2015 -- S 0204

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LC000952

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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 - PERMIT PROGRAM FOR CATS

     Introduced By: Senator Walter S. Felag

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 4-24 of the General Laws entitled "Permit Program for Cats" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

     4-24-14. Cat licenses - Fees - Penalties. -- (a)(1) Every owner or keeper of a cat shall

annually in April obtain a license effective May 1 in the office of the city or town clerk of the city

or town in which the owner or keeper resides.

     (2) The fees for the license shall be five dollars ($5.00).

     (3) No city or town shall issue any license under this section unless the cat has been

inoculated against rabies for the period of time which the license would be valid.

     (4) All licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be valid in every city or

town during the then current year.

     (5) Any person who becomes the owner or keeper of a cat shall obtain a license within

thirty (30) days after he or she becomes the owner or keeper.

     (b) Every person, owning or keeping a cat not licensed and/or collared according to the

provisions of this chapter, shall be fined ten dollars ($10.00) to be applied to the support of the

city or town, and that fine shall be in addition to all other lawful fees.

     4-24-15. Collaring of cats - Impoundment and disposition of uncollared cats. -- (a)

Every owner or keeper of a cat shall cause the cat to wear a collar around its neck distinctly

marked with its owner's or keeper's name and with its registered number. Any person may cause

any cat not so collared to be impounded in the public pound of the town or city where the cat is

found; and if the cat is not claimed by its owner or keeper within a period of five (5) days after

the impoundment, the cat may be disposed of or destroyed. The five (5) days shall not include

any day or part of a day that the public pound is not open for a specified period of time, not to be

less than one-half (1/2) the normal hours of business, for the purpose of reclaiming any

impounded cat by its rightful owner. All periods of time shall be listed in a prominent location at

the entrance to all public pounds. The owner or keeper of any cat so impounded shall not take the

cat out of the pound until he or she has first paid to the poundkeeper the expense of keeping the

cat, that expense not to exceed two dollars ($2.00) per day and to be determined by the city or

town council in which impoundment occurs. The provisions of this section relating to the five (5)

day waiting period shall not be deemed to apply to any cat which, when impounded, was injured

or maimed, and after the cat has been examined by a licensed veterinarian who shall confirm, in

writing, that the cat be destroyed for humanitarian purposes.

     (b) Any person violating the provisions of this section is subject to a fine of ten dollars

($10.00) per violation and in addition to all other lawful fees.

     4-24-16. Notice to new owner of inoculation and licensing requirements. -- (a) It is

unlawful for any dog pound, animal shelter, kennel, pet store, or any other facility licensed

pursuant to chapter 19 of this title to sell, give away, or adopt out any cat without providing the

new owner with a form indicating that inoculation against rabies and permanent licensing are

required within thirty (30) days.

     (b) The facility shall also require the new owner to sign a register indicating that the new

owner has received a form and the register shall also contain the name and address of the new

owner and shall be permanently maintained by the facility.

     (c) The person obtaining a cat in this manner is required to have this cat inoculated

against rabies and obtain a permanent license within thirty (30) days.

     (d) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is subject to the penalty

provisions of § 4-13-4 in addition to all other lawful fees.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC000952

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - PERMIT PROGRAM FOR CATS

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     This act would require owners of cats to have the cat licensed, collared and inoculated or

be subject to fines.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000952

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LC000952 - Page 3 of 3