R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-42 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-42
§ 4-13-42. Care of dogs.
Status: in_force

(a) It shall be a violation of this section for an owner or keeper to:

(1) Keep any dog on a permanent tether that restricts movement of the tethered dog to an area less than one hundred thirteen square feet (113 sq. ft.), or less than a six foot (6²) radius at ground level.

(2) Tether a dog with a choke-type collar, head collar, or prong-type collar. The weight of any chain or tether shall not exceed one-eighth ( ) of the dogs total body weight.

(3) Keep any dog tethered for more than ten (10) hours during a twenty-four-hour (24) period or keep any dog confined in an area or primary enclosure for more than fourteen (14) hours during any twenty-four-hour (24) period, and more than ten (10) hours during a twenty-four-hour (24) period, if the area is not greater than that which is required under the most recently adopted version of the department of environmental managements rules and regulations governing animal care facilities.

(4) Tether a dog anytime from the hours of ten oclock p.m. (10:00 p.m.) to six oclock a.m. (6:00 a.m.), except for a maximum of fifteen (15) minutes.

(5) Keep any dog outside, either tethered or otherwise confined, when the ambient temperature is beyond the industry standard for the weather safety scale as set forth in the most recent adopted version of the Tufts Animal Care and Condition Weather Safety Scale (TACC).

(b) It shall be a violation of this section for an owner or keeper to fail to provide a dog with adequate feed, adequate water, or adequate veterinary care as those terms are defined in § 4-19-2; provided however, that adequate veterinary care may be provided by an owner using acceptable animal husbandry practices.

(c) Exposing any dog to adverse weather conditions strictly for the purpose of conditioning shall be prohibited.

(d) The provisions of this section, as they relate to the duration and timeframe of tethering or confinement, shall not apply:

(1) If the tethering or confinement is authorized for medical reasons in writing by a veterinarian licensed in Rhode Island, the authorization is renewed annually, and shelter is provided;

(2) If tethering or confinement is authorized in writing by an animal control officer, or duly sworn police officer assigned to the animal control division, for the purposes of, including, but not limited to, hunting dogs, dogs protecting livestock, and sled dogs. Written authorization must be renewed annually. The written authorization issued by an animal control officer or duly sworn police officer assigned to the animal control division in the political subdivision of the state where the dogs are kept shall be considered valid in every other political subdivision of the state. The written authorization issued by an animal control officer or duly sworn police officer assigned to the animal control division in the political subdivision of the state where the dogs are kept is revocable by that animal control officer or police officer if there are any conditions present that warrant revocation. The conditions include, but are not limited to, changes in the number or type of dogs, changes in the facility structure or safety, and changes in the health of the dog;

(3) To any entity licensed by the state pursuant to chapter 19 of title 4, or any veterinary facility; or

(4) [Deleted by P.L. 2018, ch. 118, § 1 and P.L. 2018, ch. 198, § 1.]

(5) [Deleted by P.L. 2018, ch. 118, § 1 and P.L. 2018, ch. 198, § 1.]

(6) To an exhibitor holding a class C license under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2133) that are temporarily in the state, if authorized by the department of environmental management (DEM).

(7) [Deleted by P.L. 2018, ch. 118, § 1 and P.L. 2018, ch. 198, § 1.]

(e) Any person in violation of this section shall be imprisoned not exceeding eleven (11) months, or fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.

(f) General agents or special agents of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) are hereby authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter in cooperation with animal control officers and the department of environmental management (DEM).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-22-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-22 / Section 4-22-5
§ 4-22-5. Holding at-large or impounded cats.
Status: in_force

(a) In the case of any at-large or roaming or feral cat released to or impounded in a licensed animal shelter or licensed municipal pound wearing any form of identification specified in the definitions section the animal shelter or pound shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner by telephone, or by sending written notice to the owner. The at-large or roaming or feral cat shall be held by the animal shelter or pound for not less than five days, after which time the animal shelter or pound may offer the cat for adoption, sale or otherwise dispose of the cat, if not sooner recovered by the owner. The five days shall not include any day or part thereof that the public pound or animal shelter is not open for a specified period of time, not to be less than one-half the normal hours of business. An owner wishing to recover the cat shall pay the reasonable and customary daily impoundment fees and other associated fees for each full day, or fraction thereof, that the cat is held by the animal shelter or pound. The provisions of this section relating to the five (5) day holding period shall not be deemed to apply to any cat which, impounded hereunder, was injured or maimed, and after the cat has been examined by a licensed veterinarian who shall confirm, in writing, that the cat be destroyed for humanitarian purposes.

(b) In the case of any at-large or roaming or feral cat released to or impounded in a licensed animal shelter or licensed municipal pound not wearing any form of identification as specified in the definitions section, the animal shelter or pound shall hold the at-large or roaming or feral cat for not less than two (2) days, after which time the animal shelter or pound may offer the cat for adoption, sale or otherwise dispose of the cat, if not sooner recovered by a person claiming ownership. The two (2) days shall not include any day or part thereof that the public pound or animal shelter is not open for a specified period of time, not to be less than one-half the normal hours of business. The owner or keeper of any cat so impounded shall pay the reasonable and customary daily impoundment fees and other associated fees for each full day, or fraction thereof, that the cat is held at the animal shelter or pound. The provisions of this section relating to the two (2) day holding period shall not be deemed to apply to any cat which, impounded hereunder, was injured or maimed, and after the cat has been examined by a licensed veterinarian who shall confirm, in writing, that the cat be destroyed for humanitarian purposes.

(c) If an at-large or roaming or feral cat without identification released to or impounded in a licensed animal shelter or a licensed municipal pound is dangerous and presents a danger to the safety of shelter personnel, the cat may be euthanized prior to the expiration of its holding period at the discretion of an animal control officer, a licensed veterinarian or the shelter management.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-20 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-20
§ 4-13-20. Appraisal of damages done by dogs.
Status: in_force

Each town or city council, excepting the town and city councils in the cities of Newport and Pawtucket and in the towns of Jamestown, Little Compton, New Shoreham, Tiverton, Exeter, and Burrillville shall annually in the month of April appoint one or more suitable persons as appraisers, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties, to appraise the damage that may be done to any owner of any sheep, goats or lambs, cattle or horses, hogs or fowls, closely confined game birds, or closely confined rabbits suffering loss by reason of the biting, maiming, or killing by any dog or dogs, and to give a statement in writing to the owner suffering the loss; and the owner, suffering loss, shall, within two (2) days after the loss comes to his or her knowledge, notify the appraiser, appointed and sworn, living nearest to him or her in the city or town where the damage occurred, of the loss; and the appraiser shall, on receipt of twenty-five cents (25Â¢) for each miles travel (or, in the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth, twenty cents (20Â¢) for each miles travel) and the sum of one dollar ($1.00) from the owner, appraise the damage and give a statement in writing, with his or her lawful fees taxed thereon, to the owner; and the owner shall, within sixty (60) days, present the statement to the city or town council of the city or town, who shall draw an order on the city or town treasurer for the amount of the appraisal and fees, or for any other amount as the council, in the councils discretion, after careful examination, shall deem just; and the order, when presented to the city or town treasurer, shall be paid in the same manner as any other order made by the city or town council upon the city or town treasurer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-7
§ 4-7-7. Director to supervise movement of livestock.
Status: in_force

It is the duty of the director of the department of environmental management to supervise the movement of livestock from place to place within the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-26.1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-26.1
§ 4-1-26.1. Reports of abandoned, neglected or abused animals.
Status: in_force

(a) Any Rhode Island licensed veterinarian, veterinarian technician, animal shelter, animal kennel, or other person entrusted with the care or custody of an animal shall report to any police department (local or state), animal control officials, or officers of private organizations devoted to the humane treatment of animals, the condition of any animal that the parties entrusted with care or custody of an animal knows, or reasonably believes, to be abandoned, as defined in § 4-1-26, neglected, or abused, and shall be immune from suit pursuant to the provisions of § 4-1-37. Any party who fails to report pursuant to this section shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose a duty to further investigate observed or reasonably suspected animal abandonment, cruel neglect, or abuse.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-16 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-16
§ 4-7-16. License fees.
Status: in_force

The fee for the license issued to any one individual or corporation in accordance with this chapter is fifty dollars ($50.00).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-12 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-12
§ 4-19-12. Disposition of animals.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, it shall be unlawful to dispose of any animal by using a carbon monoxide chamber or gas chamber. All animals that must be disposed of by a municipal pound or shelter, the humane society, an animal shelter, rescue, pet shop, breeder, kennel, or any other entity that is required to be licensed or registered under this chapter must be disposed of by lethal injection. In the event of an emergency, if a licensed veterinarian cannot be secured without undue delay and, in the opinion of the animal-control officer, animal-control administrator, approved humane investigator, animal shelter employee, or agent of any other entity so required to be licensed under the provisions of this chapter, the animal is so severely injured, diseased, or suffering in such a manner the animal cannot otherwise be humanely destroyed in an expeditious manner, the animal may be destroyed by shooting; provided, that:

(1) Maximum precaution is taken to minimize the animals suffering and to protect other persons and animals;

(2) The animal is restrained in a humane manner;

(3) Shooting is performed by highly skilled and trained personnel utilizing a weapon, ammunition of suitable caliber, and other characteristics, and proper placement of the shot to produce an instantaneous death by a single gunshot.

If any type of restraint or confinement is deemed necessary for the safety of those involved, or for efficiency in euthanizing the animal, it must be done in the most humane way possible to cause the least amount of additional stress to that animal.

(b)(1) No dog officer shall give or sell, or negotiate for the gift or sale, to a dealer or research facility of any animal that may come into his or her custody in the course of carrying out his or her official assignments.

(2) No dog officer shall be granted a dealers license. Each application for a dealers license shall include a statement made under oath, that neither the applicant, nor any member or employee of the firm, partnership, or corporation making application, is a dog officer within the meaning of this chapter.

(3) A dog officer, or other licensed releasing agency, upon taking custody of any animal in the course of his, her, or its official duties, shall immediately make a record of the matter in the manner prescribed by the director and the record shall include a description of the animal, including: color, breed, sex, reason for seizure, location of seizure, the owners name and address if known, and all license or other identification numbers if any. Complete information relating to the disposition of the animal, including compliance with the provisions of §§4-19-16 and 4-19-18 and any legal actions taken to uphold and enforce this law, shall be added in the manner provided by the director immediately after disposition. The information shall be forwarded monthly to the department of environmental management.

(c) This section shall not apply to any research laboratories or facilities of any hospital, college, or university within the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-11.2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-11.2
§ 4-19-11.2. Destruction of animals  Reporting.
Status: in_force

All licensed releasing agencies are required to notify the department of environmental management monthly of the number of animals destroyed while those animals are in their care and custody.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-16-8 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-16 / Section 4-16-8
§ 4-16-8. Use of animal by taker pending reclaim.
Status: in_force

The person who shall take up any estrayed animal may lawfully use the animal during the time it may be in his or her possession, after he or she has given notice thereof to the city or town clerk as required in § 4-16-1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-5.2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-5.2
§ 4-19-5.2. Trainers required to obtain kennel license  Exceptions.
Status: in_force

No person shall act as a trainer, as defined in § 4-19-2, unless in possession of a valid kennel license as set forth in § 4-19-6. Provided, however, persons engaged in dog training activities for dog training programs operated by government agencies, or operated by a not-for-profit or exempt nonprofit organization pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, shall not be required by this section to obtain a kennel license.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-21 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-21
§ 4-13-21. Appraisal and payment of damages in certain Newport county towns.
Status: in_force

Each town or city council in the county of Newport, except in the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth, shall annually in the month of April appoint one or more suitable persons appraisers, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties, to appraise the damage that may be done to any owner of any sheep or lambs, cattle, horses, hogs, goats, or fowls, suffering loss by reason of the biting, maiming, or killing by any dog, and to give a statement in writing to the owner suffering loss; and the owner, suffering loss shall within two (2) days after the loss comes to his or her knowledge, notify the appraiser, appointed and sworn, living nearest to him or her in the city or town where the owner resides, of the loss; and the appraiser shall, on receipt of twenty cents (20Â¢) for each miles travel and the sum of one dollar ($1.00) from the owner, appraise the damage and give a statement in writing, with his or her lawful fees taxed thereon, to the owner; and the owner shall, within sixty (60) days, present to the town or city council of the town or city where the damage is done the appraisal, and the town or city council of the town or city shall draw an order on the town or city treasurer for the amount of the appraisal and fees, or for any other amount as the council, in the councils discretion, after careful examination, shall deem just. The town or city treasurer shall annually, on the last Monday in March, pay all those orders in full, if the gross amount received by the town or city under the provisions of this chapter, after deducting all sums previously laid out under those provisions, is sufficient; otherwise the town or city treasurer shall divide the amount, after deducting the sums, pro rata among the orders, and the payment shall be in full discharge of the orders.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-20-1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-20 / Section 4-20-1
§ 4-20-1. Purpose.
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to establish guidelines and criteria for rodeo and rodeo related activities relative to humane treatment of rodeo animals and rodeo livestock in the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-11-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-11 / Section 4-11-2
§ 4-11-2. Importation certificate.
Status: in_force

No psittacine birds shall be shipped into Rhode Island unless a certificate of veterinary inspection accompanies the shipment of birds. The certificate of veterinary inspection must be compliant with rules and regulations governing the importation of domestic animals (250-RICR-40-05-1).

(b) [Deleted by P.L. 2023, ch. 197, § 6 and P.L. 2023, ch. 198, § 6.]

(c) [Deleted by P.L. 2023, ch. 197, § 6 and P.L. 2023, ch. 198, § 6.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-20-6 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-20 / Section 4-20-6
§ 4-20-6. Presence required during any event.
Status: in_force

The person in charge, as communicated to the animal control officer in accordance with § 4-20-1, is required to be present and available for communication while the event is taking place. In the event that the person in charge, as communicated in accordance with § 4-20-1, is unable to be present, he or she shall notify the appointed veterinarian and the animal control officer of the city or town in which the event is taking place and make known to them the name of the person who will replace him or her as the person in charge.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-8-1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-8 / Section 4-8-1
§ 4-8-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

The term station or milk gathering station, as used in this chapter, includes an established office where the business of buying milk or cream, as provided in this chapter, is carried on, with or without a place or premises in connection with the business for the physical handling of milk or cream.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-8 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-8
§ 4-7-8. Application for license.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation, regularly engaged in the business of buying, selling and/or transporting livestock to be sold or used for any purpose, shall annually apply to the director for a license to buy, sell and/or transport livestock to be sold or used for any purpose. The application for that license shall be made upon a form prescribed by the director who may, if he or she is satisfied as to the responsibility and character of the application, issue a license to the applicant to buy, sell and/or transport livestock.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-40 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-40
§ 4-13-40. Exemptions from application of chapter.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter do not apply to K-9 and/or other dogs owned by any police department or any law enforcement officer which are used in the performance of police work.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-9
§ 4-5-9. Animals imported for slaughter.
Status: in_force

In the case of animals shipped into Rhode Island for immediate slaughter, the director of environmental management may at his or her discretion waive the filing of the chart and certificate; in those instances the director shall issue a special permit covering those animals for immediate slaughter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-14 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-14
§ 4-5-14. Quarantine of imported cattle  Intradermic test.
Status: in_force

If after the importation of cattle by any person, firm, corporation, or association, the director of environmental management is of the opinion that any of the cattle imported are at risk to be infected with tuberculosis, or if he or she has reason to question the accuracy or reliability of the test charts under which the cattle were imported into this state, or if for any other reason he or she believes any of the cattle so imported may be affected with tuberculosis, the director, if in his or her judgment that action appears advisable, shall place the cattle in quarantine at their destination or at some other suitable place to be designated by the director, and the cattle shall be held in quarantine for a period of not more than ninety (90) days or until released by order of the director within that period. While those cattle are held in quarantine, the director shall cause them to be tested for tuberculosis with tuberculin by the intradermic test.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-27 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-27
§ 4-4-27. Certification of turtles as free of salmonellosis required.
Status: in_force

All turtles being sold in this state shall be certified by the seller as being free from salmonellosis. Any person knowingly violating this section shall upon conviction, be fined not less than twenty dollars ($20.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-20-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-20 / Section 4-20-2
§ 4-20-2. Notification requirements.
Status: in_force

No person, firm, corporation, or association shall conduct or promote any rodeo without first having notified in writing the animal control officer of the city or town in which this event is to take place. The notification shall include the dates and times of this event and the identity of the person who has charge of this event.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-19 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-19
§ 4-5-19. Penalty for violations generally.
Status: in_force

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter for which a penalty is not otherwise provided shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or be imprisoned not exceeding one year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-18-8 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-18 / Section 4-18-8
§ 4-18-8. Permit fees.
Status: in_force

(a) Each application for an import permit shall be accompanied by payment of an import permit fee to the department. Except as provided in § 4-18-6 (a) and (b), the permit fee charged shall be at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) per animal.

