Dogs in West Virginia, United States: rules, tax and travel
West Virginia: Dogs over six months old are subject to a county head tax and must be registered with the county assessor within ten days of acquisition or turning six months (W. Rabies and bite rules are in the details below.
Many dog rules in West Virginia are set by counties, cities or towns, so check your local animal control.
The national rules for United States apply here too. National rules
Breed rules
No breed-specific rule found.
Registration and microchip
Dogs over six months old are subject to a county head tax and must be registered with the county assessor within ten days of acquisition or turning six months (W. Va. Code 19-20-1, 19-20-2). Tags run to 30 June.[1]
Dog tax and licence
County head tax; sources conflict on the exact amount.[1]
typical 3 USD, 1 to 3 USD a year
Leash and muzzle
Vaccinated dogs may run at large unless the commissioner declares a quarantine, during which owners may not let dogs run at large (W. Va. Code 19-20A-8).[2]
Other rules
Dogs and cats must be vaccinated by 6 months of age (W. Va. Code 19-20A-2, 19-20A-4). The table gives no interval.[3]
Dog bite liability: Strict liability only if the dog was running at large, otherwise the one-bite rule or negligence (W. Va. Code 19-20-13).[4]
Laws change: this is general information, not legal advice. The authority linked on each line has the final word.
Sources
- animallaw.info/statute/wv-dogs-consolidated-dog-laws (secondary source)
- animallaw.info/topic/table-state-dog-leash-laws (secondary source)
- animallaw.info/topic/table-rabies-vaccination-laws (secondary source)
- justia.com/injury/premises-liability/animal-dog-bites/dog-bite-law-50-state-survey (secondary source)