2016 -- S 2801

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LC005154

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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

     

     Introduced By: Senator Stephen R. Archambault

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     (Environmental Management)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 4-19-1, 4-19-2, 4-19-4, 4-19-8, 4-19-9, 4-19-10, 4-19-11, 4-19-

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11.2, 4-19-11.3 and 4-19-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-19 entitled "Animal Care" are

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     4-19-1. Purpose. -- The purpose of this chapter is:

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      (1) To protect the owners of dogs and cats from the sale or use of stolen pets;

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      (2) To insure that all warm-blooded vertebrate animals, as items of commerce in the care

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of facilities licensed or registered under this chapter are provided humane care and treatment by

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regulating the transportation, sale, purchase, housing, care, handling and treatment of these

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animals by persons or organizations engaged in transporting, buying, or selling them for

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commercial use handling, housing, and care of these animals;

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      (3) To insure that animals confined in pet shops, kennels, animal shelters, auction

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markets, and pounds are provided humane care and treatment;

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      (4) To release for sale, trade or adoption only those animals which appear to be free of

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infection, communicable disease, or abnormalities, unless veterinary care subsequent to release is

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assured; and

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      (5) To ensure the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats which are adopted from a

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releasing agency.

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     4-19-2. Definitions. -- As used in this chapter, chapter 13 of this title, and the regulations

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promulgated under this chapter:

 

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      (1) "Adequate feed" means the provision at suitable intervals, not to exceed twenty-four

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(24) hours, of a quantity of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the species and age, sufficient to

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maintain a reasonable level of nutrition in each animal. The foodstuff shall be served in a

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sanitized receptacle, dish, or container.

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      (2) "Adequate water" means a constant access to a sufficient supply of clean, fresh,

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potable water provided in a sanitary manner or and provided at suitable intervals for the species to

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maintain the health of the animal(s) and not to exceed twenty-four (24) hours at any interval.

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      (3) "Adequate veterinary care" means care by a licensed veterinarian sufficient to

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prevent the animal from experiencing unnecessary or unjustified physical pain or suffering.

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      (4) "Adopt" means when an adopting party voluntarily acquires and assumes

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responsibility for a dog or a cat an animal from a releasing agency that is properly licensed or

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registered by the department.

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      (5) "Adopting party" means any person who enters into a contract acquiring a dog or a

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cat an animal from a releasing agency that is properly licensed or registered by the department.

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      (6) "Ambient temperature" means the temperature surrounding the animal.

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      (7) "Animal" means any dog or cat, rabbit, rodent, nonhuman primate, bird or other

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warm-blooded vertebrate amphibian, fish or reptile but shall not include horses, cattle, sheep,

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goats, swine, and domestic fowl.

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     (8) "Animal rescue" or "rescue" means an entity, without a physical brick and mortar

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facility, which is owned, operated, or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal

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welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other nonprofit organization

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devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals intended for adoption.

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      (8)(9) "Animal shelter" means a brick and mortar facility which is used to house or

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contain animals and which is owned, operated, or maintained by a duly incorporated humane

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society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other nonprofit

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organization devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals.

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      (9)(10) "Breeder" means a person engaged in the propagation of purebred or crossbred

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dogs and/or cats for the purpose of improving and enhancing a breed recognized and registered

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by the American kennel club, American field stud book, or a registered cat breed association, or

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for sale at wholesale or retail unless otherwise exempted as a hobby breeder as defined below.

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     (11) "Broker" means any third party who arranges, delivers, or otherwise facilities

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transfer of ownership of animal(s), through adoption or fostering, from one party to another,

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whether or not the party receives a fee for providing that service and whether or not the party

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takes physical possession of the animal(s) at any point.

 

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      (10)(12) "Dealer" means any person who sells, exchanges, or donates, or offers to sell,

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exchange, or donate animals to another dealer, pet shop, or research facility, or who breeds dogs

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and/or cats animals for the purpose of selling or donating to another dealer or pet shop, or

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research facility.

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      (11)(13) "Director" means the director of environmental management of the state of

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Rhode Island.

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      (12)(14) "Dog officer" or "animal control officer" means any person employed,

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contracted or appointed by the state or any political subdivision of the state for the purpose of

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aiding in the enforcement of this chapter or any other law, or ordinance relating to the licensing of

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dogs, cats or other animals, the control of dogs, cats or other animals, or the seizure and

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impoundment of dogs, cats or other animals and includes any state or municipal peace officer,

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animal control officer, sheriff, constable or other employee whose duties in whole or in part

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include assignments which involve the seizure or taking into custody of any dog, cat or other

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animal.

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      (13)(15) "Euthanasia" means the humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a

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method that involves instantaneous unconsciousness and immediate death or by a method that

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involves anesthesia, produced by an agent which causes painless loss of consciousness, and death

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during that loss of consciousness.