(b) If the actual number of animals received in the shipment exceeds the number enumerated in the application, payment of an additional fee for the unpaid animal(s) shall be due at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) per animal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-4 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-4
§ 4-7-4. Dealing without license.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of buying, selling, or exchanging livestock, except for slaughter within seventy-two (72) hours, without a license shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-10-15 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-10 / Section 4-10-15
§ 4-10-15. Enforcement  Prosecution of violations.
Status: in_force

It is the duty of the director to enforce this chapter and to prosecute any and all persons who, in his or her opinion, are guilty of violating any of the provisions of this chapter, and the director or his or her appointed agent or agents are not required to enter into recognizance or become liable for costs. It is the duty of the attorney general to conduct the prosecution of all cases brought by the director or his or her appointed agent or agents under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-38 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-38
§ 4-1-38. Use of the terms owner or guardian.
Status: in_force

Wherever the word owner shall appear in this chapter it shall also mean and may be interchanged with the word guardian as defined in § 4-1-1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-22 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-22
§ 4-4-22. Sale of infected animals or milk.
Status: in_force

Any person who sells or offers to sell any cattle or other domestic animals, or any part of these animals, known to him or her to be infected with any contagious disease, or with any disease dangerous to the public health, or who sells or offers to sell any milk from any infected cattle or other domestic animals, shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years, or both, in the discretion of the court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-34.2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-34.2
§ 4-1-34.2. Autopsies and medical treatment permitted.
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in this chapter prohibits the owner of a greyhound from having an autopsy performed on that greyhound, nor prohibits any medical treatment necessary to maintain the health and well being of a greyhound.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-26 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-26
§ 4-4-26. Limitation of prosecutions.
Status: in_force

All prosecutions for offenses against the provisions of §§ 4-4-17  4-4-25 shall be commenced within thirty (30) days after the offense has been committed, and not afterwards.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-13 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-13
§ 4-7-13. Revocation of license  Hearing.
Status: in_force

Each license provided for in § 4-7-8 shall be issued annually and may be revoked by the director for cause. If in the judgment of the director any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation made under these sections has been violated, the director shall send notice by registered mail to the licensee who shall be given a hearing and if violation is proven his or her license shall be revoked.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-20-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-20 / Section 4-20-5
§ 4-20-5. Duties of veterinarian in charge.
Status: in_force

The appointed veterinarian, once appointed to oversee any rodeo, shall have access to the complete site of any activity involving animals to be employed in the event. The veterinarian shall have complete authority over the treatment and use of any animal that becomes injured in this event. The veterinarian shall have the right to declare any animal unfit for use in any such event and his or her decision shall be final after that decision has been communicated to the person in charge, as communicated to the animal control officer in § 4-20-2.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-11 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-11
§ 4-13-11. Annual census of dogs  List of licenses issued.
Status: in_force

The city or town sergeant of each city or town, or any special constables as the city or town council of the city or town may appoint, annually in the month of April, shall ascertain and make a list of the owners or keepers of dogs in the city or town and return the list to the city or town clerk on or before the last day of May. The sergeant or constables shall receive from the city or town treasury the sum of twenty cents (20Â¢) for each dog listed, except in the city of Providence, where the special constable shall receive from the city treasurer a sum fixed by the city council of the city for each dog listed. The city or town clerk shall within two (2) weeks thereafter furnish to the city or town sergeant or to each special constable appointed and sworn a list of all dogs licensed for the current year and a list of those not licensed, with the names of the owners or keepers, and shall, except in the cities of Newport and Providence, post the list in at least three (3) public places in the city or town or publish the list in any other manner as the city or town council may direct. This section does not apply to the city of Pawtucket insofar as special provision is made for that city.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-1
§ 4-1-1. Definitions  Responsibility for agents and employees.
Status: in_force

(a) In this chapter and in §§ 4-4-9, 4-4-10, and 23-19-8:

(1) Animal and animals means every living creature except a human being.

(2) Licensed graduate veterinarian or veterinarian means a person licensed to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry in this state who is a graduate of an accredited veterinary medical, surgical, and dental school or college of a standard recognized by the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association.

(3) Owner, person, and whoever means corporations as well as individuals.

(4) Guardian shall mean a person(s) having the same rights and responsibilities of an owner, and both terms shall be used interchangeably. A guardian shall also mean a person who possesses, has title to or an interest in, harbors, or has control, custody, or possession of an animal and who is responsible for an animals safety and well-being.

(5) Except for livestock as defined in § 4-26-3(6), adequate living conditions shall mean a sanitary environment that is dry and free of accumulated feces and free of debris and garbage that may clutter the environment, pose a danger, or entangle the animal. The environment in which the animal is kept must be consistent with federal regulatory requirements, where applicable, or generally recognized professional standards, where applicable, or otherwise be of sufficient size so as not to inhibit comfortable rest, normal posture, or range of movement, and suitable to maintain the animal in a good state of health. Adequate living conditions for livestock as defined in § 4-26-3(6) shall mean best management practices established, no later than July 1, 2014, by the Rhode Island livestock welfare and care standards advisory council.

(6) Except for livestock as defined in § 4-26-3, hazardous accumulation of animals means the accumulation of a large number of animals, to a point where the owner, possessor, or person having the charge of custody of the aforementioned animals fails to or is unable to provide adequate living conditions as defined herein, resulting in harm or danger to the health and wellbeing of the animals.

(b) The knowledge and acts of agents of and persons employed by corporations in regard to animals transported, owned or employed by or in the custody of that corporation are held to be the acts and knowledge of that corporation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-22-10 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-22 / Section 4-22-10
§ 4-22-10. Use of the terms owner or guardian.
Status: in_force

Wherever the word owner shall appear in this chapter it shall also mean and may be interchanged with the word guardian as defined in § 4-22-2.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-6-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-6 / Section 4-6-9
§ 4-6-9. Annual appropriations  Disbursements.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum that it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter; and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of that sum, or so much as may be required from time to time, upon the receipt by him or her of properly authenticated vouchers.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-17 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-17
§ 4-1-17. Unloading of animals in transit for rest, water, and feeding.
Status: in_force

(a) No railroad company, in the transportation of animals, shall permit those animals to be confined in cars, after they have been confined twenty-eight (28) consecutive hours, without unloading those animals for rest, water, and feeding for at least five (5) consecutive hours, unless prevented from unloading them by storm or accidental causes. In estimating the confinement, the time during which the animals have been confined without rest on connecting roads from which they are received shall be included. It is the intent of this section to prohibit their continuous confinement longer than twenty-eight (28) hours, except upon the stated contingencies.

(b) Animals unloaded shall be properly fed, watered, and sheltered, during their rest, by the owner or person having the custody of the animals; or in case of his or her default in doing so, then by the railroad company transporting those animals, at the expense of the owner or person in custody of the animals, and the company shall in that case have a lien upon those animals for food, care, and custody furnished and shall not be liable for any detention of those animals authorized by this chapter.

(c) Any company, owner, or custodian of animals in transit failing to comply with this section shall for each offense be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).

(d) Whenever animals are carried in cars in which they can and do have proper food, water, space and opportunity for rest, the provisions for unloading them shall not apply.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-10-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-10 / Section 4-10-3
§ 4-10-3. License to deal in or transport poultry.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation, regularly engaged in the business of buying, selling and/or transporting live poultry to be sold or used for food, shall annually apply to the director for a license to buy, sell, and/or transport live poultry to be so sold or used for food. The application for that license shall be made upon a form prescribed by the director who may, if he or she is satisfied as to the responsibility and character of the applicant, issue a license to the applicant to buy, sell, and/or transport live poultry.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-3-1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-3 / Section 4-3-1
§ 4-3-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For the purpose of §§ 4-3-1  4-3-11 the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

(1) Director means the director of environmental management or the directors authorized agent.

(2) Garbage means putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of foods including animal carcasses or parts,

(3) Person means the state, any municipality, political subdivision, institution, public or private corporation, individual, partnership, or other entity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-13 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-13
§ 4-1-13. Forfeiture of fighting birds or animals.
Status: in_force

After the seizure of any birds or animals as provided in § 4-1-12, application shall be made to a district court or the superior court for a sentence of forfeiture of the birds or animals; and if, upon the hearing of the application, it is found that the birds or animals, at the time of their seizure, were engaged in fighting at an exhibition or were owned, possessed, or kept by any person with the intent that they should be engaged in fighting at an exhibition, sentence of forfeiture shall be pronounced against them. Any officer authorized to serve criminal process shall sell them in any manner that the court orders, and pay the proceeds of that sale, after the payment of costs, including costs of seizure and keeping of those birds or animals, to the general treasurer for the use of the state. Whenever a seizure and application for sentence of forfeiture is made by or results from the complaint or information of any officer or agent of the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, the proceeds of that sale shall be paid over to the society. Should it be found that any seized birds or animals are of no use or value, they shall be set at large, or otherwise disposed of, as the court may direct. The claimant is allowed to appear in the proceedings upon any application for a sentence of forfeiture. All seized birds or animals not sentenced for forfeiture shall be delivered to the owner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-11-8 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-11 / Section 4-11-8
§ 4-11-8. Notice of unusual illness or deaths.
Status: in_force

It is the duty of any person having the custody or care of any birds of the psittacine family to notify the local health officer and the state department of environmental management immediately regarding any unusual illness or death among those birds.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-8-17 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-8 / Section 4-8-17
§ 4-8-17. Disposition of fines.
Status: in_force

All moneys collected in fines or fees under the provisions of this chapter shall be turned over to the general treasurer for the use of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-14 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-14
§ 4-19-14. Chapter inapplicable.
Status: in_force

This chapter does not apply to a place or establishment which is operated under the immediate supervision of a duly licensed veterinarian as a hospital where animals are harbored, boarded and cared for incidental to the treatment, prevention, or alleviation of disease processes during the routine practice of the profession of veterinary medicine except that, if animals are accepted by that place, establishment, or hospital for the primary purpose of boarding in return for a fee, the place, establishment, or hospital is subject to the kennel license provisions of this chapter and the regulations relating to the license which may be promulgated by the director. This chapter shall not apply to any dealer or research facility during the period that the dealer or research facility is in the possession of a valid license or registration granted by the secretary of agriculture pursuant to 7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq. This chapter shall not apply to hobby breeders.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-9
§ 4-4-9. Sale, use, or exposure of diseased animals  Refusal to destroy.
Status: in_force

A person who willfully sells or offers to sell, uses, exposes, or causes or permits to be sold, offered for sale, used or exposed, any horse or other animal having the disease known as glanders or farcy, or other contagious or infectious disease dangerous to the life or health of human beings or animals, or which is diseased past recovery, or who refuses upon demand of the general agent or any special agent of the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals humanely to destroy an animal affected with any of those diseases shall, for each offense, be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-2.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-8-10 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-8 / Section 4-8-10
§ 4-8-10. Record of transactions  Periodical statements to sellers.
Status: in_force

Every proprietor of a milk gathering station shall keep, in any form that the director of environmental management may prescribe, a record of transactions of purchases of milk or cream by him or her and he or she shall, at least semimonthly, or weekly if so agreed upon by the parties to the transaction, deliver to each person from whom he or she receives or purchases milk or cream, and in the unit of measure used in computing the amount due, an itemized statement of the several amounts or quantities of the milk or cream received or purchased at that milk station from that person during the prior half month or, if statements are delivered more frequently than semimonthly, during that period of time which has elapsed since the delivery of the last prior statement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-28-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-28 / Section 4-28-2
§ 4-28-2. Electronic submission of applications and reports.
Status: in_force

The director of the department of environmental management may require that any application or report required to be submitted to the department, pursuant to title 4, may be submitted electronically.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-7
§ 4-14-7. Feeding of impounded animals  Collection of fees.
Status: in_force

The poundkeeper shall feed the impounded beasts at the charge of the owner, and he or she shall not deliver them to the owner until the owner pays the fees, together with the sum demanded for damages and all other legal costs and expenses.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-8-16 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-8 / Section 4-8-16
§ 4-8-16. Penalties for violations.
Status: in_force

Any person who, being a buyer of milk for shipment for the purposes set forth in this chapter, whether that person be licensed or whether his or her business be transacted at a station or otherwise, fails to make prompt payments for milk purchased, with intent to defraud, or makes any false or misleading statement or statements enumerated in this chapter, with intent to deceive, or enters into any combination to fix prices, or not being licensed, conducts the business of buying milk for shipment as provided in this chapter, or being licensed or otherwise, engages in that business without having a station or office, or fails to conform to any requirement of or violates any of the provisions of this chapter, with intent to deceive a seller of milk, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall for the first offense be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200) or imprisoned not more than thirty (30) days, or both; and shall for the second offense be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not more than sixty (60) days, or both; and shall for the third offense within any one calendar year be imprisoned for not more than ninety (90) days, and shall forfeit his or her license and be disqualified from obtaining a license within two (2) years after the forfeiture of license.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-22-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-22 / Section 4-22-7
§ 4-22-7. Violations.
Status: in_force

Any animal control officer, and his agents, may issue to any person in violation of this section a notice of violation. Persons who violate any provision of this section shall be subject to a fine as defined under §4-13-1 per violation per animal. Each and every incidence which goes unremedied for thirty (30) days after written notice of violation hereunder shall constitute a subsequent offense and subsequent fines will apply.

All fines collected under this section will be remitted to the town clerk or city clerk of the municipality where the violation was issued. Such fines shall be used by the municipality only for enforcing animal control laws or ordinances or for programs to house and care for cats.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-6-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-6 / Section 4-6-7
§ 4-6-7. Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The director of environmental management, after a public hearing, may establish rules and regulations not inconsistent with this chapter, including health requirements for importing cattle, which have the force and effect of its provisions. A complete record of all animals coming under the chapter shall be kept. The rules and regulations entitled Health requirements for importing cattle into Rhode Island, a copy of which dated March 6, 1970, signed by the director of health, has been filed in the office of the secretary of state, are approved as the regulations to be effective and in force in the first instance under the provisions of this chapter and shall in all respects be deemed as effective as if adopted in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. Those regulations shall remain in force under this chapter until and unless amended by the director in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-8-6 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-8 / Section 4-8-6
§ 4-8-6. Action to determine amounts due creditors of licensees.
Status: in_force

After the expiration of ninety (90) days from the termination of any license period, the director of environmental management shall, by proper action where all the creditors and any surety given, as provided, and the licensee shall be parties, proceed to determine the amount due each creditor, and the judgment rendered in that action shall be enforced ratably for those creditors against the surety. If any creditor has reduced his or her claim to judgment, that judgment shall be presumptive proof of the amount due that creditor in any action brought by the director of environmental management.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-18-12 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-18 / Section 4-18-12
§ 4-18-12. Tuberculin tests.
Status: in_force

The method of tuberculin testing used is subject to approval by the department. Normal variations in site of administration and type and dilution of tuberculin used for intradermal injection may be accepted by the department. The use of such testing methods as the patch and multiple puncture tests will not be accepted.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-33 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-33
§ 4-1-33. Persons using animals for research  Registration.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation actively engaged in animal research, who actually utilizes live animals for research purposes, shall register with the department of health by filing with the department of health on forms provided by it, the full name, address and type of research performed by the particular person, firm, partnership, or corporation involved in animal research. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500).

(b) Upon passage of this section the department of health shall publish a notice containing the provisions of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-22-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-22 / Section 4-22-3
§ 4-22-3. Required cat identification.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person to be an owner of a cat over three months of age unless the person maintains an identification worn by the cat at all times.

The identification provisions in this law are not applicable to the following:

(a) A cat brought into the state exclusively for the purpose of entering them in a cat show or cat exhibition or for breeding purposes and which does not remain in this state for more than fifteen (15) days and which is not allowed to be at large.

(b) A cat owned by any person who is not a resident of the state and is traveling through the state temporarily and for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days.

(c) A cat temporarily kept by a licensed veterinarian, a licensed kennel, or a licensed animal shelter or a licensed municipal pound who maintain on their premises cats owned by others.

(d) A cat temporarily kept by owners of a licensed pet shop for purposes of sale or by a licensed animal shelter or a licensed municipal pound for purposes of adoption.

