2017 -- S 0563

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LC001539

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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: Senators Goodwin, Ruggerio, Ciccone, Lombardo, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: March 15, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

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

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

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

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

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

adopted or disposed of in a humane manner.

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

and notify the owner of the impounded animal, including scanning the animal for a 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 allow a pound or animal shelter to put an animal up for adoption after ten

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001539

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