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      (14)(16) "Hobby breeder" means those persons whose regular occupation is not the

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breeding and raising of dogs and cats and whose method of sale is at retail only. A hobby breeder

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shall not exceed the limits set forth in §4-25-1(4). Any person who sells at retail a number in

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excess of the limits in the aforementioned section shall be considered a pet shop.

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      (15)(17) "Housing facility" means any room, building, or area used to contain a primary

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enclosure or enclosures.

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      (16)(18) "Kennel" means a place or establishment other than a pound or animal shelter

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where animals not owned by the proprietor are sheltered, fed, and watered in return for a fee.

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      (17)(19) "Licensed releasing agency" means any animal shelter, animal rescue league,

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pound, dog pound, animal control facility, animal control officer, humane society, or broker

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society for the prevention of cruelty to animals which is required to be licensed or registered with

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the director pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and is so licensed or registered.

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      (18)(20) "Neuter" means to surgically render a male dog or cat unable to reproduce.

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      (19)(21) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company,

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corporation, association, trust, estate, or other legal entity.

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      (20)(22) "Pet shop" means a temporary or permanent establishment where animals are

 

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bought, sold, exchanged, or offered for sale or exchange to the general public at retail. This shall

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not include an establishment or person whose total sales are the offspring of canine or feline

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females maintained on their premises and sold from those premises and does not exceed the limits

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set forth in §4-25-1(4).

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      (21)(23) "Pound" or "dog pound" means a facility operated by a state, or any political

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subdivision of a state, for the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, stray, homeless,

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abandoned or unwanted dogs, cats, and other animals or a facility operated for that purpose under

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a contract with any municipal corporation or incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to

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animals.

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      (22)(24) "Primary enclosure" or "enclosure" means any structure used to immediately

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restrict an animal or animals to a limited amount of space, as a room, pen, cage, compartment, or

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hutch the most proximal barrier to an animal that will have the intended purpose or effect of

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containment of that animal or that will effectively restrict the liberty of the animal.

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      (23)(25) "Public auction" means any place or location where dogs or cats are sold at

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auction to the highest bidder regardless of whether those dogs or cats are offered as individuals,

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as a group, or by weight.

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      (24)(26) "Research facility" means any place, laboratory or institution at which scientific

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tests, investigations or experiments, involving the use of living animals are carried out,

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conducted, or attempted.

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      (25)(27) "Sanitize" means to make physically clean and to remove and destroy to a

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practical minimum, agents injurious to health.

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      (26)(28) "Sexual maturity" means when a dog or cat reaches six (6) months. In all

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instances the licensed releasing agency or a licensed veterinarian will determine the age of the

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dog or cat.

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      (27)(29) "Spay" means to surgically render a female dog or cat unable to reproduce.

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      (28)(30) "State veterinarian" means a licensed veterinarian from the department of

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environmental management.

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

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an 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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     4-19-4. Registration of animal shelters Registration of animal shelters, rescues, and

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brokers. -- No person shall operate an animal shelter, rescue, or broker unless a certificate of

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registration for that animal shelter, rescue, or broker has been granted by the director. Application

 

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for that certificate shall be made in the manner provided by the director. No fee is required for the

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application or certificate. Certificates of registration are valid for a period of one year or until

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revoked and may be renewed annually on the first day of January for like periods upon

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application in the manner provided.

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     4-19-8. Denial of certificates of registration or licenses. -- (a) A certificate of

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registration may be denied to any pound or animal shelter, rescue, broker, and a license may be

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denied to any public auction, kennel, pet shop or dealer or, if granted, the certificate or license

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may be revoked by the director if, after a hearing, it is determined that the housing facilities

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and/or primary enclosures are inadequate for the purposes of this chapter or if the feeding,

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watering, sanitizing and housing practices at the pound, animal shelter, public auction, pet shop or

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kennel are not consistent with the intent of this chapter or with the intent of the rules and

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regulations which may be promulgated pursuant to the authority of this chapter.

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     (b) Upon revocation of a certificate of registration, all animals in the possession of the

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pound, rescue, broker, or animal shelter must be transferred to another licensed releasing agency

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for disposition.

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     (c) Upon the revocation of a license, all animals in the possession of the public auction,

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kennel, pet shop or dealer must be disposed of by the former licensee in a manner approved by

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the department. Such disposition must not be for profit and must occur in a timeframe that is

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determined by the department. Inspectors from the department or from the Rhode Island Society

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for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals must have access to the facility where the animals being

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housed by the former licensee are being held until disposition so that the welfare of said animals

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can be assured.

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     4-19-9. Operation of pet shop, kennel or public auction without a license. -- Any

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person who operates a pet shop, kennel or public auction without a currently valid license shall

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upon conviction, plea of guilty, or plea of nolo contendere, shall be punished pursuant to §4-19-

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11.3. for the first offense be punished by a fine not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), for the second

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and subsequent offense by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100). Each day of operation

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shall constitute a separate offense. Advertisement of services consistent with the operation of a

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pet shop, kennel, or public auction shall be sufficient evidence of operation of a pet shop, kennel,

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or public auction as applicable.

