2019 -- S 0699

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LC002016

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

     

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Ciccone, Pearson, Lombardo, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: March 21, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     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, 4-19-5, 4-19-5.1, 4-19-6, 4-19-7, 4-19-8,

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4-19-10, 4-19-16 and 4-19-20 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.

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     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 ensure that all warm-blooded, vertebrate animals, in the care of facilities licensed

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or registered under this chapter, are provided humane care and treatment by regulating the

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transportation, sale, purchase, housing, care, handling, and treatment of these animals by persons

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or organizations engaged in transporting, selling, handling, housing, and care of these animals;

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

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markets, breeding facilities, and pounds are provided humane care and treatment;

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     (4) To release for sale, trade, or adoption only those animals that 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 that are adopted from a

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releasing agency;

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     (6) To ensure pet shops source puppies and kittens from licensed, registered, and

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regulated breeders that are in good standing with the USDA and their state requirements, in order

 

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to decrease the demand for puppies and kittens bred in puppy and kitten mills; and

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     (7) To ensure pet shops can also source puppies and kittens from rescues and shelters to

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help provide homes for puppies and kittens in need.

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     4-19-2. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter, chapter 13 of this title, and the regulations promulgated under

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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 veterinary care" means care by a licensed veterinarian sufficient to prevent

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

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

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potable water provided in a sanitary manner 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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     (4) "Adopt" means when an adopting party voluntarily acquires and assumes

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responsibility for an animal from a releasing agency that is properly licensed or registered by the

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department.

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     (5) "Adopting party" means any person who enters into a contract acquiring an animal

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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, that 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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     (9) "Animal shelter" means a brick-and-mortar facility that is used to house or contain

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animals and that is owned, operated, or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society,

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

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

 

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American Kennel Club, American Field Stud Book, a registered cat breed association, or for sale

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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 facilitates

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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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     (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

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animals for the purpose of selling or donating to another dealer or pet shop or research facility.

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

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Island.

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

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appointed by the state, or any political subdivision of the state, for the purpose of aiding in the

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enforcement of this chapter or any other law or ordinance relating to the licensing of dogs, cats,

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

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dogs, cats, or other animals and includes any state or municipal peace officer, animal-control

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

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assignments that involve the seizure or taking into custody of any dog, cat, or other animal.

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

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

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anesthesia, produced by an agent that causes painless loss of consciousness and death during that

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loss of consciousness.

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

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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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     (17) "Hobby breeder" means those persons whose regular occupation is not the breeding

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and raising of dogs and cats and whose method of sale is at retail only. A hobby breeder shall not

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exceed the limits set forth in § 4-25-1(4). Any person who sells at retail a number in excess of the

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limits in the aforementioned section shall be considered a breeder.

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

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enclosure or enclosures.

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     (19) "Kennel" means a place or establishment, other than a pound or animal shelter, or

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veterinary hospital that is housing animals during their treatment, where animals not owned by

 

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the proprietor are sheltered, fed, and watered in return for a fee. This definition shall not apply to

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the following:

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     (i) Sheltering sheltering, feeding, and watering in return for a fee in a residential setting,

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of no more than four (4) animals not owned by the proprietor, subject to any applicable municipal

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ordinance that may be more restrictive;

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     (ii) Any entity that sells a dog or cat.

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     (20) "Licensed releasing agency" means any animal shelter, animal-rescue, pound,

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animal-control officer, or broker that is required to be licensed or registered with the director

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

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

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     (22) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation,

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association, trust, estate, or other legal entity.

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     (23) "Pet shop" means a temporary or permanent an 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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     (24) "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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     (25) "Primary enclosure" or "enclosure" means the most proximal barrier to an animal

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that will have the intended purpose or effect of containment of that animal or that will effectively

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restrict the liberty of the animal.

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

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

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group, or by weight.

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     (27) "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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     (28) "Sanitize" means to make physically clean and to remove and destroy, to a practical

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minimum, agents injurious to health.

