2015 -- H 5799

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LC001880

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

     Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Melo, Solomon, McNamara, and Hull

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     4-1-37.1. Reports of abandoned, neglected or abused animals. -- (a) Any Rhode Island

licensed veterinarian, veterinarian technician, animal shelter, animal kennel or other person

charged with the care or custody of an animal shall report to any police department (local or

state), animal control officials or officers of private organizations devoted to the humane

treatment of animals, the condition of any animal that the parties entrusted with care or custody of

an animal knows or reasonably believes to be abandoned, neglected, or abused, and shall be

immune from suit by reason of making the report; provided, however, that any party under this

section who participates or reports in bad faith or with malice shall not be protected under the

provisions of this section. As used in this section, the term "abandoned" means the desertion or

willful forsaking, without justification, of an animal, or to leave or quit an animal with the

intention to cause permanent separation. The term does not include a situation where an animal

has escaped or run away from his or her owner or a person or entity with whom the owner has

placed the animal on a temporary basis.

     (b) Any party who fails to report pursuant to this section shall be fined not exceeding five

hundred dollars ($500).

     (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose a duty to further investigate

observed or reasonably suspected animal abandonment, cruel neglect, or abuse.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

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     This act would require certain persons entrusted with the care of animals to report any

neglect or abuse reasonably believed to have been inflicted upon the animal.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001880

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