2018 -- H 7641 AS AMENDED

========

LC004790

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

____________

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 maturity level 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 or transfer (as

further described within subsection (b) of this section) one or more dogs that are not fully weaned

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

purchaser/transferee, 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 or transfer 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/transferor physically transfers the dog or dogs to the purchaser/transferee.

     (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 or transferred 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.

========

LC004790

========

LC004790 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOGS

***

     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.

========

LC004790

========

LC004790 - Page 3 of 3