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2024 SESSION
24101066DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 18.2-144 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 18.2-144. Maiming, killing, or poisoning livestock, fowl, or companion animals; penalty.
Except as otherwise provided for by law, if any person
maliciously shoot shoots, stab stabs, wound or wounds,
or otherwise cause causes bodily injury to, or administer
administers poison to or
expose exposes
poison with intent that it be taken by, any horse, mule, pony, cattle, swine, or other livestock, any fowl, or any companion
animal of another, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill the same, or if he do does
any of the foregoing acts to any such
livestock, fowl, or
companion animal of his own with intent to defraud any
insurer thereof, he shall be is guilty of a Class 5 felony. If any person do any of the foregoing acts to any
fowl or to any companion animal with any of the aforesaid intents, he shall be
guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, except that any second or subsequent offense
shall be a Class 6 felony if the current offense or any previous offense
resulted in the death of an animal or the euthanasia of an animal based on the
recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such
euthanasia was necessary due to the condition of the animal, and such condition
was a direct result of a violation of this section.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation is $227,109 for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities and cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.