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     (29) "Sexual maturity" means when a dog or cat reaches six (6) months. In all instances,

 

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the licensed, releasing agency or a licensed veterinarian will determine the age of the dog or cat.

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

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

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environmental management.

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

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     No person shall operate an animal shelter, rescue, or as a 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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     4-19-5. Pet shop licenses.

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     No person shall operate a pet shop, as defined in this chapter unless a license to operate

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that establishment shall have been granted by the director. Application for that license shall be

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made in the manner provided by the director. The license period is the state's fiscal year and the

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license fee is one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each license period or partial period part thereof

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beginning with the first day of the fiscal year.

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     4-19-5.1. Breeder licenses.

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     No person shall act as a breeder, as defined in § 4-19-2, unless in possession of a valid

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license to operate as a breeder granted by the director. Application for that license shall be made

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in the manner provided by the director. The license period is the state's fiscal year and the license

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fee is one hundred dollars ($100) for each license period or partial period part thereof beginning

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with the first day of the fiscal year.

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     4-19-6. Public auction and kennel licenses.

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     (a) No person shall operate a public auction or a kennel, as defined in this chapter, unless

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a license to operate that establishment has been granted by the director. Application for the

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license shall be made in the manner provided by the director. The license period is the fiscal year

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and the license fee shall be fifty dollars ($50.00) for each license period or part thereof beginning

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with the first day of the fiscal year.

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     (b) This section shall not be interpreted to interfere in any manner with the issuing of a

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public auction or kennel license by any city or town, nor any fee charged by any city or town. No

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license shall be issued by the director except for those premises as shall be designated for such

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licensure by the respective city or town council.

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     (c) Pursuant to § 4-19-2(19), any person who provides the sheltering, feeding, and

 

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watering in return for a fee in a residential setting of no more than four (4) animals not owned by

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the proprietor is:

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     (1) Exempt from licensure as a kennel under this chapter; and

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     (2) Subject to inspection by an authorized agent of the department of environmental

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management (hereinafter "the department") upon the department receiving a written complaint

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against the person. Only complaints related to animal care, animal health, and animal welfare

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may initiate an inspection. Any inspection that is conducted by the department shall be conducted

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during the hours of eight o'clock a.m. (8:00 a.m.) through five o'clock p.m. (5:00 p.m.), unless the

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person who is the subject of the complaint agrees to an inspection at another time; and

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     (3) Required to be compliant with the department's rules and regulations governing

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animal care facilities, RICR 250-RICR-40-05-4, §§ 4.7 and 4.8.A.1 through 8 (excluding the

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sanitation log requirements of § 4.8.A.3). Any inspection conducted by an authorized agent of the

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department shall be limited to the aforementioned sections and shall be limited to areas to which

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the animals being cared for have access. Any violations of these sections are punishable in

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accordance with § 4.12 of the rules and regulations governing animal care facilities and any

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appeal for any enforcement action shall be made in accordance with § 4.11.B of those rules and

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regulations; and

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     (4) Any person who is subject to inspection pursuant to the conditions set forth in

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subsection (c)(2), but who denies access to authorized inspectors from the department, is subject

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to a civil fine of three hundred fifty dollars ($350). Each day that access is denied shall constitute

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a separate punishable offense.

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     4-19-7. Dealer licenses.

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     No person shall be operate as a dealer, as defined in this chapter, after the first day of the

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fiscal year unless a license to deal has been granted by the director to that person. Application for

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the license shall be made in the manner provided by the director. The license period is the fiscal

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year and the license fee is one hundred dollars ($100) for each license period or part thereof

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beginning with the first day of the fiscal year.

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     4-19-8. Denial of certificates of registration or licenses.