(e) A cat kept exclusively indoors or confined in outdoor areas and maintained for pedigreed cat breeding and stud purposes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-24-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-24 / Section 4-24-9
§ 4-24-9. Canine surcharge.
Status: in_force

(a) Each city and town is required to collect a one dollar ($1.00) surcharge on each dog license issued by the municipality. The revenue generated by this surcharge shall be deposited in the respective citys and towns spay/neuter account to fund low-cost spay/neuter programs.

(b) Any remaining revenue collected pursuant to this section which is unused during any calendar year shall remain in said city or towns spay/neuter account for use during the following year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-24-12 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-24 / Section 4-24-12
§ 4-24-12. Time for compliance.
Status: in_force

Persons harboring a cat subject to this chapter on the effective date thereof [June 9, 2006] shall be given one hundred twenty (120) days from the date to comply with the provisions thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-11-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-11 / Section 4-11-9
§ 4-11-9. Quarantine and destruction of nonpsittacine birds exposed to psittacosis.
Status: in_force

Birds not of the psittacine family are to be regarded as dangerous when they have been exposed to psittacosis, and after that exposure shall be quarantined for three (3) weeks and killed and burned by the owner or other person in charge of those birds if they develop or appear to develop symptoms of the disease.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-2-8 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-2 / Section 4-2-8
§ 4-2-8. Prohibited acts.
Status: in_force

The following acts and the causing of these acts within the state are prohibited:

(1) The manufacture or distribution of any commercial feed that is adulterated or misbranded.

(2) The adulteration or misbranding of any commercial feed.

(3) The distribution of agricultural commodities such as whole seed, hay, straw, stover, silage, cobs, husks, and hulls, which are adulterated within the meaning of § 4-2-7.

(4) The removal or disposal of a commercial feed in violation of an order under § 4-2-11.

(5) The failure or refusal to register in accordance with § 4-2-4.

(6) Failure to file any report required by this chapter or the regulations promulgated under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-2-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-2 / Section 4-2-9
§ 4-2-9. Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

(a) The director is authorized to make appropriate regulations requiring the maintenance of records, as may be deemed necessary, setting forth the number of net tons of commercial feed distributed in the state. The director has the right to examine any records to verify statements of tonnage.

(b) The director is authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations for commercial feeds and pet foods that are specifically authorized in this chapter and any other reasonable rules and regulations necessary for the efficient enforcement of this chapter. In the interest of uniformity the director shall by regulation adopt, unless he or she determines that they are inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter or are not appropriate to conditions which exist in this state, the following:

(1) The official definitions of feed ingredients and official feed terms adopted by the association of American feed control officials and published in the official publication of that organization; and

(2) Any regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.); provided, that the director would have the authority under this chapter to promulgate those regulations.

(c) Before the issuance, amendment, or repeal of any rule or regulation authorized by this chapter, the director shall publish the proposed regulation, amendment, or notice to repeal an existing regulation in a manner reasonably calculated to give interested parties, including all current registrants, adequate notice and shall afford all interested persons an opportunity to present their views, orally or in writing, within a reasonable period of time. After consideration of all views presented by interested persons, the director shall take appropriate action to issue the proposed rule or regulation or to amend or to repeal an existing rule or regulation. The provisions of this subsection notwithstanding, if the director, pursuant to the authority of this chapter, adopts the official definition of feed ingredients or official feed terms as adopted by the association of American feed control officials, or regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.), any amendment or modification adopted by the association of American feed control officials or by the secretary of human services in the case of regulations promulgated pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.), shall be adopted automatically under this chapter without regard to the publication of the notice required by this subsection unless the director, by order, specifically determines that the amendment or modification shall not be adopted.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-22 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-22
§ 4-1-22. Care of neglected animals by society  Forfeiture of owners rights  Expenses.
Status: in_force

(a) An officer or agent of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals may lawfully take charge of and shall provide adequate care to any animal found abandoned or neglected or hazardously accumulated as defined in § 4-1-1, or that in the opinion of that officer or agent, is aged, maimed, disabled, lame, sick, diseased, injured, unfit for the labor it is performing, or cruelly treated, and shall give notice to the owner or guardian, if known.

(b) Every owner or guardian, upon conviction, plea of guilty, or plea of nolo contendere, of abandonment, neglect, hazardous accumulation as defined in § 4-1-1, or otherwise cruel treatment of any animal taken charge of by the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals under this section, forfeits the rights to ownership or control of that animal to the Society for disposition in any manner deemed suitable for that animal.

(c) Whenever any officer or agent of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lawfully takes charge of any animal under this section, all reasonable expenses for the care and treatment of the animal(s), while in the custody of the Society during this time, shall be paid for by the owner or guardian. The Society has the authority to commence a civil action for damages against the owner or guardian thirty (30) days after a written demand for payment of the expense of the suitable care of that animal has been sent and no payment has been received. The written demand shall state that the failure to pay or make arrangements to pay for the care of that animal may result in forfeiture of ownership of the animal. The cost of the care and treatment that is billed to the owner or guardian shall be reasonable and related to equivalent services provided by veterinary care and animal sheltering, feeding, and boarding services in this state.

(d) The owner or guardian of any animal that is in the charge of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals pursuant to the authority granted in this section may, within sixty (60) days following the date that the society gives notice of the taking of possession of the animal, petition the district court for an order to return custody of the animal to the owner or guardian.

(e) Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall cause a summons to be issued requiring an authorized representative of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to appear in court at the time and place named, which summons shall be served not less than fourteen (14) days before the date of the hearing.

(f) At the hearing on the petition, the court shall consider:

(1) The animals condition;

(2) The care required to maintain the animal safely and in an appropriate environment; and

(3) The ability of the petitioner to provide or arrange for the adequate care of the animal, including during the time any criminal charges related to or arising from the seizure are pending.

(g) If, after hearing, the court finds that the owner or guardian of the animal has the ability to properly care for or arrange for the adequate care of the animal during the pendency of the criminal charges, the court may allow the owner or guardian of the animal to have or arrange for the adequate care, custody, and control of the animal pending the final determination of the related criminal charges subject to such restrictions and conditions as the court determines to be reasonable or necessary.

(h) All issues will be decided upon a preponderance of the evidence.

(i) In the event that the court orders an animal returned to the owner or guardian following the hearing, the owner or guardian will not be required to pay for the cost of care incurred prior to the date of the hearing unless and until such time as there has been a conviction, plea of guilty, or plea of nolo contendere, of abandonment, neglect, hazardous accumulation as defined in § 4-1-1, or otherwise cruel treatment in the related criminal proceeding.

(j) In the event that the owner or guardian fails to petition for custody of the animal within sixty (60) days of notice of the taking or fails to pay within sixty (60) days of the written demand for payment, the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals may petition the court for transfer of ownership of the animal to the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. If the owner or guardian fails to respond to the petition for transfer of ownership the court shall transfer ownership to the society.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-39 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-39
§ 4-1-39. Transport and shelter of horses.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person may not transport or shelter, or cause or allow to be transported or sheltered any equine animal in or upon any trailer, conveyance or other vehicle whatsoever with two (2) or more levels stacked on top of one another.

(b) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) per animal for a first offense, and subject to a fine of at least one thousand dollars ($1,000) per animal for all second and subsequent offenses.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-3-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-3 / Section 4-3-2
§ 4-3-2. Applicability of §§ 4-3-1  4-3-11.
Status: in_force

Sections 4-3-1  4-3-11 shall apply to any person or persons who feeds garbage, other than from his or her own domestic household, to more than four (4) swine.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-25-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-25 / Section 4-25-7
§ 4-25-7. Limitations on remedies.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding other provisions herein, no refund, replacement or reimbursement of veterinary fees shall be made if any of the following conditions occur:

(1) The illness or death resulted from maltreatment or neglect or from an injury sustained or an illness contracted subsequent to the delivery of the animal to the purchaser.

(2) The purchaser does not carry out the recommended treatment prescribed by the examining veterinarian who made the initial diagnosis. If the cost for said treatment together with the veterinarians fee for diagnosis exceeds the purchase price then this section does not apply.

(3) The illness disease or condition was disclosed at the time of sale pursuant to § 4-25-3 but the purchaser took the delivery of the animal anyway.

(4) The purchaser failed to return to the seller all documents previously provided to the purchaser to register the animal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-15-12 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-15 / Section 4-15-12
§ 4-15-12. Conveyances found with impounded animals.
Status: in_force

If any horse or other animal, attached to any vehicle, sledge, or sleigh, is found at large, abandoned, or with no person in charge of the animal, upon any highway or common, or on any land thrown open as a way for public travel and used by the public for travel, any person authorized under this chapter to impound animals going at large, may impound the vehicle, sledge, or sleigh, together with the vehicle, sledge or sleigh attached and the harness and other property, in one of the public pounds of that city or town. The animal shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter, and the vehicle, sledge or sleigh, harness and other property, shall be held, surrendered or, after thirty (30) days notice by the town or city treasurer, sold, under the same liabilities, powers, provisions, and restrictions prescribed in this chapter relating to horses and other animals impounded.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-34.1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-34.1
§ 4-1-34.1. Restriction on sale of greyhounds.
Status: in_force

No person, firm, or other business entity shall sell or otherwise transfer any greyhound or retired racing greyhound to any person, firm, or other business entity for the purpose of medical research.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-7
§ 4-4-7. Compensation for condemned equine animals.
Status: in_force

For every horse, ass, or mule condemned and killed as affected with glanders or farcy there shall be paid a sum not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00); provided, however, that no payment is made under the authority of this section for any horse, ass or mule that has not been owned in the state for the period of six (6) months next preceding the condemnation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-44 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-44
§ 4-1-44. Declawing cats prohibited.
Status: in_force

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) Declawing means an onychectomy or any other surgical procedure to amputate or modify a portion of a cats paw in order to remove the cats claws. Declawing does not include the trimming of nonviable claw husk or placing nonpermanent nail caps.

(2) Tendonectomy means a procedure in which the tendons to a cats limbs, paws, or toes are cut or modified in order that the normal functioning of the claws is impaired.

(3) Therapeutic purpose means a medically necessary procedure to address an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claws, nail bed, or toe bone, that compromises the cats health. Therapeutic purpose shall not include a procedure performed for a cosmetic or aesthetic purpose or to make the cat more convenient to keep or handle.

(b) It is unlawful for any person to perform surgical claw removal, declawing, or a tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter a cats toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the normal function of the cats toes, claws, or paws.

(c) This section does not apply to a procedure performed solely for a therapeutic purpose.

(d) The prosecution of and procedure for discipline for violations of this section shall be in accordance with §§ 5-25-9 and 5-25-15.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-43 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-43
§ 4-13-43. Prohibition of breed specific regulation.
Status: in_force

No city or town may enact any rule, regulation or ordinance specific to any breed of dog or cat in the exercise of its power to further control and regulate dogs, cats or other animals as authorized by this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-2-6 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-2 / Section 4-2-6
§ 4-2-6. Misbranding.
Status: in_force

A commercial feed is deemed to be misbranded:

(1) If its labeling is false or misleading in any particular.

(2) If it is distributed under the name of another commercial feed.

(3) If it is not labeled as required in § 4-2-5.

(4) If it purports to be or is represented as a commercial feed, or it purports to contain or is represented as containing a commercial feed ingredient, unless that commercial feed or feed ingredient conforms to the definition, if any, prescribed by regulation by the director.

(5) If any word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of this chapter to appear on the label or labeling is not prominently placed with the conspicuousness (as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices in the labeling) and in the terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-8-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-8 / Section 4-8-2
§ 4-8-2. License required  Application.
Status: in_force

No person, firm, association, or corporation shall buy milk or cream in the state from producers for consumption or for manufacture in the state, unless that business is regularly transacted at an office or station in the state and unless that person, firm, association, or corporation is licensed as provided in this chapter. Every person, firm, association, or corporation, before engaging or continuing in the business of buying milk or cream for the stated purposes, shall annually, on or before June 1st, file an application with the director of environmental management for a license to transact that business. The application shall state the nature of the business, the full name of the person or corporation applying for the license, and, if the applicant is a firm or association, the full name of each member of that firm, or association, the city or town and street number at which the business is to be conducted, and any other facts as the director prescribes. The applicant shall further satisfy the director of his, her, or its character, financial responsibility and good faith in seeking to carry on the business.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-16-11 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-16 / Section 4-16-11
§ 4-16-11. Use of the terms owner or guardian.
Status: in_force

Wherever the word owner shall appear in this chapter it shall also mean and may be interchanged with the word guardian as defined in § 4-1-1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-11-12 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-11 / Section 4-11-12
§ 4-11-12. Penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm, or corporation who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject upon conviction to a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) per bird and/or loss of specimen.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-18-1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-18 / Section 4-18-1
§ 4-18-1. Purpose and scope.
Status: in_force

This chapter is intended to provide safeguards for the protection of persons in the state from disease hazards associated with imported wild animals. This chapter applies to all persons, including, but not limited to, the following: educational and research institutions, zoological gardens, schools, colleges, universities, pet stores, animal care facilities, and laboratories, who import, hold, sell, purchase or possess any wild animal for which an import permit is required under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-19 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-19
§ 4-4-19. Orders prohibiting importation of animals.
Status: in_force

The director of environmental management may prohibit the introduction of any cattle or other domestic animals into the state. Any person who brings, transports or introduces any cattle or other domestic animals into the state, after the director has issued an order forbidding the introduction of that cattle or other domestic animal into the state, or after the director has published for five (5) successive days in any newspapers published in this state as the director may direct, an order forbidding that introduction, shall be fined not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300) for every offense, and every officer or agent of any company or other person, who violates that order, is subject to the fine. In case of the introduction into the state of cattle or other domestic animals, contrary to the order of the director, the introduction of each animal is deemed a separate and distinct offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-26-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-26 / Section 4-26-3
§ 4-26-3. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates a different meaning or intent:

(1) Advisory council or council means the Rhode Island livestock welfare and care standards advisory council act of 2012 established pursuant to § 4-26-4.

(2) Agricultural operation means any individual, partnership or corporation that complies with § 44-27-3 and subsection 2-1-22(j) and produces and distributes a commercial food, feed, fiber or horticultural product.

(3) Biosecurity means security from transmission of infectious diseases, parasites and pests.

(4) Director means the director of the Rhode Island department of environmental management.

(5) License means the certificate issued by the director to any person, firm, partnership, or corporation regularly engaged in the business of buying, selling and/or transporting livestock to be sold or used for food.

(6) Livestock means any bovine, equine, caprine, ovine, camelid, swine, poultry, or other animal that is raised for production of food or fiber, or is used for work, commerce, or exhibition.

(7) State veterinarian means a licensed veterinarian employed by the department of environmental management.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-25-6 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-25 / Section 4-25-6
§ 4-25-6. Purchasers obligations.
Status: in_force

In order for the purchaser to obtain remedies as per § 4-25-5 herein he/she shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(1) Notify the seller in writing as soon as practicable, but in no event more than ten (10) days after the diagnosis by a licensed veterinarian that the animal has a medical or health problem or congenital or hereditary condition.

(A) The notice shall include the name and telephone number of the veterinarian providing the diagnosis.

(2) In the case of illness or disease, the purchaser shall provide a written statement from a licensed veterinarian within ten (10) days of diagnosis which states that the animal is clinically ill, suffers from a congenital or hereditary condition, or has symptoms of a contagious infectious disease which existed on or before delivery to the purchaser and that adversely affects the health of the animal.

(B) At the request of the seller, the purchaser shall take the animal for an examination by a licensed veterinarian of the sellers choice.

(i) The seller shall pay for the cost of this veterinarian.

(ii) In the case of death, the seller may have his or her veterinarian perform a necropsy. The seller will bear the cost.

(3) The statement of the veterinarian referred to herein shall include the following:

(i) The purchasers name and address.

(ii) The date or dates the animal was examined.

(iii) The breed and age of the animal, if known.

(iv) That the veterinarian examined the animal.

(v) That the animal has or had an illness or condition subject to a remedy under § 4-25-5 herein.

(vi) The findings from the examination or necropsy including, but not limited to, laboratory results and copies of said.

(vii) An itemized bill for fees appropriate for the diagnosis and treatment of the illness.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-2-14 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-2 / Section 4-2-14
§ 4-2-14. Publication of information.
Status: in_force

The director shall publish at least annually, in any forms that he or she may deem proper, information he or she may consider advisable, and a report of the results of the analyses of official samples of commercial feeds sold within the state as compared with the analyses guaranteed in the registration and on the label. The information concerning production and use of commercial feed shall not disclose the operations of any person.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-24-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-24 / Section 4-24-2
§ 4-24-2. Legislative findings.
Status: in_force

The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(1) An unacceptable number of healthy, but abandoned cats are euthanized annually in Rhode Island.

