CHAPTER 674

An Act to amend and reenact § 29-194 of the Code of Virginia, relating to
dogs in certain counties running at large, and to amend the Code of
Virginia by adding thereto a section numbered 29-197.1, authorizing

game wardens and certain landowners in certain counties to kill any _.

dog not accompanied by its owner if it goes on lands on which there

are sheep.
[H 607]
Approved April 7, 1954
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 29-194 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted and
that the Code of Virginia be amended by adding thereto a section num-
bered 29-197.1, the amended and new sections being as follows:

§ 29-194. The governing bodies of the counties of this State are
hereby authorized, in their discretion, to prohibit the running at large of
dogs during such months as they may designate. For the purpose of this
section, a dog shall be deemed to run at large while roaming, running or
self-hunting off the property of its owner or custodian and not under its
owner’s or custodian’s immediate control. It shall be the duty of the game
wardens to enforce the provisions of this section, and any person who
after having been notified by any landowner, game warden or other officer
of the law that his dog is running at large, permits his dog to run at large
thereafter, shall be deemed to have violated the provisions of this section,
and shall be liable to a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty-five
dollars for each violation. Jt shall be the duty of the game warden or dog
warden or their deputies in counties having a population of more than
twenty-six thousand seven hundred fifty but less than twenty-seven
thousand to kill any and all dogs running at large during the prohibited
period.

§ 29-197.1. In counties with a population of more than twenty-six
thousand seven hundred fifty but less than twenty-seven thousand, any
dog, unaccompanied by its owner, or custodian, entering any premises
where sheep are kept may be killed by the owner of such sheep or his agent,
while the dog is on said premises.

2. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.