild animals should also be reported.

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DISPOSAL OF DEAD ANIMALS
The owner of any animal or fowl which has died is responsible for having the body cremated or buried. The State Highway Department is responsible for pick-up of dead animals on State right-of-way. Telephone 631-9611. Citizens may bring deceased pets to the Animal Shelter for disposal at no charge.
(County Code Section 41-1-3)

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ANIMALS CREATING NUISANCE
It is against the law to allow animals to trespass on, destroy or damage another person's property. Animals must not frequently and habitually make loud and objectionable noises or be kept in such a manner as to cause unsanitary conditions. The owner or custodian of any dog shall be responsible for the removal of excreta deposited by such dog on the property of another, including public areas ("pooper scooper" regulation).
(County Code Section 41-1-2, Chapter 108.5.2 and Chapter 41-2-6)

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ANIMALS RUNNING LOOSE
It is against the law to allow animals to run at large on public property or the private property of others. dogs must be restrained by a dependable leash and controlled by a responsible person when off the property of the owner.
(County Code Section 41-2-4)

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VICIOUS AND DANGEROUS ANIMALS
Owners of vicious animals must keep them confined and not permit them to be of danger to people and other animals. it is against the law to keep wild or exotic animals as pets.
(County Code Section 41-2-7 and 41-7-1)

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CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
It is against the law to maliciously kill, disfigure or poison animals. All pets must be humanely treated with proper food, water, shelter and exercise. It is also against the law to overload, torture or cruelly beat any animal.
(State Code 3.1-796.122)

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WILD ANIMAL PROBLEMS
If you have a problem with wild animals, you may call the County Game Warden at 830-3310. The Animal Shelter has humane capture traps which may be leased upon approval of the Warden's office. Exclusion information is offered prior to trap rental. Prime vectors of rabies, i.e., raccoons, skunks and foxes will be picked up by the Animal Warden or Game Warden. Citizens should use caution in any contacts with these animals. Beaver complaints are handled by the Game Warden. All wildlife belongs to the State. Citizens may not relocate wild animals without the knowledge and permission of the Department of Animal Control.

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ANIMALS THAT HAVE BITTEN HUMANS
If your pet bites any person, you must

Notify the Department of Animal control or the Police

Confine the animal for ten days for rabies observation. This may be done at the County Animal Shelter, a Licensed Veterinary Hospital or at your home, if approved by the Animal Warden investigating the case and you have a valid Rabies Certificate for your pet. If quarantined at home, the animal must be kept confined in an enclosure where it cannot bite again.)

If you are bitten by any animal, it is required that this be immediately reported to the Department of Animal Control or the County Police Department

(County Code Section 41-2-9)

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YOUR ANIMAL WARDEN & GAME WARDEN
County Animal Wardens are responsible for enforcing State Laws and County Ordinances dealing with animal control and cruelty to animals. Game Wardens enforce the laws dealing with hunting and fishing and assist citizens, having problems with wild animals. The primary function of wardens is to help and protect Fairfax County Citizens while dealing with animals as humanely as possible. The cooperation and assistance of all citizens, however, is necessary to provide for good human/animal relationship in our communities.

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DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES:

Uniform enforcement of County and State Laws dealing with domestic and wild animals.

Removal of stray dogs and livestock from streets and public areas, eliminating potential health and safety hazards.

Investigation of animal cruelty complaints.

Large Animal/Livestock Services. A small barn is available for temporary housing of large animals.

Sale of Dog licenses--at the Animal Shelter (4500 West Ox Road), by mail and County Governmental Centers (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax; 1427 Balls Hill Road, McLean; 6121 Franconia Road, Franconia; 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria; 65007 Columbia Pike, Annandale; 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield; 12000 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston).

24-Hour emergency service for injured stray animals.

Provision of temporary housing for all stray and unwanted animals.

Quarantine services for animals which have bitten humans.

Radio dispatched vehicles for roving patrols and law enforcement.

Animal adoptions--to County Residents. An adoption fee is charged and 50% of the spaying/neutering cost collected for deposit. Non-County Residents may adopt a dog or cat 6 months of age or older providing the dog or cat is/or will be spayed or neutered prior to leaving Fairfax County. The Animal Shelter will assist with the arrangements.

Issuance of hunting and shooting permits.

Enforcement of hunting and fishing laws.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For more information, call, write, or visit:

FAIRFAX COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER
4500 West Ox Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
830-1100 (Hearing impaired TTY . . . 691-3255)

Fairfax County Animal Warden's Office (for animal violations)	830-3310
Fairfax County Animal Shelter (lost, found animals)	830-1100
Fairfax County Health Department	246-2411
Fairfax County Police Department	691-2131
Fairfax County Game Warden	830-3310
Dog License Information	830-1103

TO REDEEM IMPOUNDED PETS
Visit the Animal Shelter during the following hours:

Stray animals are held for 5 days at the Shelter prior to adoption or euthanasia or 10 days if wearing a collar, tag, or tattoo.
(State Code 3.1-796.96 A. and B.)

TO ADOPT PETS
Visit the Animal Shelter during the following hours:

Information for this section of the Westlawn Civic Association web site provided by County of Fairfax Department of Animal Control. Additional copies of this pamphlet may be obtained from:
The Department of Animal Control, 830-3310
or
Office of Public Affairs, 324-3187.