2016 -- H 7800

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LC004763

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

     Introduced By: Representative John M. Carnevale

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 4-1-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-1 entitled "Cruelty to

Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     4-1-26. Abandonment of animals. – (a) If any person having possession and/or control

of an animal abandons that animal on a street, road, highway or in a public place or on private

property or from a motor vehicle, or in a dwelling or any other building or structure without

providing for the care of that animal, he or she shall be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-

2 for each such offense. If this abandonment results in the death of the animal, the person shall be

punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-5. Abandonment means the relinquishment of all right,

title, claim, or possession of the animal with the intention of not reclaiming it or resuming its

ownership or possession.

     (b) Any animal shelter or pound, as defined in §4-19-2, shall deem abandoned any animal

that is impounded and not claimed by its owner within seven (7) days of impoundment if the

animal has identification. Any impounded animal that does not have identification shall be

deemed abandoned if it is not claimed by its owner within five (5) days of impoundment. Any

animal deemed abandoned shall become the property of the animal shelter or pound and may be

made available for adoption or may be euthanized in a humane manner.

     (c) Any animal shelter or pound, as defined in §4-19-2, shall make a prompt and

reasonable attempt to locate and notify the owner of the impounded animal including scanning

the animal for an identifying microchip.

     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 - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

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     This act would authorize an animal shelter to claim an animal has been abandoned by its

owner if it has identification and has not been claimed after seven (7) days or if it does not have

identification and has not been claimed after five (5) days. The animal shelter may then put the

animal up for adoption or dispose of it in a humane way after a reasonable attempt has been made

to find the owner.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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