Intentional interference with a guide or leader dog; penalty
Va. Code Ann. § 3.2-6588
in effectA. It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully impede or interfere with the duties performed by a dog if the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
B. It is unlawful for a person to, without just cause, willfully injure a dog if the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
"Guide or leader dog" means a dog that: (i) serves as a dog guide for a blind person as defined in § 51.5-60 or for a person with a visual disability; (ii) serves as a listener for a deaf or hard-of-hearing person as defined in § 51.5-111 ; or (iii) provides support or assistance for an individual with a physical disability.
1995, c. 209 , § 3.1-796.128:1; 2008, c. 860 ; 2023, cc. 148 , 149 .
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/3.2-6588/Fetched: 10/16/2026