2017 -- H 6314

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LC002828

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Marshall, Keable, Slater, and Craven

     Date Introduced: June 08, 2017

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     4-1-26. Abandonment of animals.

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     (a) If any person having possession and/or control of an animal abandons that animal on a

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street, road, highway or in a public place or on private property or from a motor vehicle, or in a

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dwelling or any other building or structure without providing for the care of that animal, he or she

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shall be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-2 for each such offense. If this abandonment

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results in the death of the animal, the person shall be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-5.

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Abandonment means the relinquishment of all right, title, claim, or possession of the animal with

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the intention of not reclaiming it or resuming its ownership or possession.

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

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animal impounded and not redeemed by its owner within seven (7) days of impoundment if such

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animal is wearing identification. Any animal impounded and not wearing identification shall be

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

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animal deemed abandoned shall become the property of the impounding agency and may be

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adopted or disposed of in a humane manner.

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     (c) Any pound or animal shelter shall make a prompt and reasonable attempt to locate

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and notify the owner of the impounded animal, including scanning the animal for a microchip.

 

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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 - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

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     This act would allow a pound or animal shelter to put an animal up for adoption after ten

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(10) days if it has a tag or after five (5) days if it has no tag.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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