2022 -- H 7574 | |
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LC004706 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | |
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Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Diaz, Amore, Edwards, Baginski, Barros, Hull, | |
Date Introduced: February 18, 2022 | |
Referred To: House Judiciary | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby |
2 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 4-1-41.1. Declawing prohibited. |
4 | (a) It is unlawful for any person, as defined in ยง 4-1-1, to perform or cause to be performed, |
5 | an onychectomy (declawing) or flexor tendonectomy procedure by any means on a cat or other |
6 | animal, unless the procedure is deemed necessary for a therapeutic purpose by a licensed |
7 | veterinarian. |
8 | (b) A person who violates this provision shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars |
9 | ($1,000). In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person fined under this section may |
10 | be barred from owning or possessing any animals, or living on the same property with someone |
11 | who owns or possesses animals, for a period of time deemed appropriate by the court, and be |
12 | required to take humane education, pet ownership and dog training classes as ordered by the court. |
13 | (c) Whenever a licensed veterinarian determines that an onychectomy or flexor |
14 | tendonectomy is necessary for a therapeutic purpose, the veterinarian shall prepare and file a written |
15 | statement with the department of environmental management setting forth the purpose for |
16 | performing the procedure and providing the name and address of the owner or keeper of the animal, |
17 | and provide a copy of that statement to the owner of the animal. A veterinarian who fails to comply |
18 | with the provisions of this section shall be subject to disciplinary action by the department of health, |
19 | board of veterinary medicine. |
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1 | (d) As used in this section, "therapeutic purpose" means for purpose of necessity to address |
2 | the medical condition of the animal, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, |
3 | injury, or abnormal condition in a claw that compromises the animal's health. "Therapeutic |
4 | purpose" shall not mean cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or |
5 | handling the animal. |
6 | 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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1 | This act would prohibit declawing of a cat or other animal, unless a licensed veterinarian |
2 | has determined that the procedure is necessary for a therapeutic purpose. Any person who violates |
3 | this section would be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC004706 | |
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