Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 3.2-6562 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§3.2-6562. Capturing, confining, and euthanizing companion animals by animal control officers; approval of drugs used.

It shall be the duty of the animal control officer or any other officer to capture and confine any companion animal (i) of unknown ownership found running at large on which the license fee has not been paid or (ii) in response to a complaint by a citizen that a companion animal is on property owned by the citizen who filed the complaint and without the permission of that citizen. Following the expiration of the holding period prescribed in §3.2-6546, the animal control officer or other officer may deliver such companion animal to any person in his jurisdiction who will pay the required license fee on such companion animal. Prior to disposition by euthanasia or otherwise, all the provisions of §3.2-6546 shall have been complied with. For all companion animals not otherwise disposed of as provided for in this chapter, it shall be the duty of the animal control officer or any other officer to euthanize such companion animals. Any person, animal control officer, or other officer euthanizing a companion animal under this chapter shall cremate, bury, or sanitarily dispose of the same.

All drugs and drug administering equipment used by animal control officers or other officers to capture companion animals pursuant to this chapter shall have been approved by the State Veterinarian.