(2) Due to the large number of stray and abandoned cats, euthanasia is not a cost effective, acceptable or ethical solution to the threats to public health and safety posed by large populations of stray, feral or homeless cats.

(3) Stray and abandoned pets, specifically cats, create numerous public health and safety problems, including transmission of disease and traffic hazards created by cats running loose on public streets.

(4) A permit system for breeding of cats owned or harbored in the state, combined with a program for spaying/neutering, is a reasonable and effective means of reducing the population of abandoned or stray cats, and for eliminating the practice of euthanizing homeless cats, except those for whom euthanasia is an escape from suffering or necessary to protect people and/or other animals from vicious behavior.

The general assembly therefor finds and declares that it intends to provide for the public health, safety and welfare through a program requiring spaying and neutering cats unless appropriate permits are acquired. The provisions of this chapter shall be in addition to the cat registration or identifying program requirements set forth in this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-36 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-36
§ 4-1-36. Psychiatric counseling.
Status: in_force

Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this chapter may, in addition to any penalties imposed, be evaluated to determine the need for psychiatric or psychological counseling, and, if determined appropriate by the court, to receive psychiatric or psychological counseling at his or her own expense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-14 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-14
§ 4-4-14. State immunity.
Status: in_force

The state is not liable for any damages or expenses incurred under §§ 4-4-12 and 4-4-13.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-18 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-18
§ 4-14-18. Appraisal in action for damages against owner of animals.
Status: in_force

If the aggrieved person proceeds by action against the owner or keeper of the trespassing beasts, he or she shall get two (2) disinterested inhabitants of the city or town where the trespass was committed to appraise the damages and to give him or her a certificate, in writing, under their hands, which certificate shall be attached to his or her writ and makes an essential part of the writ; and under no circumstances shall he or she recover from the defendant in the action, unless the appraisal and certificate are made within ten (10) days after the time the trespass was committed, nor then to a greater amount of damages than the amount named in the certificate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-24-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-24 / Section 4-24-5
§ 4-24-5. Sale or adoption of cats.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person or licensed business who provides or offers to the public, whether or not for compensation, any pet or pet related goods, where they are the primary products, or pet services shall provide to their clients, at no charge, information relating to pet care and ownership, including information on city and town laws pertaining to animal control.

(b) Any person offering cats for sale or adoption shall disclose to any purchaser or adoptive owner, information regarding the licensing or permit requirements of the city or town in which they reside applicable to the animal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-10-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-10 / Section 4-10-2
§ 4-10-2. Supervision of movement of poultry.
Status: in_force

It is the duty of the director of environmental management to supervise the movement of live poultry from place to place within the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-24 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-24
§ 4-13-24. Penalty for neglect of duties.
Status: in_force

Any person appointed under the provisions of this chapter who qualifies himself or herself to act, and every city or town clerk and every city or town council, who willfully neglects to perform any of the duties imposed upon him, her, or them by the provisions, shall forfeit one hundred dollars ($100) for the use of any person who sues for the penalty.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-30.1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-30.1
§ 4-1-30.1. Cruelty to public safety  Dogs and horses.
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this section:

(1) Police canine means any canine and police horse means any horse that is owned or in the service of a law enforcement agency for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws, maintaining public order, or apprehension of offenders;

(2) Fire canine means any canine that is owned or in the service of a fire department, a special fire district, or the state fire marshal for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of flammable materials or the investigation of fires; and

(3) SAR canine means any search and rescue canine that is owned or in the service of a fire department, a law enforcement agency, a special fire district, or the state fire marshal for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of missing persons, including, but not limited to, persons who are lost; who are trapped under debris as the result of a natural, manmade, or technological disaster; or who are drowning victims.

(b) Penalties:

(1) Any person who intentionally and knowingly, without lawful cause or justification, causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or death to, or uses a deadly weapon upon, a police canine, fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse commits a felony, shall be imprisoned not exceeding five (5) years or be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), and shall, in the case of any animal of another, be liable to the owner of this animal for triple damages, to be recovered by civil action. In addition, any person convicted under this section shall be required to serve fifty (50) hours of community restitution. That community restitution penalty shall not be suspended or deferred and is mandatory.

(2) Any person who actually and intentionally maliciously touches, strikes, or causes bodily harm to a police canine, fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse commits a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.

(3) Any person who intentionally or knowingly maliciously harasses, teases, interferes with, or attempts to interfere with a police canine, fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse while the animal is in the performance of its duties commits a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (b)(1), any person convicted under this section shall make full restitution for injuries sustained by the police canine, fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse and shall pay the replacement cost of any dog or horse if that animal can no longer perform its public safety duties. Any canine that is owned by or employed by a law enforcement agency shall be exempt from restitution requirements of this subsection.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-11-4 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-11 / Section 4-11-4
§ 4-11-4. Banding of birds imported, sold, or given.
Status: in_force

All psittacine birds imported, purchased, sold, exchanged, bartered, or given away must be closed metal seamless banded with a band identifying the breeder by whom they were bred. A microchip may be used in lieu of an identifying band.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-20 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-20
§ 4-5-20. Establishment of tuberculosis-free areas.
Status: in_force

The director of environmental management may, in his or her discretion, establish circumscribed areas within which all bovine cattle are subjected to the tuberculin test, but in no case shall that area be smaller than a single city or town as provided. Before this area is established, the owners of eighty-five percent (85%) of the cattle, or seventy-five percent (75%) of the cattle owners in this area shall make application, in writing, on official form to the director, placing their herds under the inspection and supervision of the state or of the United States, for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis. Upon receipt of a sufficient number of those applications, the director shall first satisfy himself or herself that those applications have been signed by the requisite number of cattle owners within the designated area, and all those applications are open to inspection at all times. If satisfied that those applications have been signed by the requisite number of cattle owners, the director may establish this area or areas which he or she shall clearly bound and describe, and within which bovine tuberculosis is to be eradicated at the expense of the state or United States, and he or she shall cause all those cattle within that area or areas to be quarantined, tested, appraised, and condemned as provided in §§ 4-5-1  4-5-6.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-2
§ 4-1-2. Overwork, mistreatment, or failure to feed animals  Shelter defined.
Status: in_force

(a) Whoever overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills, or causes or procures to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven when overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, cruelly beaten, or mutilated, any animal, and whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, inflicts cruelty upon that animal, or willfully fails to provide that animal with proper food, drink, shelter, or protection from the weather, shall, for each offense, be imprisoned not exceeding eleven (11) months, or be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or both. If the offense described in this section results in the death of the animal, the person shall be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-5.

(b) Any person who has been previously convicted of an offense provided for in chapter 1 of title 4 shall, upon conviction of a second or subsequent violation within a ten-year (10) period, be imprisoned for a period not exceeding six (6) years, or fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both. In addition, every person convicted under chapter 1 of title 4 of a second or subsequent offense shall be required to serve one hundred (100) hours of community restitution. The community restitution penalty shall not be suspended or deferred and is mandatory.

(c) Every owner, possessor, or person having charge of any animal may, upon conviction of a violation of this section, be ordered to forfeit all rights to ownership of the animal to the animal-control officer of the city or town in which the offense occurred or to a humane society that owns and operates the shelter that provided the subject animal shelter subsequent to any confiscation of that animal pursuant to this section.

(d) Shelter means a structure used to house any animal that will provide sufficient protection from inclement elements for the health and well being of the animal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-29.1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-29.1
§ 4-13-29.1. Responsibility for local rabies control.
Status: in_force

Each city and town is required to provide for the control of rabies in cats, dogs, and ferrets within its boundaries. The municipality may elect to adopt into ordinance provisions at least as stringent as this chapter and the regulations adopted by the board or it may choose to accept delegation of the authority of the board as provided in § 4-13-29. The rabies control board has the authority to institute a civil action to enforce the provisions of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-3-4 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-3 / Section 4-3-4
§ 4-3-4. Application for permit  Fee.
Status: in_force

Any person desiring to obtain a permit to feed garbage to swine shall make written application to the director in accordance with the requirements of the director. At the time of filing an application, the applicant shall pay to the director a permit fee in the sum of five dollars ($5.00) for the general use of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-4.1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-4.1
§ 4-13-4.1. Notice to new owner of inoculation and licensing requirements.
Status: in_force

(a) It is unlawful for any dog pound, animal shelter, kennel, pet store, or any other facility licensed pursuant to chapter 19 of this title to sell, give away, or adopt out any dog without providing the new owner with a form indicating that inoculation against rabies and permanent licensing are required within thirty (30) days.

(b) The facility shall also require the new owner to sign a register indicating that the new owner has received a form and register shall also contain the name and address of the new owner and shall be permanently maintained by the facility.

(c) The person obtaining a dog in this manner is required to have this dog inoculated against rabies and obtain a permanent license within thirty (30) days.

(d) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is subject to the penalty provisions of § 4-13-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-17 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-17
§ 4-19-17. Forfeited fees.
Status: in_force

Upon request, the adoptive party shall receive a refund for the fee collected by the licensed releasing agency under the provisions of subsection 4-19-16(a) provided that the licensed releasing agency has not caused the dog or cat to be spayed or neutered at the time the request for such refund is made.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-20 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-20
§ 4-1-20. Duty of police officers  Fines paid to society for prevention of cruelty to animals.
Status: in_force

Any deputy sheriff, town constable, or police officer shall prosecute all violations of this chapter that come to his or her knowledge and all fines and forfeitures resulting from the complaint of any officer or agent of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals under this chapter, shall enure and be paid over to the society in aid of the benevolent objects for which it was incorporated.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-15-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-15 / Section 4-15-9
§ 4-15-9. Advertising and notice of impoundment.
Status: in_force

After any animal has been impounded for forty-eight (48) hours, the poundkeeper shall immediately post up notifications in at least three (3) public places in the city or town with that pound, one of which shall be at or near the office of the city or town clerk of that city or town, describing the natural and artificial marks, if any, on the animal, or shall give notice in writing to the owner of the animal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-12-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-12 / Section 4-12-2
§ 4-12-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in §§ 4-12-2  4-12-17 unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms mean:

(1) Abandoned colony or apiary means any colony or apiary that is not currently registered and has not been registered within the preceding two (2) years and/or that the inspector is unable to locate the owner and is unable to inspect due to conditions within the colony which render the colony or apiary uninspectable.

(2) Apiary means any place or location where one or more colonies or nuclei of bees are kept.

(3) Authorized official means the state official authorized to inspect apiaries in the state of origin of bees being transported into or through the state.

(4) Beekeeper means any individual, person, firm, association, or corporation owning, possessing, or controlling one or more colonies of bees for the production of honey, beeswax, or byproducts, or for the pollination of crops for either personal or commercial use.

(5) Beekeeping equipment means all hives, hive bodies, supers, frames, combs, bottom boards, covers, excluders, screens, escape boards, feeders, hive tools, slatted racks, or other devices or boxes or other containers that may have been used in the capturing or holding of swarms, and including honey which may be or may have been used in or on any hive, colony, nuclei or used in the rearing or manipulation of bees or their brood.

(6) Bees means any stage of the common honey bee, apis mellifera, or other bees kept for the production of honey, wax, or pollination.

(7) Colony means the bees inhabiting a single hive, nuclei box, or dwelling place.

(8) Director means the director of the Rhode Island department of environmental management.

(9) Disease means American foulbrood and any other infectious, contagious, or communicable disease affecting bees or their brood.

(10) Eradicate means the destruction and/or disinfection of infected and/or infested bees, equipment and/or pests by burning or by treatment approved by the state inspector.

(11) Feral colony means an unowned or unmanaged colony of bees existing naturally.

(12) Hive means any man-made domicile with removable frames for keeping bees.

(13) Inspector means a person appointed by the director to check for diseased conditions or pest infestations in one or more apiaries as authorized by law.

(14) Pests means the honey bee tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi; and any other arthropod pests detrimental to honey bees; and genetic strains of the Africanized sub species, Apis mellifera adansoni and/or Apis mellifera scutellata.

(15) Swarms means a natural division of a colony in the process of becoming a feral colony.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-3-11 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-3 / Section 4-3-11
§ 4-3-11. Penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

Any person who violates any of the provisions of, or who fails to perform any duty imposed by §§ 4-3-1  4-3-11 or who violates any rule or regulation promulgated under these sections is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars ($200). In addition, that person may be enjoined from continuing that violation. Each day upon which that violation occurs constitutes a separate violation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-27-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-27 / Section 4-27-2
§ 4-27-2. Research dogs and cats  Retirement.
Status: in_force

(a) A higher education research facility that receives public money, including tax-exempt status, or a facility that provides research in collaboration with a higher education facility shall, after the completion of any testing or research involving a dog or cat, assess the health of the dog or cat and determine whether it is suitable for adoption. The facility shall thereafter make reasonable efforts to offer for adoption the dog or cat determined to be suitable for adoption, either through private placement or through an animal rescue and shelter organization; a duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals; a duly incorporated humane society; or a duly incorporated animal protective association that operates physical animal sheltering facilities and offers household pets to the public for adoption by way of an established adoption program. These efforts shall be made prior to euthanizing the dog or cat. Nothing in this section shall create a duty upon an organization, association, or society to accept a dog or cat offered by a higher education research facility for adoption.

(b) A facility that is required to offer dogs or cats for adoption under this section may enter into an agreement with an animal rescue and shelter organization; a duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals; a duly incorporated humane society; or a duly incorporated animal protective association that operates physical animal sheltering facilities and offers household pets to the public for adoption by way of an established adoption program.

(c) The attending or institutional veterinarian at a facility that is required to offer dogs or cats for adoption under this section shall have the authority to assess the health of an animal and determine whether an animal is suitable for adoption.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-3-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-3 / Section 4-3-7
§ 4-3-7. Revocation or denial of permits.
Status: in_force

Upon determination that any person having a permit issued under §§ 4-3-1  4-3-11 or who has applied for a permit, has violated or failed to comply with any of the provisions of §§ 4-3-1  4-3-11, or any of the rules or regulations promulgated under these sections, the director may, after notice to the registrant, and after affording the registrant an opportunity to be heard, revoke the permit or refuse to issue a permit to an applicant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-22 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-22
§ 4-19-22. Animal control officers.
Status: in_force

(a) Effective January 1, 2019, no municipality shall employ any animal control officer who has not received certification to be an animal control officer from the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) or other equivalent organization as determined by the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. All new hires will have a period of twelve (12) months from date of hire to receive certification. All existing personnel employed as animal control officers shall obtain their certification by January 1, 2019.

(b) The training and certification program required by subsection (a) of this section shall incorporate instruction that shall meet NACA guidelines for certification, including, but not limited to, the following criteria:

(1) Laws and regulations affecting animal control, animal welfare, and animal cruelty;

(2) Domestic and wild animal behavior;

(3) Handling and treatment of deceased or stray animals; and

(4) Emergency procedures and conflict resolution skills.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-12-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-12 / Section 4-12-5
§ 4-12-5. Inspection/survey of apiaries  Notice  Entry  Abatement of infection  Infestation of undesirable bees.
Status: in_force

(a) The director of environmental management, to determine the presence or absence of infectious, contagious or communicable diseases or honey bee pests, shall annually either:

(1) Inspect twenty percent (20%) of the bee colonies located within thirty-three percent (33%) of the states apiaries to determine the presence or absence of diseases and pests listed in §4-12-2(14); or

(2) Conduct a statistical biological survey as published by the federal agriculture research service or the animal and plant health inspection service or the Beltsville beneficial insects laboratory.

Inspections or surveys will be geographically disbursed so as to be representative of the colonies within the state.

(b) A registered beekeeper may make a written request to the director for a special examination of the beekeepers colonies. On receipt of this written request the director or authorized inspector shall inspect the bees owned and managed by that beekeeper for bee diseases or pests. A reasonable fee shall be charged which is not contingent upon issuance of a health certificate.

(c) Once written notice of inspection has been given to an owner as provided in this section, that owner shall not move any hive or hives or bees or bee equipment from the time notice is received until either seven (7) days thereafter or until the time that the results of the inspection are received.

(d) The director shall provide for controlling or eliminating infested or diseased honey bees and pests, including eliminating swarms and feral colonies as a means to prevent further dispersal and to protect the public and the economy of this state. The control procedures shall:

(1) Include abatement, as prescribed by rules adopted under this article.

(2) Include a public education program to emphasize the importance of a healthy beekeeping industry.

