All registration fees, capitation taxes, and fees and costs for the seizure and disposal of dogs, as provided for in this section and collected under this section, shall be paid into the District Treasury, where they shall constitute a special fund and call it the “dog and kennel fund”. Any breed of dog in West Virginia can be classified as “dangerous” if it bites or attacks someone. According to WV code 19-20-20, a dog that has been classified as dangerous or vicious (usually a dog that has a history of biting or attacking people) cannot be kept or housed in the state. The courts may authorize an animal welfare officer to euthanize these dogs. Otherwise, the dog owner must obtain a special license from the county to keep the dog for protection. The Commissioner has the authority to accept, on behalf of the state, the laws, rules and regulations of the U.S. Bureau of Animal Industry relating to the prevention, control, and eradication of communicable diseases between animals and poultry. (a) any dog registered, kept and inspected in accordance with this section, or a dog, cat or other animal or reptile owned, kept and kept as a pet by any person, regardless of age, is protected by law; and, except as otherwise permitted by law, any person who kills, wounds, poisons or intentionally causes, knowingly or recklessly death or injury to a dog, cat, other animal or reptile is guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be sentenced to render public services for not less than thirty days and more than ninety days, or liable to a fine of not less than three hundred dollars, and not more than five hundred dollars or both. However, this section does not apply to a dog killed during an attack on a person, a pet or livestock. Any person whose dog, cat, other animal or reptile is wrongly or unlawfully killed or injured by another person within the meaning of this Agreement has a right of action against the person who kills or injures dogs, cats, animals or reptiles in this manner.
(b) every person who intentionally and unlawfully steals a dog, cat, other animal or reptile within the meaning of clause (a) of this section is guilty of an offence and is sentenced to public works for not less than thirty days and more than ninety days or to a fine of not less than three hundred and not more than five hundred dollars. or both. Every person who contravenes the provisions of this subsection for a second or subsequent offence is guilty of an offence and, on conviction, shall be imprisoned for a period of not less than ninety days and not more than six months, or sentenced to provide public services for a term not exceeding one year and shall be liable to a fine of not less than one thousand dollars. In no case may any action or prosecution be maintained in respect of a dog under the provisions of this section if the dog in question has not been duly registered in accordance with the provisions of this section or has been kept and kept in accordance with the provisions of this section or has been kept and kept in accordance with the provisions of this section; when the plea was raised. (c) No person other than the owner of a registered dog shall remove a tag, collar or other identifying clothing of the registered dog or remove or extinguish a transmitter collar of the registered dog without the permission of the owner, unless removal of the tag, collar or clothing is necessary to prevent or treat injury to the dog; or is carried out by a law enforcement officer for legitimate law enforcement purposes. Any person who intentionally removes a tag, collar or other clothing from a registered dog in violation of the provisions of this paragraph is guilty of an offence and is convicted of community service for not less than eight hours and not more than forty hours, or sentenced to a fine of not less than fifty dollars and not more than one hundred and fifty dollars. or both. (d) The Commissioner of Agriculture is hereby authorized to appoint an appropriate number of his current staff to the extent necessary to investigate allegations of illegal theft of dogs, other pets or reptiles, allegations of cruelty to animals or reptiles, and allegations of illegal theft of animals or reptiles for sale to medical or other research companies. Members shall communicate the results of their investigations to all law enforcement officials empowered to enforce the provisions of this Article. (B) Housing facilities and main pens must allow all dogs to remain dry and clean. (ii) With respect to greyhounds only, any person holding a professional license and having registered a greyhound kennel name with the West Virginia Racing Commission. The purpose of this article is to establish a rabies vaccination procedure for dogs and cats and to control the spread of rabies for the immediate preservation of life, health and safety, as rabies spreads among dogs and cats and becomes a threat and danger to humans, livestock, poultry and game, and the provisions contained in this section are intended to: prevent the spread of rabies.
(i) Any person who keeps or breeds dogs solely for the purpose of raising or keeping farm animals or farm animals, hunting, following or exhibiting in dog shows, shows or field tests and obedience; and The County Dog Keeper and his deputies patrol the county where they are appointed and seize any dog over six months of age and not bearing a valid registration tag, except for dogs that are permanently locked in a registered kennel. You are responsible for the proper care and final disposal of all confiscated dogs. The district dog keeper reports monthly in writing to the district commission in his district. If a dog has been seized and forfeited, the District Dog Guardian must immediately notify the owner of that dog, if the owner is known to the supervisor, that the dog has been seized and will be sold or destroyed if not redeemed within five days. If the owner of such a dog is not known to the dog sitter, he must post a notice at the county courthouse. The notice must describe the dog and where it was seized and warn the unknown owner that the dog will be sold or destroyed if not redeemed within five days.
