2018 -- H 7641

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LC004790

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOGS

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Corvese, O'Brien, Serpa, and Winfield

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2018

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 4-13 of the General Laws entitled "Dogs" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following section:

     4-13-44. Minimum age for sale of dogs.

     (a) Except as otherwise authorized under any other provision of law, it shall be a crime,

punishable as specified in subsection (c) of this section, for any person to sell (as further

described within subsection (b) of this section) one or more dogs under eight (8) weeks of age,

unless, prior to any physical transfer of the dog or dogs from the seller to the purchaser, the dog

or dogs are approved for sale, as evidenced by written documentation from a veterinarian licensed

to practice in Rhode Island.

     (b) For the purposes of this section, the sale of a dog or dogs shall not be considered

complete, and thereby subject to the requirements and penalties of this section, unless and until

the seller physically transfers the dog or dogs to the purchaser.

     (c) Any person who violates this section shall be subject to imprisonment not to exceed

twelve (12) months or a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

     (d) With respect to the sale of two (2) or more dogs in violation of this section, each dog

unlawfully sold shall represent a separate offense.

     (e) This section shall not apply in instances where the following types of organizations

place a dog into “foster care” pursuant to their respective current practices of operation:

     (1) An organization, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or

animal shelter, as defined in § 4-19-2; and

     (2) A pound or dog pound as defined in § 4-19-2.

     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 -- DOGS

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     This act would prohibit the sale of dogs under eight (8) weeks of age unless approval for

sale in writing from a licensed Rhode Island veterinarian with violations subject to imprisonment

not to exceed twelve (12) months or one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. Dog pounds and

animal shelters would be exempt.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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