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     (a) A certificate of registration may be denied to any pound or animal shelter, rescue, or

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broker, and a license may be denied to any public auction, kennel, breeder, pet shop, or dealer or,

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if granted, the certificate or license may be revoked by the director if, after a hearing, it is

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determined that the housing facilities and/or primary enclosures are inadequate for the purposes

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of this chapter or if the feeding, watering, sanitizing, and housing practices at the pound, animal

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shelter, public auction, pet shop, or kennel are not consistent with the intent of this chapter or

 

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with the intent of the rules and regulations that may be promulgated pursuant to the authority of

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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, breeder, or dealer must be disposed of by the former licensee in a manner

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approved by the department. Such disposition must not be for profit and must occur in a

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timeframe that is determined by the department. Inspectors from the department or from the

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Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals must have access to the facility

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where the animals being housed by the former licensee are being held until disposition so that the

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welfare of said animals can be assured.

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     4-19-10. Dealing in animals without a license.

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     Any person dealing in who operates as a dealer of animals, as defined in this chapter,

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without a currently valid license shall, upon conviction, plea of guilty, or plea of nolo contendere,

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be punished pursuant to § 4-19-11.3. Each day of operation shall constitute a separate offense.

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     4-19-16. Mandatory spaying and neutering of dogs and cats adopted from a licensed

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releasing agency.

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     (a)(1) No licensed releasing agency shall release, sell, trade, give away, exchange, adopt

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out, or otherwise transfer with or without a fee any dog or cat that has not been spayed or

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neutered unless the adopting party executes a written agreement with the licensed releasing

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agency to have the dog or cat spayed or neutered in accordance with subdivisions (2) and (3) of

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this section.

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     (2) The licensed releasing agency is authorized to enter into a written adoption agreement

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with the adopting party provided that at the time of execution of the written agreement, the

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licensed releasing agency collect from the adopting party an amount equal to the cost to the

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licensed releasing agency for the spaying or neutering of the dog or cat to be adopted. The written

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agreement must include the dog or cat's age, sex, and general description; the date the adoption

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agreement was executed; the date by which the licensed releasing agency anticipates that the dog

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or cat will be spayed or neutered; the date by which the adoptive party shall claim the dog or cat;

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the adopting party's name, address, phone number, and signature; the licensed releasing agency's

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name, address, phone number, and the dollar amount remitted to the licensed releasing agency for

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the cost of spaying or neutering the dog or cat.

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     (3) After execution of the agreement, the licensed releasing agency shall cause the dog or

 

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cat to be spayed or neutered and, when medically fit, shall transfer custody of the dog or cat to the

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adopting party. Any dog or cat that is not claimed by the adoptive party within ten (10) days of

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the date enumerated in the written adoption agreement shall be considered unclaimed and may be

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offered for adoption to another party.

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     (b) The following are exemptions from the provisions of subsection (a):

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     (1) A licensed releasing agency returns a stray dog or cat to its owner.

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     (2) A licensed releasing agency receives a written report from a licensed veterinarian

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stating that the life of the dog or cat would be jeopardized by the surgery and that this health

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condition is likely to be permanent.

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     (3) A licensed releasing agency receives a written report from a licensed veterinarian

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stating that there is a temporary health condition, including sexual immaturity, which would make

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surgery life threatening to the dog or cat or impracticable, in which instance the licensed releasing

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agency shall enter into a written agreement for the spaying or neutering of the dog or cat upon

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resolution of the temporary health condition or the animal reaching maturity and shall collect

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from the adopting party an amount equal to the cost to the licensed releasing agency for the

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spaying or neutering of the dog or cat to be adopted. The licensed releasing agency may then

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allow the transfer of the dog or cat to the adopting party who shall return the dog or cat to the

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licensed releasing agency for spaying or neutering upon resolution of the temporary health

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condition or the animal reaching sexual maturity. The licensed releasing agency may grant the

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adopting party an appropriate extension of time in which to have the dog or cat spayed or

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neutered based on the veterinarian's report.

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     (4) A licensed releasing agency transfers a dog or cat to another licensed releasing

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agency.

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     (c) If requested to do so, a licensed releasing agency shall refund fees collected for the

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purpose of spaying or neutering the dog or cat to the adopting party upon reasonable proof being

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presented to the releasing agency by the adopting party that the dog or cat died before the spaying

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or neutering was required to be completed.