(3) Be designed and implemented to minimize the negative impact on beekeepers while being effective in controlling Africanized bees and other pests.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-15-6 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-15 / Section 4-15-6
§ 4-15-6. Care of impounded animals.
Status: in_force

The keeper of any pound in which any animal is impounded shall receive, keep, and feed the animal in that pound and he or she shall and may milk any impounded cow for his or her own use.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-9
§ 4-14-9. Action for damages after impounded animals returned to owner.
Status: in_force

If the owner of the impounded beasts within two (2) days after they are impounded, demand of and receive from the poundkeeper those impounded beasts and pay the charges, and if the person impounding has not lodged with the poundkeeper a statement of damages, he or she may have his or her action for those damages, provided he or she performs all the requisitions and proceedings mentioned in § 4-14-3.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-21 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-21
§ 4-5-21. Advertisement of tuberculosis-free areas.
Status: in_force

Before proceeding to quarantine an area and to test the cattle in the area pursuant to § 4-5-20, the director of environmental management shall advertise the establishment of that area in some newspaper published in one of the towns included in that area, or if there is no newspaper published in any of those towns, then in a newspaper published in the county in which the area is situated. The advertisement shall state the date when the area is to be established and shall set forth in detail the proceedings to be followed in quarantining and testing the cattle within the area, and what will be required of the owners of those cattle. A notice similar in substance to the advertisement shall be posted on a public sign post in each city or town wholly or in part within the area. The advertisement shall be published and the notice posted not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days before the date when the area is to be established.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-31 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-31
§ 4-1-31. Assignment of state veterinarian.
Status: in_force

(a) Examination of fighting animals. A licensed veterinarian from the department of environmental management, shall be made available to agents of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at the request of the state police for the purpose of examining any animal that those agents believe to have been involved in animal fighting in violation of §§ 4-1-2, 4-1-8, 4-1-9 or 4-1-11.

(b) Right of entry where cruelty suspected. The director of the department of environmental management, or any veterinarian employed by the department of environmental management designated by the director for such purpose, having reason to suspect the existence of cruelty to animals within the meaning of this chapter upon any grounds or premises, is hereby authorized and empowered to enter upon those grounds or premises for enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. For such inspections, the department shall, unless a search without a warrant is otherwise allowed by law, seek a search warrant from an official of a court authorized to issue warrants.

(c) The director of the department of environmental management may designate a department veterinarian or veterinarians to act as animal advocates. A general agent or special agent from the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals may also act in that capacity.

(d) The animal advocate shall make recommendations to any court before which the custody or well-being of an animal is at issue.

(e) Any animal care facility licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture or holding a public health service (PHS) assurance of compliance shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.

(f) Right to seize animals that are the subject of cruel treatment. The director of environmental management, or any veterinarian employed by the department of environmental management (department), shall have the authority to examine any animal that is suspected of being cruelly treated, mistreated, or neglected by its owner, guardian, or his or her agents in violation of the provisions of chapter 1 of this title. Upon reasonable evidence to suggest that the subject animal(s) has been cruelly treated, mistreated, or negligently treated by the owner, guardian, or his or her agents, in violation of the provisions of chapter 1 of this title, the department may lawfully take charge of that animal(s) and shall have the authority to seize said animal(s). Any animal(s) so seized shall remain in the custody of the department during the pendency of any civil or criminal investigation and remain in the custody of the department until the adjudication of the matter. All reasonable expenses for the care and treatment of the animal(s), while in the custody of the department during this time, shall be paid for by the owner, guardian, or his or her agent upon conviction, entry of a guilty plea, or a plea of nolo contendere. The department has the authority to commence a civil action for damages against the owner, guardian, or his or her agent thirty (30) days after written demand for payment of the expenses of the suitable care of that animal has been sent and no payment received.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-1
§ 4-5-1. Report of affected animal  Test.
Status: in_force

Whenever the owner of any bovine animal suspects that animal to be affected with tuberculosis, and, in writing, requests the director of environmental management to inspect the animal, or if the director suspects any bovine animal to be affected with tuberculosis, the director shall immediately direct a veterinarian to inspect and test that animal on a specified day. The test in all cases shall be a tuberculin test conforming to the standards of the United States department of agriculture.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-18 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-18
§ 4-7-18. Exceptions from provisions.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall not apply to a merchant or a producer of livestock who does not go from place to place buying, selling, and/or transporting livestock nor shall it apply to a farmers cooperative transporting livestock in connection with the operation of a cooperative.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-5
§ 4-7-5. Compliance with importation regulations.
Status: in_force

Every dealer of livestock is required to comply with existing rules and regulations governing the importation of livestock into the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-17 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-17
§ 4-14-17. Actions beyond jurisdiction of district court.
Status: in_force

Whenever the sum demanded for damages exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000) or whenever the ownership in the beasts is in question and their value exceeds that sum, the action shall be brought before the superior court for the same county, and whenever this fact appears of record or in evidence in any action brought in the district court, the district court shall proceed no further; but shall certify the action to the superior court for that county, which shall proceed to try the action as if it had originally been brought there.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-2-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-2 / Section 4-2-2
§ 4-2-2. Enforcing official.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be administered by the director of the department of environmental management of the state or his or her authorized agent, referred to as the director.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-2-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-2 / Section 4-2-5
§ 4-2-5. Labeling.
Status: in_force

A commercial feed shall be labeled as follows:

(a) In the case of a commercial feed, except a customer formula feed, it shall be accompanied by a label bearing the following information:

(1) The net weight.

(2) The product name and the brand name, if any, under which the commercial feed is distributed.

(3) The guaranteed analysis stated in any terms that the director by regulation requires to advise the user of the composition of the feed or to support claims made in the labeling. In all cases, the substances or elements must be determinable by laboratory methods such as the method published by the association of official analytical chemists (AOAC).

(4) The common or usual name of each ingredient used in the manufacture of the commercial feed. The director by regulation may permit the use of a collective term for a group of ingredients which perform a similar function, or he or she may exempt any commercial feeds, or any group of commercial feeds, from the requirement of an ingredient statement if he or she finds that this statement is not required in the interest of consumers.

(5) The name and principal mailing address of the manufacturer or the person responsible for distributing the commercial feed.

(6) Adequate directions for use for all commercial feeds containing drugs and for any other feeds as the director may require by regulation as necessary for their safe and effective use.

(7) Any precautionary statement that the director by regulation determines is necessary for the safe and effective use of the commercial feed.

(b) In the case of a customer formula feed, it shall be accompanied by a label, invoice, delivery slip, or other shipping document, bearing the following information:

(1) Name and address of the manufacturer.

(2) Name and address of the purchaser.

(3) Date of delivery.

(4) The product name and brand name, if any, and the net weight of each registered commercial feed used in the mixture, and the net weight of each other ingredient used.

(5) Adequate directions for use for all customer formula feeds containing drugs and for any other feeds as the director may require by regulation as necessary for their safe and effective use.

(6) Any precautionary statements that the director by regulation determines are necessary for the safe and effective use of the customer formula feed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-42 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-42
§ 4-1-42. Care of neglected animals by department  Forfeiture of owners rights  Expenses.
Status: in_force

(a) The director of environmental management, or any veterinarian employed by the department of environmental management (department), may lawfully take charge of any animal found abandoned or neglected or hazardously accumulated as defined in § 4-1-1, or that, in the opinion of the department, is aged, maimed, disabled, lame, sick, diseased, injured, unfit for the labor it is performing, or cruelly treated, and shall give notice to the owner, if known, or his or her agents, and may provide suitable care.

(b) Every owner, guardian, or agent, upon conviction, entry of a guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere, of abandonment, neglect, hazardous accumulation as defined in § 4-1-1, or otherwise cruel treatment of any animal taken charge of by the department under this section, forfeits the right to ownership or control of that animal to the department for disposition in any manner deemed suitable for that animal.

(c) Whenever the department lawfully takes charge of any animal under this section, all reasonable expenses for the care and treatment of the animal(s), while in the custody of the department during this time, shall be paid for by the owner, guardian, or his or her agent, upon conviction, a plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere. The department has the authority to commence a civil action for damages against the owner or his or her agent thirty (30) days after written demand for payment of the expense of the suitable care of that animal has been sent and no payment received.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-12-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-12 / Section 4-12-3
§ 4-12-3. Inspector of apiaries  Deputies and assistants.
Status: in_force

The director of environmental management shall appoint an inspector of apiaries, who shall assist in the enforcement of this chapter, under the supervision of the director. For those purposes, this inspector may, with the approval of the director, employ any deputies and assistants as may be necessary to enable the inspector to properly discharge duties as outlined.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-32 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-32
§ 4-13-32. Penalty for violation of rabies suppression provisions.
Status: in_force

Any person violating the provisions of §§ 4-13-29 and 4-13-31 shall be charged with a misdemeanor and fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense or be imprisoned for not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days and/or be subject to confiscation of the animal(s) which is/are the basis of the violation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-10-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-10 / Section 4-10-5
§ 4-10-5. Holding of unlimited licensees bond.
Status: in_force

The bond required by § 4-10-4(2) shall be held by the director of environmental management to satisfy any claims held against any licensee because of failure to pay for live poultry purchased by that licensed dealer from the poultry producer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-3
§ 4-5-3. Condemnation of diseased animals.
Status: in_force

If a tuberculin test indicates that an animal is affected with tuberculosis, or if, even though the animal fails to react to that test, the veterinarian shall condemn the animal as affected with tuberculosis, the animal shall at once be appraised under § 4-5-4 and killed in the presence of the director or veterinarian and the owner, or if the owner is not present, then in the presence of the person who has charge of the animal for the owner and its carcass shall be disposed of in a manner not to be detrimental to the public health.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-16-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-16 / Section 4-16-2
§ 4-16-2. Notice and publication of estrays.
Status: in_force

The city or town clerk shall give three (3) notices, attested under his or her hand, setting forth the natural and artificial marks of the animal, one of which notices he or she shall cause to be set up in a public place in the city or town and the other two (2) notices in public places in the several adjoining cities or towns in the state, and also cause the notices to be published in one of the newspapers published in the several adjoining cities or towns to that in which the estray was found.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-12-14 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-12 / Section 4-12-14
§ 4-12-14. Reports and records of inspector.
Status: in_force

The inspector of apiaries shall make annual written reports to the director of the department of environmental management, giving the number of colonies inspected, the number of diseased colonies found, the number of colonies treated, and the number of colonies destroyed. A record shall also be kept of the locations where disease and/or pest infestations exists. This record however shall not be made public, but may be reviewed with the consent of the director of environmental management.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-41 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-41
§ 4-1-41. Devocalization or declawing as requirement for property occupancy prohibited.
Status: in_force

(a) No person or corporation that occupies, owns, manages, or provides services in connection with any real property, including the individuals or corporations agents or successors-in-interest, may do any of the following if the person or corporation allows an animal on the subject premises:

(1) Advertise, through any means, the availability of real property for occupancy in a manner designed to discourage application for occupancy of that real property because the applicants animal has not been declawed or devocalized;

(2) Refuse to allow the occupancy of any real property, refuse to negotiate the occupancy of any real estate property, or to otherwise make unavailable or deny to any other person the occupancy of any real property because of that persons refusal to declaw or devocalize any animal; or

(3) Require any tenant or occupant of real property to declaw or devocalize any animal allowed on the premises.

(b) Any person found in violation of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person fined under this section may be barred from owning or possessing any animals, or living on the same property with someone who owns or possesses animals, for a period of time deemed appropriate by the court, and be required to take humane education, pet ownership and dog training classes as ordered by the court.

(c) Nothing contained within this section shall be construed as forbidding a person or corporation that occupies, owns, manages, or provides services in connection with any real property, including the individuals or corporations agents or successors-in-interest, from prohibiting any animal on the premises.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-16 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-16
§ 4-13-16. Action for damages to animals  Double damages on second recovery  Destruction of offending dog.
Status: in_force

If any dog kills, wounds, worries, or assists in killing, wounding or worrying, any sheep, lamb, cattle, horse, hog, swine, fowl, or other domestic animal belonging to or in the possession of any person, or assaults, bites, or otherwise injures any person while traveling the highway or out of the enclosure of the owner or keeper of that dog, the owner or keeper of the dog shall be liable to the person aggrieved, for all damage sustained, to be recovered in a civil action, with costs of suit. If afterwards any such damage is done by that dog, the owner or keeper of the dog shall pay to the party aggrieved double the damage, to be recovered in the manner set forth and an order shall be made by the court before whom that second recovery is made, for killing the dog. The order shall be executed by the officer charged with the execution of the order, and it shall not be necessary, in order to sustain this action, to prove that the owner or keeper of the dog knew that the dog was accustomed to causing this damage.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-9-11 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-9 / Section 4-9-11
§ 4-9-11. Federal approval of vaccines required.
Status: in_force

No vaccine or other biological product prepared for the purpose of immunizing animals shall be used in the state unless that product has been approved for that use by the center of veterinary biologics of the U.S. department of agriculture.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-15-1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-15 / Section 4-15-1
§ 4-15-1. Municipal pounds.
Status: in_force

Every town or city may maintain at its own charge one or more public pounds, for the impounding of horses, mules, neat-cattle, sheep, goats, geese, hogs, and asses and for the securing of those animals agreeable to law in some convenient place or places in that town or city.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-25-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-25 / Section 4-25-3
§ 4-25-3. Written disclosure by seller.
Status: in_force

(a) Upon the sale of a dog, a written disclosure signed and dated by both the seller and purchaser shall be provided and shall include:

(1) A statement by the seller:

(i) That the animal has no known disease or illness nor any congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal at the time of sale or is likely to adversely affect the health of this animal in the future; or

(ii) Of any known disease, illness or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal at the time of sale or is likely to adversely affect the health of the animal in the future.

(b) The seller must disclose in writing if the animal has not received a veterinary examination prior to sale.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-5.1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-5.1
§ 4-19-5.1. Breeder licenses.
Status: in_force

No person shall act as a breeder, as defined in § 4-19-2, unless in possession of a valid license to operate as a breeder granted by the director. Application for that license shall be made in the manner provided by the director. The license period is the states fiscal year and the license fee is one hundred dollars ($100) for each license period or part thereof beginning with the first day of the fiscal year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-15-8 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-15 / Section 4-15-8
§ 4-15-8. Disposition of penalties.
Status: in_force

The poundkeeper shall pay one half (Â½) of every sum received by him or her as a penalty, in pursuance of § 4-15-7, to the city or town treasurer of the city or town in which the pound is situated, and one half (Â½) to the person who impounded the animal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-44 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-44
§ 4-13-44. Minimum maturity level for sale of dogs.
Status: in_force

(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.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-39 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-39
§ 4-13-39. Penalties.
Status: in_force

Any person convicted of a violation of this chapter shall be fined fifty dollars ($50) for a first offense and one hundred dollars ($100) for a second and subsequent offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-18-6 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-18 / Section 4-18-6
§ 4-18-6. Exempted importations.
Status: in_force

(a) Short term nonresident exhibitions. Animals subject to this chapter may be brought into the state for short term nonresident exhibition purposes without permit. Animal(s) permitted entry under this section shall not be disposed of by sale, trade or gift during the period within this state. Short term nonresident exhibition purposes shall not exceed thirty (30) days.

(b) Animal breeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 4-18-5, animals being moved for breeding purposes as part of a recognized animal colony established for experimental breeding of animals in captivity, may be moved for this purpose upon issuance of permit provided that the conditions specified by the department in the permit are adhered to in full.

(c) Personal pets under special permit. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 4-18-4 and 4-18-5, a permit may be granted by the department to import a wild animal as a personal pet, if a written affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury is completed at the time of entry at the site of first arrival and transmitted either by mail or in person to the department immediately. The affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) The number and true scientific name of the species being imported as required in § 4-18-3;

(2) The date and location of acquisition of the pet animal;

(3) A statement of the place or premises where the animal will be held in quarantine pending completion of veterinary examination;

(4) An agreement that within ten (10) days the department will be notified of the name and address of the veterinarian who conducts examinations and tests required by the department, and that the required import fees be paid within the ten (10) days.

(d) Zoological collections and managed propagation facilities accredited by the American zoo and aquarium association (AZA) and licensed by the United States department of agriculture (USDA). Animals subject to this chapter may be brought into the state or propagated for zoological exhibition purposes without permit if imported or born directly to a facility which is both AZA accredited and USDA licensed. The facilities shall comply with departmental import/possession specifications prior to importation. The importation/possession requirements may include but are not limited to: disease diagnostic tests, veterinary procedures and examinations, and individual identification requirements for the importation/possession of each animal subject to this chapter. The department reserves the right to immediate examination and testing of the imported/possessed wild animals when there is probable cause as determined by the department to suspect that the animals are harboring diseases or parasites suspected of endangering public health or the health of domestic animals, or that of native wild animals. Measures deemed necessary to protect domestic animals, public health, and native wild animals may include but are not limited to: quarantine, treatment, seizure, destruction, and postmortem examination. The department shall be notified within three (3) months of the death of any animal subject to this chapter. Furthermore, the department shall be notified immediately upon the death of any animal subject to this chapter which death may have resulted from infectious, contagious, or zoonotic disease or upon the escape of any animal subject to this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-23-1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-23 / Section 4-23-1
§ 4-23-1. Trust for care of animals.
Status: in_force

(a) A trust may be created to provide for the care of an animal alive during the settlors lifetime. The trust terminates upon the death of the animal, or if the trust was created to provided for the care of more than one animal alive during the settlors lifetime upon the death of the last surviving animal.

