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Although Virginia does not have a dog bite statute, a person can be compensated if he was bitten as the result of the owner's negligence. For instance, if the dog was unleashed at the time of the attack or was not on its property, the victim can make a claim. However, if the victim, in any way, provoked the attack, he generally won't be compensated.

Nevertheless, the state does allow each locality in the state to enact its own "dangerous" dog ordinances. According to the state's definition, a "dangerous dog" is a dog that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal (other than a dog), or one that has killed a companion animal. A dog biting another dog is not considered a dangerous dog if no serious physical injury has occurred, if both dogs are owned by the same person, or the dogs were involved in an activity, such as hunting or a dog handling event.

If you are the owner of a dangerous dog, you must obtain a dangerous dog registration and indicate the animal is dangerous with an ID. Owners must also post signs warning people that they own a dangerous dog. Owners must keep the dog securely locked indoors or behind an enclosure on their property. If the dog is off the property, it must be leashed and muzzled. Owners also must take out liability insurance in the amount of $100,000 if it's determined that their dog is dangerous.

Leash laws are enacted by each locality in the state of Virginia. The law generally requires that dogs be leashed when off their properties and be in the control of their owner or another person. In public areas, dogs must be leashed unless they are in a specified area for unleashed dogs, such as a dog park or dog exercise area.