| Chapter 161 |
| 2018 -- H 7641 AS AMENDED Enacted 07/02/2018 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
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| LC004790 |
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