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     4-19-10. Dealing in animals without a license. -- Any person dealing in animals, as

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defined in this chapter, without a currently valid license shall upon conviction, plea of guilty, or

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plea of nolo contendere, shall be punished pursuant to §4-19-11.3. for the first offense be

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punished by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100), for the second offense by a fine not

 

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to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both. Each

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day of operation shall constitute a separate offense.

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     4-19-11. Mistreatment of animals. -- Failure of any person, firm, or corporation

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licensed or registered, under the provisions of this chapter, to adequately house, feed and water

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animals in his or her possession or custody, as delineated in any rules and regulations

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promulgated under the authority of this chapter, shall constitute a misdemeanor, and upon

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conviction the person, firm, or corporation shall be subject to a fine of not more than one hundred

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dollars ($100) per animal. ; and forfeiture of the animal(s); and revocation of license and/or

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certificate after a public hearing. Any animals that are suspected of being mistreated may be

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seized by the state veterinarian to ensure adequate welfare pursuant to §4-1-31(f) with the cost of

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care for the aforementioned animals to be determined in the manner prescribed by that section.

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Those animals shall be subject to seizure and impoundment and upon conviction of the person

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may be sold or euthanized at the discretion of the director and that failure shall also constitute

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grounds for revocation of license or registration after a public hearing.

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     4-19-11.2. Destruction of animals and cats -- Reporting. -- All cities and towns

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licensed releasing agencies are required to notify the department of environmental management

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monthly of the number of animals and cats destroyed while those animals are in their care and

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custody.

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     4-19-11.3. Penalty for violations. -- Any person, firm or corporation who violates any

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provision of this chapter unless the penalty is otherwise stated in a specific subsection is subject

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upon conviction, plea of guilty, or plea of nolo contendere to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500)

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for the first offense and not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1000) for the second and subsequent

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offense and loss of specimen(s) animal(s) and revocation of license and/or certificate after a

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public hearing.

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     4-19-12. Disposition of animals. -- (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or

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public laws to the contrary, it shall be unlawful to dispose of any animal by using a carbon

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monoxide chamber or gas chamber. All animals, which must be disposed of by a municipal

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pound or shelter, the humane society, an animal shelter, rescue, pet shop, kennel, or any other

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private pound or animal shelter, however, described, entity that is required to be licensed or

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registered under this chapter must be disposed of by lethal injection. In the event of an

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emergency, if a licensed veterinarian cannot be secured without undue delay and, in the opinion

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of the animal control officer, animal control administrator, approved humane investigator, or

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animal shelter employee, or agent of any other entity so required to be licensed under the

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provisions of this chapter, the animal is so severely injured, diseased, or suffering in such a

 

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manner the animal cannot otherwise be humanely destroyed in an expeditious manner, the animal

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may be destroyed by shooting; provided, that:

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      (1) Maximum precaution is taken to minimize the animal's suffering and to protect other

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persons and animals;

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      (2) The animal is restrained in a humane manner;

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      (3) Shooting is performed by highly skilled and trained personnel utilizing a weapon,

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ammunition of suitable caliber, and other characteristics, and proper placement of the shot to

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produce an instantaneous death by a single gunshot.

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      If any type of restraint or confinement is deemed necessary for the safety of those

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involved or for efficiency in euthanizing the animal, it must be done in the most humane way

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possible to cause the least amount of additional stress to that animal.

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      (b) (1) No dog officer shall give or sell or negotiate for the gift or sale to a dealer or

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research facility of any animal which may come into his or her custody in the course of carrying

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out his or her official assignments.

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      (2) No dog officer shall be granted a dealer's license. Each application for a dealer's

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license shall include a statement made under oath, that neither the applicant or any member or

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employee of the firm, partnership, or corporation making application is a dog officer within the

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meaning of this chapter.

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      (3) A dog officer, or incorporated humane society other licensed releasing agency, upon

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taking custody of any animal in the course of their official duties, shall immediately make a

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record of the matter in the manner prescribed by the director and the record shall include a

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description of the animal including color, breed, sex, reason for seizure, location of seizure, the

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owner's name and address if known and all license or other identification numbers if any.

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Complete information relating to the disposition of the animal, including compliance with the

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provisions of §§ 4-19-16 and 4-19-18 and any legal actions taken to uphold and enforce this law,

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shall be added in the manner provided by the director immediately after disposition. The

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information shall be forwarded monthly to the department of environmental management.

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      (c) This section shall not apply to any research laboratories or facilities of any hospital,

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college, or university within the state.

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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 ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

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     This act would raise the level of care required for animals being offered for sale and in

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facilities holding stray animals. It would increase penalties for those who mistreat animals in such

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facilities.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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