Stolen pets in Virginia are not equal based on the law
Virginia law does not recognize the theft of a cat in the same way it does a stolen dog. CBS News highlights how a man who stole a pet dog in Charlottesville is facing felony charges because dogs are classified as farm animals. There is nothing on the books in the Commonwealth about feline pets.
The bias in the state against cats was realized in 2008 when a bill went to the General Assembly that would consider felines on the same level as dogs, but the bill never made it past the appropriations committee. Betsy Ballenger with the local group Cat Action Team said the following.
“We cat people feel like it’s cats are second-class citizens. But at the same token, we kind of like that we work under the radar a little bit. Dogs have to be licensed, cats don’t have to be licensed,”
Cats are not listed with other animals under Virginia code
Virginia law § 3.2-6585. addresses canines and felines as personal property but does not outline specifics if a cat is stolen. Virginia code § 18.2-97 addresses the theft of dogs, ponies, cows, pigs, mules, goats, steers, bulls, and calves but cats are not mentioned..