(b) Except as provided in this section, the provisions of the general laws which govern the creation and administration of express trusts applies to the trust for the care of an animal.

(c) A trust authorized by this section may be enforced by a person appointed in the terms of the trust or, if no person is so appointed, by a person appointed by the court. A person having interest in the welfare of the animal may request the court to appoint a person to enforce the trust or to remove the appointed person. The appointed person shall have the rights of a trust beneficiary for the purpose of enforcing the trust, including receiving accountings, notices, and other information from the trustee and providing consents.

(d) Property of a trust appointed by this person may be applied only to its intended use, except to the extent the court determines that the value of the trust property exceeds the amount required for the intended use. Property not required for the intended use, including the trust property remaining upon its termination, shall be distributed in the following order of priority:

(1) As directed by the terms of the trust;

(2) To the settlor, if then living;

(3) Pursuant to the residuary clause of the settlors will;

(4) To the settlors heirs in accordance with the Rhode Island general laws on descent and distribution.

(e) A governing instrument shall be liberally construed in order to presume against the merely precatory or honorary nature of the disposition and to carry out the general intent of the transferor. Extrinsic evidence is admissible in determining the transferors intent.

(f) If a trustee is not designated or designated trustee is not willing or able to serve, the probate court shall name a trustee; a court may order the transfer of the property to another trustee, if the court makes a factual finding that it is necessary to assure the intended use is carried out and if a successor trustee is not designated in the trust instrument or if a designated trustee does not agree to serve or is unable to serve.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-8-12 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-8 / Section 4-8-12
§ 4-8-12. Investigative powers of director.
Status: in_force

The director of environmental management has power to investigate upon the complaint of any interested person, or of his or her own motion, the record of any person, firm, or corporation applying for or holding a license, or any transaction involving the purchase of milk for shipment as provided for in this chapter; and for that purpose may examine the ledgers, books of account, memoranda, or other documents of any person, firm, association, or corporation applying for or holding a license and may take testimony under oath; but information relating to the general business of any that person, firm, association, or corporation, disclosed by this investigation and not relating to the immediate purpose shall be deemed of a confidential nature by the director and his or her assistants.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-15-13 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-15 / Section 4-15-13
§ 4-15-13. Application of chapter to goats and geese.
Status: in_force

If any city or town votes to extend the provisions of this chapter to goats and to geese going at large within its limits, those goats and geese shall subject their owner to the same obligations and duties and shall themselves be disposed of in the same way as is in this chapter provided in relation to the animals named in this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-10 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-10
§ 4-4-10. Sale of diseased or disabled animals.
Status: in_force

It is unlawful for any person holding an auctioneers license knowingly to receive or offer for sale or to sell at public auction, other than at a sheriffs or judicial sale under a court order, or for any person to sell or offer for sale at private sale, any animal which is suffering from any disability, lameness or disease, and any person violating any provision of this section shall, for each offense, be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-2.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-23 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-23
§ 4-4-23. Regulations for suppression of disease.
Status: in_force

The director of environmental management may make all necessary regulations for the prevention, treatment, cure, and extirpation of any disease, and any person who fails to comply with any regulation made shall be fined not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300) or be imprisoned not exceeding one year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-38 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-38
§ 4-13-38. Dogs attacking deer.
Status: in_force

A person owning, keeping or possessing a dog shall not allow, permit or consent to this dog chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing a deer. The director of environmental management is authorized to issue an order to restrain all dogs from running at large in any city or town where, in the directors opinion, this restraining order is necessary to prevent dogs from chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing deer. This order shall be in effect forty-eight (48) hours after publication in one or more newspapers circulated in the city or town. When, in the directors opinion, the director determines that this restraining order is no longer necessary, the director shall, by publication, rescind this order. A person owning, keeping, or possessing a dog shall restrain it from running at large in any city or town in which this restraining order is in effect. The chief of the division of enforcement, the chiefs assistants, conservation officers, members of the state police, members of the local police, in areas over which they have jurisdiction, may issue a citation to the owner of any dog found chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing a deer, charging the owner with a violation of this chapter. During any period when this order is not in force, the chief of the division of enforcement, the chiefs assistants, conservation officers and members of the state police and members of the local police and park police in areas over which they have jurisdiction, may issue a citation to the owner of any dog found chasing or hunting a deer if the dog is chasing or hunting with the knowledge or consent of the owner. Whenever a dog has been found chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing a deer and the owner or keeper of the dog has been notified by the director, and the same dog is found chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing, it shall be prima facie evidence that this chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing was with the knowledge or consent of the owner or keeper.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-15 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-15
§ 4-5-15. Slaughter of infected cattle  Release of cattle free from tuberculosis.
Status: in_force

If as the result of the test pursuant to § 4-5-14 it is found that any cattle are afflicted with tuberculosis, the diseased cattle shall be immediately slaughtered in the manner provided in § 4-5-3 and the state shall not be required to compensate the owner for their loss but the owner shall pay for testing the cattle with tuberculin. If any cattle are found free from tuberculosis as the result of the test pursuant to § 4-5-14, they shall be released for the use and benefit of the owner. If any cattle are slaughtered and upon post mortem examination it is found that the slaughtered animal was not afflicted with tuberculosis, then the animal shall be paid for by the state at its full appraised value in accordance with § 4-5-6.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-4 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-4
§ 4-1-4. Abandonment of infirm animals.
Status: in_force

If any maimed, sick, infirm, or disabled animal is abandoned to die, by any owner or person having charge of that animal, that person shall, for each offense, be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-2.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-16-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-16 / Section 4-16-5
§ 4-16-5. Settlement of disputes as to maintenance charges.
Status: in_force

In case any difference arises between the parties about the charge of keeping an estrayed animal, the dispute may be referred to the district court having jurisdiction in the city or town, which shall hear and determine the dispute and tax costs as in other cases.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-6 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-6
§ 4-1-6. Shearing of horses in winter.
Status: in_force

No person shall cut, clip, or shear the hair or coating of any horse between October 15th and March 1st unless the necessity for the cutting, clipping, or shearing has been certified in writing and filed with the Rhode Island society for the prevention of cruelty to animals by a licensed graduate veterinarian. Any person violating this section shall, for each offense, be imprisoned not exceeding ten (10) days or be fined not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-16 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-16
§ 4-14-16. Appeal in replevin.
Status: in_force

Either party may, in the district court, claim an appeal in the action brought pursuant to § 4-14-13, in the same manner and with the same effect as is by law provided in other civil actions in a district court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-12 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-12
§ 4-4-12. Cooperation with federal government in suppression of diseases.
Status: in_force

The governor is authorized to accept on behalf of the state the rules and regulations prepared by the secretary of agriculture under and in pursuance of § 3, 21 U.S.C. § 114, of an act of congress approved May 29, 1884, entitled An act for the establishment of a bureau of animal industry, to prevent the exportation of diseased cattle, and to provide means for the suppression and extirpation of pleuropneumonia and other contagious diseases among domestic animals, 21 U.S.C. § 113 et seq., and to cooperate with the authorities of the United States in the provisions of that act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-6.1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-6.1
§ 4-1-6.1. Operating upon tails of bovines prohibited.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who intentionally cuts or alters the bone, tissues, muscles or tendons of the tail of any bovine or otherwise operates upon it in any manner for the purpose or with the effect of docking, setting, or otherwise altering the natural carriage of the tail, or who knowingly permits the same to be done upon the premises of which he or she is the owner, lessee, proprietor or user, or who assists in or is voluntarily present at such cutting or alteration, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both. If any bovine is found with the bone, tissues, muscles or tendons of its tail cut or altered as aforesaid upon the premises or in the charge and custody of any person, and the wound resulting therefrom is unhealed, such fact may be evidence of a violation of this section by the owner or user of such premises, or the person having such charge or custody.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to tail docking performed by a veterinarian for veterinary purposes, provided that the procedure is performed under the following conditions:

(1) The animal has been adequately anesthetized to minimize the animals pain and suffering during the treatment or operation.

(2) The procedure is done in a way that minimizes the long-term pain and suffering resulting from the procedure.

(3) The veterinarian uses suitable instruments.

(4) The procedure is done under hygienic conditions.

(c) The owner of any bovine with a docked tail who purchased the bovine in a state where tail docking is legal shall be exempt from prosecution under this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-15-11 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-15 / Section 4-15-11
§ 4-15-11. Sale of unclaimed animals  Disposition of proceeds.
Status: in_force

If the city or town treasurer finds the proceedings of the poundkeeper correct, he or she shall sell the animal at public auction, after giving reasonable notice of the sale, and shall, out of the proceeds of the sale, pay the incidental expenses of the sale, the cost of keeping the animal after the animal was delivered to him or her by the poundkeeper for sale, the expenses, charges and penalty, and in the order provided in this chapter, if the proceeds of the sale are not sufficient to pay all the expenses.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-10-12 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-10 / Section 4-10-12
§ 4-10-12. Bill of sale to accompany poultry in transit.
Status: in_force

No person shall transport live poultry in connection with the sale from place to place upon any public highway or road in this state unless he or she has in his or her possession a bill of sale signed by the vendor or agent of that vendor and containing the vendors address, the date of transaction, number of poultry, and/or weight, breed and price of poultry and any other information as in the discretion of the director will describe that poultry and establish specifically their proper ownership. The information shall be available at any time to the director or his or her duly authorized agent or agents.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-10 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-10
§ 4-14-10. Replevin to recover impounded animals.
Status: in_force

Any person whose beasts are impounded may, if he or she sees cause, maintain a writ of replevin, to be sued out and prosecuted before the district court having jurisdiction in the city or town where they were impounded.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-4-16 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-4 / Section 4-4-16
§ 4-4-16. Compensation for animals killed in Bangs disease program.
Status: in_force

Sections 4-5-1  4-5-6 shall be construed to include payments for indemnities for animals killed, and for the testing and administration expense incurred, due to the prevalence of Bangs disease.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-7
§ 4-19-7. Dealer licenses.
Status: in_force

No person shall operate as a dealer, as defined in this chapter, after the first day of the fiscal year unless a license to deal has been granted by the director to that person. Application for the license shall be made in the manner provided by the director. The license period is the fiscal year and the license fee is one hundred dollars ($100) for each license period or part thereof beginning with the first day of the fiscal year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-8-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-8 / Section 4-8-9
§ 4-8-9. Schedule of prices  Accounts of purchases.
Status: in_force

Every proprietor of a milk gathering station shall post in a conspicuous place in his or her milk station, a schedule of the prices being paid for milk or cream, and shall keep a correct account of all the milk or cream daily received or purchased from each person at that milk station which account shall be open to inspection by any person selling or delivering milk or cream to that proprietor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-28-1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-28 / Section 4-28-1
§ 4-28-1. Electronic payment of fees.
Status: in_force

(a) The director of the department of environmental management may require that any fee owed to the department, pursuant to any chapter of title 4, be paid electronically.

(b) In addition to specific fees owed to the department of environmental management, pursuant to any chapter of title 4, the director of the department of environmental management may charge a processing fee. The department shall set the amount of such fees through rules and regulations, with processing fees not to exceed five percent (5%) of the original fee owed to the department.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-34 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-34
§ 4-1-34. Destruction of racing greyhounds.
Status: in_force

No person shall put to death, within the state, a racing greyhound or a retired racing greyhound except in a humane manner. For the purposes of this section, the phrase in a humane manner means by means of euthanasia by lethal injection, or by any other standard of humane killing that may be established by the American veterinary medicine association.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-11-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-11 / Section 4-11-7
§ 4-11-7. Treatment of birds exposed to psittacosis.
Status: in_force

If laboratory examination confirms infection with the agent that causes psittacosis, the remaining birds shall be humanely euthanized or treated according to the most current, Compendium Of Measures To Control Chlamydophila Psittaci Infection Among Humans (Psittacosis) And Pet Birds (Avian Chlamydiosis), as reviewed by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, (NASPHV). The director, or the directors designee, shall oversee such treatment which shall be administered at the bird owners expense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-18 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-18
§ 4-13-18. Destruction of dogs in defense of person or livestock.
Status: in_force

Any person may kill any dog that suddenly assaults him or her or any person of his or her family or in his or her company, while the person assaulted is out of the enclosure of the owner or keeper of that dog and any person may kill any dog found out of the enclosure of its owner or keeper, assaulting, wounding, or killing any cattle, sheep, lamb, horse, hog, or fowl, not the property of its owner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-35 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-35
§ 4-1-35. Community restitution.
Status: in_force

The general assembly hereby declares that the words community service which appear throughout this chapter shall now be substituted with and referred to as community restitution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-12-17 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-12 / Section 4-12-17
§ 4-12-17. Penalties.
Status: in_force

Any person who violates any provision or requirement of §§ 4-12-1  4-12-16 or who forges, counterfeits, defaces, destroys, or wrongfully uses or possesses any certificate provided for in §§ 4-12-5  4-12-14 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-18 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-18
§ 4-19-18. Penalties for violations.
Status: in_force

(a) Violations of the provisions of § 4-19-16 or the written agreement executed pursuant to § 4-19-16 by an adopting party are punishable by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense, one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for the second offense and four hundred dollars ($400) for the third and subsequent offenses. Each and every incidence of non-compliance by an adopting party which continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after written notice of a violation under this section constitutes a subsequent offense and the attendant penalties will apply. Second and subsequent offenses may constitute grounds for seizure and forfeiture of the dog or cat, which seizure will be conducted by a dog officer or a police officer for the city or town in which the adopting party resides, and the seized animal will be returned to the licensed releasing agency from which it was adopted, which licensed releasing agency will be free to adopt out or euthanize the seized dog or cat. The adopting party loses all ownership rights in the seized dog or cat, forfeits all rights to any fee or deposit paid for the dog or cat, and shall have no claim against the licensed releasing agency or any other person for any expenses incurred by the adopting party for the dog or cats maintenance. The provisions of §§ 4-19-16  4-19-18 will be enforced against an adopting party by a dog officer or a police officer for the city or town in which the adopting party resides. Licensed releasing agencies must notify the animal control officer or police officer in the city or town in which the adopting party resides, in writing, within fourteen (14) days of any violation of the provisions of § 4-19-16.

(b) Violations of § 4-19-16 or 4-19-17 by a licensed releasing agency are punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense, two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for the second offense and five hundred dollars ($500) for the third and subsequent offenses. The third and subsequent offenses may result in the temporary or permanent revocation of the licensed releasing agencys license to operate. Compliance by the releasing agency with §§ 4-19-16  4-19-18 will be monitored as to the licensed releasing agencies by the state veterinarian. The provisions of §§ 4-19-16  4-19-18 will be enforced against a licensed releasing agency by the division of law enforcement of the department of environmental management.

(c) All fines collected under subsection (a) will be remitted to the town or city clerk of the municipality where the adopting party of the dog or cat resides. These fines shall be used by the municipality only for programs for the spaying or neutering of dogs or cats. All fines collected under subsection (b) will be remitted to the general treasurer and placed in a separate fund within the general fund to be called the Animal Health Fund which shall be administered by the general treasurer in the same manner as the general fund. All funds deposited in the Animal Health Fund shall be made available to the department of environmental management division of agriculture to defray any costs or expenses incurred by the state veterinarian in the enforcement of §§ 4-19-16, 4-19-17 and 4-19-18.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-20 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-20
§ 4-7-20. Enforcement.
Status: in_force

It is the duty of the director to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to prosecute any and all persons who, in his or her opinion, are guilty of violating any of the provisions of those sections, and the director or his or her duly appointed agent or agents are not required to enter into recognizance or become liable for costs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-26 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-26
§ 4-1-26. Abandonment of animals.
Status: in_force

(a) If any person having possession and/or control of an animal abandons that animal on a street, road, highway, or in a public place or on private property or from a motor vehicle, or in a dwelling or any other building or structure without providing for the care of that animal, the person shall be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-2 for each such offense. If this abandonment results in the death of the animal, the person shall be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-5. Abandonment means the relinquishment of all right, title, claim, or possession of the animal with the intention of not reclaiming it or resuming its ownership or possession.

