Licensed Dogs in Virginia Are Few and Far Between
Published: May 15, 2009
Only 1 out of every 5 dogs is licensed in the state of Virginia
A law has been put in place in the state of Virginia aims to increase the amount of dog owners that take the time to get their dogs licensed. Officials have estimated that only 1 out of every 5 dogs in the state is actually licensed, leaving thousands of dogs unaccounted for.
Currently the punishment for owning a non-licensed dog is a Class 4 misdemeanor charge with an accompanying fine of $250. New guidelines will make it easier for officials to track down pet owners that refuse to pay the $5 to $10 licensing fee. Veterinarians will be required to pass on all information dealing with dogs that they vaccinate to their County Treasurer, thus allowing that person to tell if certain dogs are licensed or not.
