04-R 204

2004 -- H 8461

Enacted 04/27/04

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO PROMOTE POLICIES THAT ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUATION OF "HEALTHY CAT ROOMS" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Carter, Anguilla, Scott, Costantino, and Story

Date Introduced: April 27, 2004

     WHEREAS, "Healthy Cat Rooms" were conceived with the goal of providing a humane

and rewarding method of housing cats for potential adoption; and

     WHEREAS, "Healthy Cat Rooms" allow the animals to live in communal settings, once

they are found to be free of illness and without behavioral problems. The method provides

environmental enrichment while the animals wait for placement with loving families; and

     WHEREAS, The Department of Environmental Management is currently in the process

of drafting regulations pertaining to animal health. These regulations will have a significant

impact on the conditions under which homeless and abandoned animals are to be housed and

cared for at the various animal shelters throughout the State of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Bristol's Animal Shelter has benefited, for some time, by the "Healthy Cat

Room" method of housing felines. The staff has done an exemplary job making certain that

proper management and attention to disease-control, sanitation and behavior are maintained, thus

ensuring ultimate success for the "Healthy Cat Room" program. This successful and humane

approach is eminently worthy of emulation throughout the state; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations strongly recommends that the Department of Environmental Management

adopt regulations that promote the "Healthy Cat Room" method of housing felines; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Governor Donald Carcieri, the Director of the

Department of Environmental Management, the Exeter Town Council and the Bristol Town

Council.

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LC03250

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