(b) Any pound or animal shelter as defined under § 4-19-2, shall deem abandoned any animal impounded and not redeemed by its owner within ten (10) days of impoundment if such animal is wearing identification. Any animal impounded and not wearing identification shall be deemed abandoned if not redeemed by its owner within five (5) days of impoundment. Any animal deemed abandoned shall become the property of the impounding agency and may be adopted.

(c) Any pound or animal shelter shall make a prompt and reasonable attempt to locate and notify the owner of the impounded animal, including scanning the animal for a microchip.

(d) It shall not be considered abandonment, and the provisions of subsection (a) of this section and of § 4-24-8 shall not apply to any person who traps unowned feral or free roaming cats, causes those cats to be spayed or neutered, and subsequently releases those cats, provided:

(1) Any medical or surgical procedures performed on those cats are performed by a licensed veterinarian; and

(2) The cats are returned to the property where they were trapped.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-29 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-29
§ 4-13-29. Quarantine to suppress rabies  Report of cases.
Status: in_force

(a) The rabies control board of Rhode Island is empowered to issue any rules and regulations not contrary to law that may be necessary in setting the terms and conditions of each type of quarantine or to quarantine any area or areas within the state that the board may from time to time deem necessary for the purpose of prevention, controlling, or suppressing rabies. The rabies control board is authorized to quarantine any animal suspected of harboring rabies and/or to delegate the authority to quarantine dogs, cats, and ferrets suspected of harboring rabies to local animal control officers (ACO) or other representatives authorized by the municipality. The board or its agents are authorized to seek a warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction for entry to any premises, public or private, where probable cause exists that a violation of this section and/or § 4-13-31 is occurring within or about the premises. Notification shall be given immediately to the board or any of its members by any person or persons, including but not limited to veterinarians, licensed to practice in this state, and city or town health officials, upon the detection by them of an animal suspected to be affected with rabies.

(b) Any appeal from an order of quarantine shall be to the superior court of Providence County or in the county in which the cause of action arose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-10-13 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-10 / Section 4-10-13
§ 4-10-13. Persons and organizations exempt.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall not apply to a merchant or a producer of poultry who does not go from place to place buying, selling, and/or transporting live poultry nor shall it apply to a farmers cooperative transporting poultry in connection with the operation of a cooperative.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-6 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-6
§ 4-5-6. Payment for condemned animals  Prerequisites.
Status: in_force

In the case of any bovine animal condemned as having any infectious, contagious, or communicable disease considered dangerous to livestock or public health, upon receipt of a post mortem examination, conducted by a veterinarian approved by the department of environmental management or one licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state, the state may pay to the owner an indemnity not to exceed the difference between the appraised value of each animal destroyed less the net salvage received by the owner and any funds received from federal indemnity payments. No payment shall exceed five hundred dollars ($500), and any joint state federal indemnity payments plus salvage shall not exceed the appraised value of the animals. No payment shall be made for any animal that is condemned and killed if that animal is from a herd that has not been maintained in accordance with the rules, regulations, and standards of the state, and of any state and federal regulations for the suppression of bovine disease or if that animal has been imported into this state where there has been no compliance with the rules, regulations, and standards of the state governing the requirements for importation. The premises where the diseased animal has been kept shall be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected according to the regulations of the department of environmental management.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-19 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-19
§ 4-14-19. Right of action where animals break division fence.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter contained shall be construed as to impair the right of any proprietor or occupant of land to recover all the damages which he or she sustains by any cattle, sheep, horses, or hogs breaking into his land through that part of the division fence between him or her and the adjoining owner which it is the right and duty of that adjoining owner to repair, if that part of the division fence at the time is out of repair or not conformable to law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-24-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-24 / Section 4-24-7
§ 4-24-7. Farmland exemption.
Status: in_force

Farmland defined as any tract or tracts of land, including woodland and wasteland constituting a farm unit which is actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use including, but not limited to: forages and sod crops; grains and feed crops; fruits and vegetables; poultry, dairy, and other livestock and their products; nursery, floral and greenhouse products; and any other food or fiber products useful to people; shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-25-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-25 / Section 4-25-9
§ 4-25-9. Notice.
Status: in_force

(a) Every seller pursuant to this chapter shall post in a conspicuous location a notice stating that purchasers of animals have specific rights under law and that a written statement of such rights is available upon request. Such notice shall be in one hundred (100) point type and shall read as follows:

(a) Purchasers of dogs from this seller are entitled to specific rights under law. Purchasers must be provided a written copy of such rights at the time of sale. Prospective purchasers may receive a copy of such rights from the seller upon request.

(b) The required notice at the time of sale must be signed by the purchaser and seller and receipt thereof must be acknowledged.

(c) If the seller represents that the animal is registered or registerable with a registry then at the time of sale an additional written notice must be signed by seller and purchaser and must read as follows:

(c) A pedigree or a registration does not assure proper breeding condition, health quality or claims to lineage.

(d) The seller shall provide the purchaser with all documents necessary for registration within one hundred twenty (120) days following the date of sale.

(e) If the seller fails to provide the documents necessary for registration within one hundred twenty (120) days from sale then the purchaser upon written notice to seller, shall be entitled to retain the animal and receive a partial refund of seventy-five percent (75%) of the purchase price; or the purchaser can return the animal and all documentation and receive a full refund.

(f) If the seller misrepresents the breed of the animal then the purchaser is entitled to all remedies herein.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-19 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-19
§ 4-7-19. Administration  Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The director has authority to administer the provisions of this chapter. He or she shall make and may modify rules and regulations necessary or incidental to the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-9-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-9 / Section 4-9-2
§ 4-9-2. Authorization for distribution of products sold or given away.
Status: in_force

(a) Only products listed in § 4-9-1 and those that are either conditionally or unconditionally licensed by the center for veterinary biologics of the United States department of agriculture are eligible for distribution in the state. All persons other than duly licensed veterinarians intending to sell or give away any of the products listed in § 4-9-1 shall notify, in writing, the director of the department of environmental management of their intent to sell or give away products enumerated in § 4-9-1. No later than ten (10) business days after receipt of the notification, the director of the department of environmental management shall provide a written response either authorizing or denying the sale or give away of the products identified in the notification. No person other than duly licensed veterinarians may sell or give away any of the products listed in § 4-9-1 until they have received written authorization by the director of the department of environmental management that they are allowed to sell or give away said products and that they are limited to selling and giving away said product in the manner in which the director approves, including, but not limited to, restrictions or conditions on the distribution, sale or use of the authorized product(s).

(b) Failure to obtain written authorization from the director prior to selling or giving away products enumerated in § 4-9-1 shall constitute a violation of this section. Failure to comply with the restrictions or conditions imposed by the director pursuant to subsection 4-9-2(a) shall constitute a violation of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-21-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-21 / Section 4-21-2
§ 4-21-2. General provisions.
Status: in_force

Except as provided in § 4-21-3, an equine activity sponsor, an equine professional, or any other person, which shall include a corporation or partnership, shall not be liable for an injury to or the death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities unless the equine activity sponsor, professional or other person are demonstrated to have failed to exercise due care under the circumstances towards the participant and, except as provided in § 4-21-3, no participant nor any participants representative shall make any claim against, maintain an action against, or recover from an equine activity sponsor, an equine professional, or any other person for injury, loss, damage, or death of the participant resulting from any of the inherent risks of equine activities unless this equine activity sponsor, professional or other person shall be demonstrated to have failed to exercise due care under the circumstances towards the participant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-16.1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-16.1
§ 4-13-16.1. Injury to seeing-eye dogs or persons who are visually impaired Damages.
Status: in_force

If any dog kills, wounds, or worries, or assists in killing, wounding, or worrying, any seeing-eye dog certified for use as a guide-dog for a person who is blind or visually impaired, belonging to or in the possession of any person who is blind or visually impaired and under harness or engaged in the act of guiding its owner, or if any dog assaults, bites, or otherwise injures any person who is blind or visually impaired while traveling the highway or out of the enclosure of the owner or keeper of that dog, the owner or keeper of the dog shall be liable to the person who is blind or visually impaired aggrieved for double all damages sustained, to be recovered in a civil action, with costs of suit. If afterwards this damage is done by that dog, the owner or keeper of the dog shall pay to the party aggrieved treble damages, to be recovered in the same manner, and an order shall be made by the court before whom the second recovery is made, for killing the dog. The order shall be executed by the officer charged with the execution of the order and it shall not be necessary, in order to sustain this action, to prove that the owner or keeper of this dog knew that the dog was accustomed to causing these damages.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-17 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-17
§ 4-13-17. Civil liability of person harboring dog for damages.
Status: in_force

Any person keeping or harboring in his or her house or on his or her lands any dog, or knowingly suffering this to be done by any other person, shall be liable for all damages done by the dog in the same manner as if he or she were the owner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-5
§ 4-14-5. Sale of impounded animals.
Status: in_force

If the owner of impounded beasts shall not, within ten (10) days after the impounding, pay and satisfy the damages appraised and the charges of impounding and feeding those beasts, or shall not replevy those beasts, the poundkeeper shall cause them to be sold by public auction in the city or town where they are impounded, first advertising the sale by giving personal notice to the owner of the beasts, if he or she be known, and if he or she be not known, by posting notices of the sale at least three (3) days before the sale in three (3) public places in the city or town in which the beasts are impounded.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-18 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-18
§ 4-1-18. Arrest of violators without warrant  Care of animals.
Status: in_force

Any person violating this chapter may be arrested on view and held without a warrant; provided, that an arrest or detention without warrant shall not continue longer than twenty-four (24) hours; and the person making an arrest, with or without a warrant, shall use reasonable diligence to give notice to the owner of animals found in the charge or custody of the person arrested, and shall properly care and provide for those animals until the owner shall take charge of them, provided the owner shall do so within thirty (30) days from the date of the notice. The person making an arrest shall have a lien on those animals for the expense of their care and provision.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-1.1 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-1.1
§ 4-13-1.1. Towns of Portsmouth, West Warwick, and Middletown and city of Woonsocket  Vicious dog ordinance.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section or the general laws to the contrary, the town councils of the towns of Portsmouth, West Warwick and Middletown may, by ordinance, provide that the owner or keeper of any dog that assaults any person shall be fined an amount not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200) to be used as that city or town council may prescribe. However, this fine shall not be imposed unless the officer responsible for enforcement of that ordinance has conducted an investigation of the assault and has certified that the dog was off the property of its owner or keeper and at large at the time the assault occurred or that the assault resulted from the negligence of the owner or keeper.

(b) In the city of Woonsocket an owner shall not be declared negligent if an injury or damage is sustained by a person who, at the time that injury or damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort upon premises occupied by the owner or keeper of the dog, or was teasing, tormenting, provoking, abusing or assaulting the dog or was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-16-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-16 / Section 4-16-9
§ 4-16-9. Clerks records  Fees.
Status: in_force

Every city or town clerk shall keep a fair record of all his or her proceedings under this chapter, and shall pay all moneys by him or her received for any estrays and for which no owner appears, into the city or town treasury immediately on receipt. The city or town clerk shall be paid twenty-five cents (25Â¢) for every notice posted or printed; and if no owner appears, and the estray is appraised, and he or she gives a certificate, he or she shall have twenty-five cents (25Â¢) of the fees.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-3-10 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-3 / Section 4-3-10
§ 4-3-10. Enforcement  Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The director is hereby charged with administration and enforcement of the provisions of §§ 4-3-1  4-3-11 and is authorized to make and enforce all rules and regulations which the director deems necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 4-3-1  4-3-11.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-26-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-26 / Section 4-26-2
§ 4-26-2. Findings.
Status: in_force

The general assembly hereby finds that:

(1) Livestock is the core of dairy and livestock farming in Rhode Island.

(2) The care and management of livestock are important to the profitability of Rhode Island farms and the maintenance of Rhode Islands working landscape.

(3) There exists in this state a demand for safe, locally produced food.

(4) Livestock raised on Rhode Island farms offers profit potential and economic opportunity for Rhode Island producers.

(5) Livestock deserve a safe, healthy and humane environment that ensures protection from unnecessary or unjustifiable pain.

(6) The state would benefit from a diverse body charged with making policy recommendations to the department regarding livestock care.

(7) It is the intent of this legislation to assure the continued success of livestock and dairy farming in Rhode Island and the continuance of a safe, local food supply.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-11 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-11
§ 4-14-11. Procedure in replevin.
Status: in_force

The writ shall be sued out, served and returned, and the cause heard and determined in like manner as other civil actions before a district court in all particulars in which a different course is not prescribed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-12-15 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-12 / Section 4-12-15
§ 4-12-15. Powers and duties of director  Rulemaking.
Status: in_force

The director shall, from time to time, make regulations carrying out the provisions and requirements of §§ 4-12-1  4-12-17, including regulations under which inspectors and other employees shall:

(1) Inspect apiaries and equipment associated with beekeeping;

(2) Investigate, control, eradicate, and prevent the dissemination of honey bee diseases and pests; and

(3) Supervise or cause the treatment, control or destruction of honey bees infected with diseases or pests.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-3
§ 4-14-3. Appraisal of damages for recovery by impoundment.
Status: in_force

The party aggrieved, in order to be entitled to recover damages by impounding, shall, within two (2) days after the beasts break into his or her enclosure, get two (2) qualified electors of the city or town where the trespass is committed, to appraise the damage and give a statement, in writing, under their hands, and lodge the statement with the poundkeeper.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-12-8 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-12 / Section 4-12-8
§ 4-12-8. Movement permit required  When  Form  Issuance  Verbal authorization.
Status: in_force

(a) It is unlawful to move, carry, transport, or ship bees, bees on comb, combs, or used beekeeping equipment into the state unless accompanied by a valid permit issued by the director of environmental management. Applications for a permit to transport bees or used beekeeping equipment into the state shall be submitted on a form approved by the director. This application form shall be accompanied by a certificate of health issued by the authorized official of the state from which the bees are to be moved, certifying that the bees and used beekeeping equipment have been inspected by an authorized official during a period of active brood rearing, within fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed date of movement, and that these bees and used beekeeping equipment were found apparently free from any diseases or pests. Each application shall disclose the number of colonies of bees to be transported and a description of the location or locations where the bees are to be kept. Upon receipt of an application for a permit to move bees or used beekeeping equipment into the state, accompanied by a proper certificate of health, the director shall issue the desired permit. This shall not apply to honey bees from quarantined areas outside the state. These quarantines shall include all federal, state, or Rhode Island exterior quarantines. Importation of honey bees from quarantined areas shall be in accordance with regulations made pursuant to this law.

(b) Regardless of the provisions in subsection (a) of this section, the director has the authority to issue a permit without inspection to the person or persons owning these bees and equipment providing these bees and beekeeping equipment were certified and moved from the state within fifteen (15) days prior to the desired date of reentry and if the director is satisfied these bees and equipment have not been exposed to diseased bees, pests, or equipment. This section shall not apply to bees or beekeeping equipment returning from quarantined areas.

(c) A verbal authorization may be allowed by the director if the written permit outlined above has been submitted and received in a timely manner but has not been returned by the time the bees are to be moved.

(d) Combless packages of bees or queens, or both, may be admitted into Rhode Island without a Rhode Island permit, when accompanied by a valid certificate of inspection from the state of origin stating that they are free of diseases and pests. This shall not apply to honey bees from quarantined areas outside the state. These quarantines shall include all federal, state, or Rhode Island exterior quarantines. Importation of honey bees from quarantined areas shall be in accordance with regulations made pursuant to this law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-3-12 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-3 / Section 4-3-12
§ 4-3-12. Approval of feeding sites by a city or town council.
Status: in_force

No swine shall be kept in any city or town, to be fed on swill, offal or other decaying substances, brought from any other city or town, except in a place in the city or town as is designated by the city or town council. Any person violating this section is liable to the penalty prescribed in § 23-23.5-11.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-14 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-14
§ 4-13-14. Licensing by police authorities.
Status: in_force

The duties imposed on town and city clerks by this chapter shall be performed by the boards of police commissioners, respectively, in the cities and towns where these boards grant the dog licenses, and in the city of Newport by the chief of police of that city.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-10-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-10 / Section 4-10-7
§ 4-10-7. Unpaid claims exceeding bond.
Status: in_force

If unpaid claims against dealers licensed under § 4-10-4(2), made within the period of time prescribed in § 4-10-6(b), are in excess of the surety bond, and are approved by the director of environmental management, the amounts may be prorated among the claimants by the director of environmental management.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-23 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-23
§ 4-5-23. Violations as to tuberculosis-free areas.
Status: in_force

Any person or any officer or agent of any corporation who violates any provision of §§ 4-5-20  4-5-22 or who hinders or obstructs the director of environmental management or any other authorized person in the discharge of any duty imposed by the provisions of §§ 4-5-20  4-5-22, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) days or shall suffer both the fine and imprisonment for each offense, and for each animal transported into any of these areas contrary to the provisions of §§ 4-5-20  4-5-22 a separate offense may be charged.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-8-15 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-8 / Section 4-8-15
§ 4-8-15. Judicial review of decisions refusing or revoking licenses.
Status: in_force

The action of the director in refusing to grant a license, or in revoking a license granted under this chapter shall be subject to review under the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-20-9 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-20 / Section 4-20-9
§ 4-20-9. Penalties for violations.
Status: in_force

Whoever violates any provision of this chapter, shall, for each offense be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-25-8 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-25 / Section 4-25-8
§ 4-25-8. Contested cases.
Status: in_force

(a) If the purchaser and seller are unable to reach an agreement within ten (10) business days following an examination of the animal by the sellers chosen veterinarian, the purchaser may initiate an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute.

