2015 -- S 0347

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LC000157

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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 ANIMAL AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- REGULATION OF VICIOUS

DOGS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Walaska, Ciccone, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 4-13.1-2 and 4-13.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-13.1

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entitled "Regulation of Vicious Dogs" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     4-13.1-2. Definitions. -- As used in §§ 4-13.1-1 -- 4-13.1-14, the following words and

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terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context indicates another or different

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meaning or intent:

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      (1) "Dog officer" means any person defined by the provisions of chapter 19 of this title.

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      (2) "Domestic animals" means animals which, through extremely long association with

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humans, have been bred to a degree which has resulted in genetic changes affecting the

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temperament, color, conformation, or other attributes of the species to an extent that makes them

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unique and distinguishable from wild individuals of their species. Such animals may include but

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are not limited to:

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      (i) Domestic dog (Canis familiaris);

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      (ii) Domestic cat (Felis catus);

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      (iii) Domestic horse (Equus caballus);

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      (iv) Domestic ass, burro, and donkey (Equus asinus);

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      (v) Domestic cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus);

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      (vi) Domestic sheep (Ovi aries);

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      (vii) Domestic goat (Capra hircus);

 

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      (viii) Domestic swine (Sus scrofa domestica);

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      (ix) Llama (lama alama);

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      (x) Alpaca (lama pacos);

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      (xi) Camels (Camelus bactrianus and Camel dromedarius);

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      (xii) Domestic races of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus);

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      (xiii) Domestic races of chickens (Callus gallus);

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      (xiv) Domestic races of duck and geese (Anatidae) morphologically distinguishable from

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wild birds;

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      (xv) Domestic races of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris);

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      (xvi) Domestic races of peafowl (Pavo scristatus).

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      (3) "Enclosure" means a fence or structure of at least six feet (6') in height, forming or

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causing an enclosure suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and suitable to confine a

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vicious dog in conjunction with other measures which may be taken by the owner or keeper, such

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as tethering of the vicious dog. The enclosure shall be securely enclosed and locked and designed

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with secure sides, top, and bottom and shall be designed to prevent the animal from escaping

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from the enclosure.

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      (4) "Impounded" means taken into the custody of the public pound in the city or town

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where the vicious dog is found.

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      (5) "Person" means a natural person or any legal entity, including but not limited to, a

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corporation, firm, partnership, or trust.

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      (6) "Vicious dog" means:

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      (i) Any dog that, when unprovoked, in a vicious or terrorizing manner, approaches any

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person in apparent attitude of attack upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds or places;

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      (ii) Any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to

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cause injury, or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals;

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      (iii) Any dog that bites, inflicts injury, assaults, or otherwise attacks a human being or

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domestic animal without provocation on public or private property; or

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      (iv) Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or

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any dog trained for dog fighting.

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      Notwithstanding the definition of a vicious dog in subsection (6), no dog may be

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declared vicious in accordance with § 4-13.1-11 if an injury or damage is sustained by a person

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who, at the time that injury or damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort

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upon premises occupied by the owner or keeper of the dog, or was teasing, tormenting,

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provoking, abusing or assaulting the dog or was committing or attempting to commit a crime or

 

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until the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals has an opportunity to assess the dog

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pursuant to the provisions of § 4-13.1-5(d).

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      (v) No dog may be declared vicious if an injury or damage was sustained by a domestic

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animal which at the time that injury or damage was sustained was teasing, tormenting, provoking,

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abusing or assaulting the dog. No dog may be declared vicious if the dog was protecting or

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defending a human being within the immediate vicinity of the dog from an unjustified attack or

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assault.

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      (7) "Guardian" shall mean a person(s) having the same rights and responsibilities of an

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owner, and both terms shall be used interchangeably. A guardian shall also mean a person who

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possesses, has title to or an interest in, harbors or has control, custody or possession of an animal

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and who is responsible for an animal's safety and well-being.

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      (8) "Muzzle" means a device which shall not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its

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vision or respiration but shall prevent the dog from biting a person or animal.

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      (9) "Serious injury" means any physical injury consisting of a broken bone(s) or

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permanently disfiguring lacerations requiring stitches, multiple stitches or sutures, or cosmetic

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surgery.

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      (10) "Enclosed area" means an area surrounded by a fence that will prevent the dog from

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leaving the owner's property.

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      (11) "Tie-out" means a cable, rope, light weight chain, or other means attached to the

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dog that will prevent the dog from leaving the owner's property.

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      (12) "Leash" means a rope, cable, nylon strap, or other means attached to the dog that

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will provide the owner with control of the dog.

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     4-13.1-5. Harboring dogs for dog fighting -- Training dogs to attack humans --

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Selling, breeding, or buying dogs. -- (a) No person shall own or harbor any dog for the purpose

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of dog fighting, or train, torment, badger, bait, or use any dog for the purpose of causing or

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encouraging the dog to unprovoked attacks upon human beings or domestic animals.

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      (b) No person shall possess with intent to sell, or offer for sale, breed, or buy or attempt

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to buy within the state any vicious dog.

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     (c) Any dog described in subsection (a) or (b) of this section lawfully seized by a sheriff,

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deputy sheriff, constable, police officer, agent or officer of the Society for the Prevention of

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Cruelty to Animals shall be placed in the care of the SPCA pursuant to the provisions of § 4-1-22

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through and including § 4-1-31.

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     (d) The SPCA shall utilize a timely process to determine the disposition of the dog and

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provide for prompt transfer to an appropriate rescue organization or adoptive home with humane

 

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euthanization occurring only if the dog's medical and/or behavioral condition warrants such

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action or it is determined, after reasonable time and effort have been expended, that no

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appropriate placement for the dog exists.

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     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 ANIMAL AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- REGULATION OF VICIOUS

DOGS

***

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     This act would require that any dog lawfully seized as a result of dog fighting or trained,

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tormented, badgered, baited, or used for the purpose of unprovoked attacks upon human beings or

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domestic animals be placed in the care of the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals for

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the dog's physical care and suitability for transfer to an appropriate rescue organization or

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adoptive home.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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