2006 Code of Virginia § 3.1-796.83:1 - Boarding establishments and groomers; veterinary care requirements; consumer notification; penalt...

3.1-796.83:1. Boarding establishments and groomers; veterinary carerequirements; consumer notification; penalty.

A. When an animal is boarded at a boarding establishment, or under the care,custody or subject to the actions of a groomer, the boarding establishment orgroomer shall be responsible for providing the animal care requirements foreach animal as specified in 3.1-796.68.

B. If an animal becomes ill or injured while in the custody of the boardingestablishment or groomer, the boarding establishment or groomer shall providethe animal with emergency veterinary treatment for the illness or injury. Theconsumer shall bear the reasonable and necessary costs of emergencyveterinary treatment for any illness or injury occurring while the animal isin the custody of the boarding establishment or groomer. The boardingestablishment or groomer shall pay for veterinary treatment of any injurythat the animal sustains while at the establishment or under the care orcustody of a groomer if the injury resulted from the establishment's orgroomer's failure, whether accidental or intentional, to provide the carerequired by 3.1-796.68, or if the injury is a result of the actions of theboarding establishment or groomer; however, boarding establishments andgroomers shall not be required to bear the cost of veterinary treatment forinjuries resulting from the animal's self-mutilation.

C. If an animal is seized from a boarding establishment or groomer because ofthe establishment's or groomer's failure to provide adequate food, water,shelter, exercise, and care as defined in 3.1-796.66 and required by 3.1-796.68 or because of any other violation of this chapter, the animalshall be returned to the rightful owner as soon as possible or, if the ownerrefuses to reclaim the animal, be impounded and disposition made pursuant to 3.1-796.115.

D. Violation of this section by a boarding establishment or groomer is aClass 1 misdemeanor.

(1993, c. 174; 1996, c. 249.)