Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-144.1 (2026)

Prohibition against killing or injuring police animals; penalty

✓ current as of May 2026

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It shall be unlawful for any person to maliciously shoot, stab, wound or otherwise cause bodily injury to, or administer poison to or expose poison with intent that it be taken by a dog, horse or other animal owned, used or trained by a law-enforcement agency, regional jail or the Department of Corrections while such animal is performing his lawful duties or is being kept in a kennel, pen or stable while off duty. A violation of this section shall be punishable as a Class 5 felony. The court shall order that the defendant pay restitution for the cost of any animal killed or rendered unable to perform its duties. Such cost shall include training expenses.

1989, c. 558; 1998, c. 8.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 3 cases, 2018–2020 · leading case: Booker v. City Of Lynchburg (W.D. Va. 2020).

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Booker v. City Of Lynchburg (W.D. Va. 2020). · cites it 3× “On or about the day of his arrest, Defendants brought multiple criminal charges against Plaintiff, including (1) maliciously causing bodily injury to K-9 owned by law enforcement, pursuant to Va. Code § 18.2-144.1; (2) possession of a firearm while possessing a Schedule I or II…”

Jerelyn Aymarie Sutter v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “2-6570 and of the malicious killing of a pig that is livestock of another, a felony in violation of Code § 18.2-144.1 On appeal, appellant raises six assignments of error – the first four of which challenge the trial court’s rulings on certain jury instructions.”

Brandon Scott Blankenship v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 2× “2-57; one count of assault on a law enforcement animal, in violation of Code § 18.2-144.1; one count of assault and battery, in violation of Code § 18.”

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