Legal Question in Criminal Law in Virginia

When is it legal to kill an animal?

Thanks for any help you can give me in answering my question. If I am walking along a public road or street or if I am on my own property or in a public place (ie mall, parking lot, park or other public place) and a animal (unleashed and unattended) approaches me in a threating or menacing manner do I have the right to kill the animal if I fear for my own or others safety? If I do kill the animal am I liable for civil damages and/or criminal prosecution? What section(s) of the code of Virginia cover this? Thanks again


Asked on 3/26/09, 10:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: When is it legal to kill an animal?

Under the facts described, I would say that you very likely would not have such a right and would likely be judged to have acted prematurely and disproportionately to the preceived threat in responding with deadly force, and therefore could be civilly, as well as possibly, criminally liable for killing this animal(presumably by discharging a firearm).

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Answered on 3/26/09, 11:30 pm


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