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     (d) Any and all licensed releasing agencies:

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     (1) May enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with veterinarians in

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carrying out this section; and

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     (2) Shall make a good faith effort to cause an adopting party to comply with this section.

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     4-19-20. Severability.

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     If any provision of this chapter or the application of any provision to any person or

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circumstances are is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter and the application of any

 

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provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid shall not be

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affected by this invalidity.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 4-19 of the General Laws entitled "Animal Care" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     4-19-4.1. Sales by pet shops.

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     (a) A pet shop shall not purchase a dog or cat for resale or offer for sale a dog or cat that

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was purchased from any of the following:

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     (1) Breeder, broker, or dealer that:

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     (i) Is not in possession of a current license issued by the United States Department of

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Agriculture (USDA) pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), and any license that may be

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required by an applicable state agency.

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     (ii) Has not had its federal or state license suspended in the last two (2) years.

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     (iii) Was found to have a non-compliance inspection rating of “critical” as defined by the

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USDA as “a serious or severe adverse effect on the health or well-being of an animal”, to the

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AWA as monitored by the USDA within the last two (2) years, and such inspection report citing

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the non-compliance has not been rescinded or amended.

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     (iv) Was found to have a non-compliance inspection rating of “direct” as defined by the

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USDA as “a critical non-compliance that is currently (at the time of inspection) having a serious

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or severe adverse effect on the health and well-being of the animal”, to the AWA as monitored by

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the USDA within the last two (2) years, and such inspection report citing the non-compliance has

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not been rescinded or amended.

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     (2) Hobby breeder or person that is without any criminal conviction in relation to the

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welfare of animals in the last five (5) years.

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     (3) Animal rescue or shelter that is without any license revocation within the last two (2)

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years.

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     (b) A pet shop shall be required to provide the following:

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     (1) A seven (7) day health certificate prior to the sale of a dog or cat by a licensed

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veterinarian in the state of Rhode Island.

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     (2) Records that verify compliance with this section for not less than two (2) years

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following the date of acquisition of the dog or cat, they include:

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     (i) USDA inspection reports if applicable;

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     (ii) Source of each dog or cat in the pet shop acquired, including a description of the dog

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or cat and the name, address, USDA license number of the breeder, broker, dealer, bureau of

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criminal investigation (BCI) results of hobby breeder, and person; and

 

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     (iii) Records shall be made available immediately upon the request of the department.

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     (4) An owner or operator of a pet shop shall maintain the standards within this section.

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This section shall prohibit a city or town from adoption of an ordinance that would supersede this

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section.

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     (5) A pet shop owner or operator who violates this section, pursuant to the requirements

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of this section, shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for a first

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offense, by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for a second offense, and a fine of

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not more than two hundred dollars ($200) for a third or subsequent offense. Each dog or cat sold

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or offered for sale in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense.

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     4-19-4.2. Prohibition on sales in public places.

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     (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, exchange, trade, barter, lease or display for

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a commercial purpose any dog or cat on any roadside, public right-of-way, parkway, median,

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park, other recreation area, flea market or other outdoor market, or commercial or retail parking

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lot regardless of whether such access is authorized.

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     (b) This section shall not apply to the following:

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     (1) The display or adoption of dogs or cats by an animal shelter, pound or rescue as

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defined by this chapter; or

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     (2) The display of dogs or cats as part of a state or county fair exhibition, 4-H program, or

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similar exhibitions or educational programs.

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     SECTION 3. 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 prohibit pet shops from purchasing dogs or cats from breeders who are

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not in good standing with the USDA and/or state regulations, as well as hobby breeders or

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individuals who have any criminal violations directly related to the general well-being of animals,

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or animal shelters or rescues whose licensure has been revoked. This act would also make it

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unlawful for any person to sell, exchange, trade, barter or display any dog or cat on any roadside,

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public right-of-way, parkway, median, park, or other outdoor market.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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