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2012 SESSION

12102906D
SENATE BILL NO. 202
Offered January 11, 2012
Prefiled January 10, 2012
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 29.1-525.2, relating to prohibiting fox and coyote penning; penalty.
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Patrons-- Marsden, Barker, Ebbin, Favola and Petersen; Delegates: Englin and Kory
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 29.1-525.2 as follows:

§ 29.1-525.2. Fox and coyote enclosures prohibited; penalty.

A. It is unlawful to erect or maintain an enclosure for the purpose of pursuing, hunting, or killing or attempting to pursue, hunt, or kill any fox or coyote with a dog or dogs.

B. It is unlawful to pursue, hunt, or kill or attempt to pursue, hunt, or kill any fox or coyote with a dog or dogs within an enclosure erected or maintained for the purpose of pursuing, hunting, or killing or attempting to pursue, hunt, or kill any fox or coyote.

C. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. In addition, a court may order the owner of the enclosure to modify the enclosure to allow the free egress by fox and coyote.

D. This section shall not be construed to limit any federal, state, or local law, rule, or regulation pertaining to animal cruelty or neglect.

E. This section shall not preclude the pursuing, hunting, or killing of any fox or coyote by a dog or dogs in the absence of an enclosure or the killing of any fox or coyote by a landowner or tenant when the fox or coyote is doing damage to domestic stock or fowl on the owned or leased land.

F. For the purposes of this section, "enclosure" includes a fence or other barrier that is used to prevent or impede the natural egress by any fox or coyote.