18.2-510 - Burial or cremation of animals or fowls which have died. - Virginia Statutes

§ 18.2-510. Burial or cremation of animals or fowls which have died.

When the owner of any animal or grown fowl which has died knows of suchdeath, such owner shall forthwith have its body cremated or buried or requestsuch service from an officer or other person designated for the purpose. Ifthe owner fails to do so, any judge of a general district court, after noticeto the owner if he can be ascertained, shall cause any such dead animal orfowl to be cremated or buried by an officer or other person designated forthe purpose. Such officer or other person shall be entitled to recover of theowner of every such animal or fowl that is cremated or buried the actual costof the cremation or burial and a reasonable fee to be recovered in the samemanner as officers' fees are recovered, free from all exemptions in favor ofsuch owner. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall beguilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.

Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require the burial or cremation ofthe whole or portions of any animal or fowl which is to be used for food orin any commercial manner.

This section shall not apply to any county until the governing body thereofshall adopt the same.

(Code 1950, § 32-70; 1979, c. 716; 1981, c. 578; 2008, c. 345.)