The Virginia State Code Section 3.2-6553 was established in 1984 to reimburse farmers and individuals who raise livestock and fowl after a loss of any animals due to an attack by a dog allowed to roam freely. In 2014, the General Assembly raised the reimbursement rate for livestock from $400 per head to $750 per head, however, they left the rate per head of fowl unchanged at $10, the rate it has been set at since 1998.

WE THE UNDERSIGNED feel this needs to change. The cost of raising livestock and fowl increases every year, and the rates currently set for reimbursement do not match the reality of the economic impact of the loss of an animal. Negligent dog owners need to be held accountable for the true costs inflicted by the animals in their care when they are left free to roam and end up attacking and killing the livelihood of farming families. 

Our goal is to increase the amount of compensation provided by law for all livestock and fowl killed by dogs to match that economic reality, and furthermore to tie the rates of reimbursement to an inflation escalator to ensure that the rates remain sufficient to adequately compensate farmers and families. 

We ask that the General Assembly take action to amend State Code Section 3.2-6553 to set the rates of reimbursement at $1000 per head of livestock and $25 per head of fowl and to tie those rates to an annual adjustment equal to the Consumer Price Index

Please help us to get this changed by signing and showing your support.

Thank you!