Animal Control
Changes for animal owners
Effective July 1, 2020, the Virginia General Assembly added requirements to the definition of adequate shelter in Virginia Code § 3.2-6500.
Outdoor tethering does not constitute adequate shelter unless the animal is safe from predators and is well suited and equipped to tolerate its environment.
Animals may not be tethered outdoors during an effective hurricane warning, tropical storm warning, heat advisory, or severe-weather warning, including winter storm, tornado, and severe-thunderstorm warnings, except when an animal control officer has inspected the animal’s individual circumstances and determined that the animal is safe and equipped to tolerate the conditions.
The restrictions also apply when the actual or effective outdoor temperature is 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, or 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
Also effective July 1, 2020, a tether must be at least 15 feet long or four times the length of the animal, whichever is greater.
The Town Animal Control Officer monitors animals tethered outdoors for compliance.
After-hours animal-control problems
- For an emergency requiring Police, Fire, or Rescue, call 911.
- For other after-hours animal-control problems, call 276-223-3333 or 276-223-3300 and select option 4.