(b) The purchaser in any legal action pursuant to this section shall have the right to collect reasonable attorneys fees and court costs if the opposing party acted in bad faith in denying the requested remedy.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-25-10 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-25 / Section 4-25-10
§ 4-25-10. Other remedies.
Status: in_force

(a) Nothing in this chapter limits any other rights or remedies available to a consumer under law.

(b) A seller and purchaser may agree to additional terms and conditions so long as they are not inconsistent with this chapter. The rights referred to in this chapter may not be waived.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-24 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-24
§ 4-1-24. Jurisdiction of offenses  Appeals.
Status: in_force

The district court has concurrent jurisdiction with the superior court, over all offenses under this chapter and to the full extent of the penalties specified. Parties defendant, however, have the same right to appeal from the sentence of a district court as is now provided by law in other criminal cases.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-10 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-10
§ 4-1-10. Possession or training of fighting animals.
Status: in_force

Whoever owns, possesses, keeps or trains any bird, dog, or other animal, with the intent that that bird, dog, or animal engages in an exhibition of fighting, shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) and/or be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years for the first offense, and for any subsequent offense shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-8-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-8 / Section 4-8-5
§ 4-8-5. Statements of defaulted claims against licensees.
Status: in_force

Upon default by the licensee in the payment of any money due for the purchase of milk or cream, which payment is secured by the sworn financial statement or surety provided for, the creditor may file with the director of environmental management, upon a form prescribed by him or her, a verified statement of his or her claim. If the creditor has reduced the claim to judgment or shall before the commencement of the action by the director reduce the claim to judgment, a certified copy of the record of that judgment shall also be filed with the director. Statements may be filed at any time during the period of the license for purchases made during that period or within ninety (90) days from the termination of that period.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-9-10 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-9 / Section 4-9-10
§ 4-9-10. Prosecution of violations.
Status: in_force

It is the duty of the attorney general and his or her assistants to prosecute all persons accused of violating the provisions of this chapter and to defend in all cases of appeals from appraisements.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-22 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-22
§ 4-5-22. Administration of tuberculosis-free areas.
Status: in_force

After any area has been established pursuant to §§ 4-5-20 and 4-5-21, no cattle shall be brought or transported into that area, except in accordance with the provisions of §§ 4-5-7  4-5-10, and except that cattle transported through the area on the highways by truck or railroad, and no cattle shall be taken from that area except with the consent of the director of environmental management during the process of accreditation. Within six (6) months after the date of the establishment of this area, the director shall to the extent that funds are available for that purpose cause all remaining untested bovine cattle in this area to be tested as provided in §§ 4-5-1  4-5-6 in accordance with the uniform rules and regulations promulgated by the United States livestock sanitary association and approved by the United States department of agriculture. After the area has been designated a modified accredited area, the cattle in this area shall be tested as provided in §§ 4-5-1  4-5-6 at such intervals as may be deemed advisable by the director of environmental management.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-17-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-17 / Section 4-17-2
§ 4-17-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in chapter:

(1) Director means the director of environmental management.

(2) Humane method means either:

(i) A method through which the animal is rendered insensible to pain by mechanical, electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut; or

(ii) A method in accordance with the ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith through which the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument.

(3) Livestock means cattle, cows, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats and any other animal which can or may be used in and for the preparation of meat or meat products.

(4) Packer means any person engaged in the business of slaughtering, or manufacturing or preparing meat or meat products for sale, either by that person or others, or of manufacturing or preparing livestock products for sale by that person or others.

(5) Person means any individual, partnership, corporation, or association doing business in this state, in whole or in part.

(6) Slaughterer means any person who regularly engages in the commercial slaughtering of livestock.

(7) Stockyard means any place, establishment, or facility commonly known as a stockyard, conducted or operated for compensation or profit as a public market, consisting of pens, or other enclosures, and their appurtenances, for the handling, keeping, and holding of livestock for the purpose of sale or shipment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-15-14 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-15 / Section 4-15-14
§ 4-15-14. Fees and penalties for goats and geese.
Status: in_force

The fees of the poundkeeper for receiving goats shall be four cents (4Â¢) each, and for receiving geese two cents (2Â¢) each, and the penalty shall be twenty cents (20Â¢) for each goat and five cents (5Â¢) for each goose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-22-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-22 / Section 4-22-2
§ 4-22-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter:

(a) At-large means: (1) On the premises of a person other than an owner of the cat, without the consent of an occupant or owner of such premises, or (2) on a public street or highway, on public or private school grounds, or in any other public place, except when under the physical control of an owner.

(b) Feral cat means any wild, unsocialized or untamed cat.

(c) Guardian shall mean a person(s) having the same rights and responsibilities of an owner, and both terms shall be used interchangeably. A guardian shall also mean a person who possesses, has title to or an interest in, harbors or has control, custody or possession of an animal and who is responsible for an animals safety and well being.

(d) Identification means: a traceable form of identification such as (1) a collar and a flat or hanging tag worn by a cat which includes the current name, address and telephone number of the owner, or (2) a rabies vaccination tax, or (3) an ear tag issued by a licensed veterinarian or by a licensed animal shelter or licensed municipal pound, or (4) a registered microchip which is used in conjunction with a visible collar and tag or in conjunction with a faceted, reflective ear stud, or (5) a tag from a licensed animal shelter or licensed municipal pound, or (6) a tattoo registered with the National Dog Registry or other similar national tattoo service, or (7) a cat license issued by a Rhode Island city or town, or (8) a collar incorporating embroidery as a type of information labeling rather than a hanging or flat tag or (9) in the case of feral cats, a tipped or notched ear in conjunction with a microchip or any of the above other forms of identification. The intent is to allow flexibility in the types of identification available for cats and to incorporate other types of cat identification in the future as they are developed.

(e) Impounded cat means any cat released to or under the custody of or control of a licensed animal shelter or licensed municipal pound.

(f) Owner means (1) any person who keeps, has permanent custody, owns, maintains, harbors, provides care or sustenance for, has control or charge of or responsibility for a cat or who permits a cat to habitually be or remain on or be lodged or fed within such persons property or premises, and (2) any refusal to permit any animal control officer to impound such cat shall be deemed evidence of ownership unless ownership of the cat by another party is established.

(g) Person means an individual, firm, jointstock company, partnership, association, private, or municipal corporation, state, commission, political subdivision, a state, any interstate body or the federal government or any agency or subdivision thereof.

(h) Roaming cat means any homeless socialized cat or any stray socialized cat.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-9-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-9 / Section 4-9-3
§ 4-9-3. Use and disposition of products  Records and reports.
Status: in_force

(a) The director of the department of environmental management may, as a condition of authorization provided in subsection 4-9-2(a), require records to be kept by persons that sell or give away any of the products enumerated in § 4-9-1. Such records may include, but not be limited to, the product trade name, the product generic name, the name and address of the company that produced the product, the USDA product code, the strength of the product, the date the product was produced, the date the product was delivered, the date the product was administered, the product serial number or lot number, the name and address of the owner of the animal(s) that the product was administered, sold, or given away to, and the individual identification of any animal(s) that the product was administered to or used on.

(b) Failure to keep records required by the director under this section shall constitute a violation of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-10-11 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-10 / Section 4-10-11
§ 4-10-11. License fees.
Status: in_force

The fee for the first license issued to any one individual or corporation in accordance with this chapter shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-16-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-16 / Section 4-16-3
§ 4-16-3. Retention of estrays by taker.
Status: in_force

Every estrayed animal taken up shall be kept by the person who took it up thirty (30) days. If it is a horse, the person shall have a withe kept about the horses neck the whole of that time.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-18-15 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-18 / Section 4-18-15
§ 4-18-15. Enforcement of this chapter.
Status: in_force

The director of environmental management or his or her designee shall enforce the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-18-10 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-18 / Section 4-18-10
§ 4-18-10. Approved quarantine facilities.
Status: in_force

Quarantine facilities used to house imported animals are subject to inspection and approval by representatives of the department for any periods of time that the department deems indicated. Those facilities may be used for housing imported animals only as long as they are maintained and operated in conformance with standards prescribed by regulation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-3
§ 4-19-3. Registration of municipal dog pounds.
Status: in_force

No municipality shall operate a dog pound unless a certificate of registration for that dog pound has been granted by the director. Application for that certificate shall be made in the manner provided by the director. No fee is required for the application or certificate. Certificates of registration are valid for a period of one year or until revoked and may be renewed annually on the first day of January for like periods upon application in the manner provided.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-5 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-5
§ 4-13-5. License information and record.
Status: in_force

Every owner or keeper of a dog applying for a license as provided for in § 4-13-4 shall furnish the city or town clerk with the following information: name and address of owner or keeper, and breed, sex, color, and name of dog to be licensed. The city or town clerk shall assign a registered number for each dog licensed and shall enter on the license the registered number, name, and address of the owner or keeper, and the breed, sex, color, and name of the dog licensed, and shall keep a record of all licenses issued.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-3
§ 4-1-3. Unnecessary cruelty.
Status: in_force

(a) Every owner, possessor, or person having the charge or custody of any animal, who cruelly drives or works that animal when unfit for labor, or cruelly abandons that animal, or who carries that animal or who fails to provide that animal with adequate living conditions as defined in § 4-1-1, or who engages in the hazardous accumulation of animals as defined in § 4-1-1, or causes that animal, to be carried, in or upon any vehicle or otherwise, in a cruel or inhuman manner; or willfully, intentionally, maliciously, recklessly, and/or knowingly authorizes or permits that animal to be subjected to unnecessary torture, suffering, or cruelty of any kind; or who places, or causes to have placed, on any animal any substance that may produce irritation or pain or that is declared a hazardous substance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or by the state department of health, shall be punished for each offense in the manner provided in § 4-1-2. If the offense described in this section results in the death of the animal, the person shall be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-5. If any owner, possessor, or person having the charge or custody of any animal is found guilty of or pleads nolo contendere to a violation of this section and said violation involves the hazardous accumulation of animals, the court shall, in imposing a penalty under this section, take into account whether the defendants conduct could be considered to be the result of a mental health disorder as defined in § 27-38.2-2.

(b) The substances proscribed by subsection (a) do not include any drug having curative and therapeutic effect for disease in animals and that is prepared and intended for veterinary use.

(c) University, college, or hospital research facilities licensed and/or inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Public Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services shall be exempt from the provisions of subsection (a) provided that they are in good standing with the federal agency responsible for licensing or assurance of the facility.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-22-4 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-22 / Section 4-22-4
§ 4-22-4. Removal of cat identification.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person other than an animal control officer, a licensed veterinarian, an employee of a licensed animal shelter, an employee of a licensed municipal pound, or a person authorized by an animal control officer to remove any identification from any cat not owned by the person.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-4 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-4
§ 4-14-4. Notice to owner of impoundment.
Status: in_force

Whenever beasts are impounded, the poundkeeper shall, within forty-eight (48) hours, give notice, in writing, to the owner, if the owner is known to him or her and resides within six (6) miles from the pound. The notice shall be delivered to the owner or left at his or her place of abode, and shall contain a description of the beasts and a statement of the time and cause of impounding and in case the owner is not known, or resides more than six (6) miles from the pound, the person impounding shall post the notice in three (3) public places in the town in which the beasts are impounded.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-15-2 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-15 / Section 4-15-2
§ 4-15-2. Appointment of field drivers.
Status: in_force

The town and city councils of the several towns and cities may appoint one or more field drivers for their cities and towns, with the same power to impound animals as the freeholders and qualified voters of the cities and towns.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-3
§ 4-7-3. Revocation or suspension of license.
Status: in_force

The director may revoke or suspend any license granted by him or her, if in his or her judgment the licensee is not complying with the rules and regulations made, provided, however, that the director shall not revoke or suspend a license until he or she shall have given the licensee five days notice in writing of his or her intention to do so. After any suspension or revocation of a license, the licensee has the opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-11-13 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-11 / Section 4-11-13
§ 4-11-13. Other laws unimpaired.
Status: in_force

No parts of this chapter shall, or are intended to, nullify any of the provisions of chapters 4  6 of this title or chapter 25 of title 5.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-19 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-19
§ 4-1-19. Issuance of search warrants.
Status: in_force

Whenever complaint is made on oath to any magistrate authorized to issue warrants in criminal cases, that the complainant believes and has reasonable cause to believe that the laws in relation to cruelty to animals have been or are being violated in any building or place, the magistrate, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for that belief, shall issue a search warrant, authorizing any officer, competent to serve a warrant, to search the building or place; but no search shall be made after sunset, unless specially authorized by the magistrate upon satisfactory cause shown.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-16-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-16 / Section 4-16-7
§ 4-16-7. Penalty for failure to proceed as required.
Status: in_force

Any person taking up any estrayed animal and not proceeding as required by this chapter shall forfeit twenty-five dollars ($25.00), one half (Â½) to the use of the city or town where the offense has been committed and one half (Â½) to the use of him or her who shall sue for it.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-12 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-1 / Section 4-1-12
§ 4-1-12. Entry of premises where bird or animal fights are conducted  Arrest  Seizure of birds or animals.
Status: in_force

Any deputy sheriff, town sergeant, town constable, police officer, or any officer authorized to serve criminal process may enter any place, building, or tenement anywhere within the state where there is an exhibition of the fighting of birds or animals, or where preparations are being made for that exhibition, and, without a warrant, arrest all persons present and take possession of the birds or animals engaged in fighting and all birds or animals found there and intended to be used or engaged in fighting. Those persons shall be kept in custody in jail or other convenient place not more than twenty-four (24) hours, Sundays and legal holidays excepted, at or before the expiration of which time those persons shall be brought before a district court or the superior court and proceeded against according to law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-14-13 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-14 / Section 4-14-13
§ 4-14-13. Judgment in replevin.
Status: in_force

If it appears that the beasts were lawfully impounded, the defendant shall have judgment for any sum as shall be found due from the plaintiff for the damages for which the beasts were impounded, together with all the legal fees, costs, charges, and expenses and the costs of the action of replevin, or instead of this judgment the court may, in its discretion, enter judgment for a return of the beasts to the defendant, to be held by him or her irrepleviable by the plaintiff and for defendants damage for the taking by the replevin and for his or her costs of suit. In case the plaintiff in replevin shall not enter his or her suit in replevin, the defendant may file his or her complaint before the court and have judgment against the plaintiff as provided.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-18-4 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-18 / Section 4-18-4
§ 4-18-4. Application for import permits.
Status: in_force

Import permits for animals listed under § 4-18-3 shall be issued only upon written application from the person desiring to import them. The application shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) The number and true scientific name of each species (Reference: Walker, E. P., and others. Mammals of the World. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Press, 1964. Volumes I and II and subsequent editions).

(2) The carrier and probable point of first arrival in this state of each shipment.

(3) The purpose for which they are to be imported (exhibition, research, sale to the public, etc.).

(4) The name and address of the consignee.

(5) The name and address of the consignor.

(6) The place or premise where the animals shall be held in quarantine pending the completion of any tests, veterinary examinations, and observation period as may be specified by the department in issuance of the import permit. Adequate quarantine facilities must be available and approved by the department before issuance of the import permit can be made.

(7) The name and address of the veterinarian who conducts the tests and examinations specified by the department.

(8) For personal pets only, the date of acquisition and name and address of supplier.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-11.3 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-19 / Section 4-19-11.3
§ 4-19-11.3. Penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm, or corporation who or that violates any provision of this chapter, unless the penalty is otherwise stated in a specific subsection, is subject upon conviction, plea of guilty, or plea of nolo contendere to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500) for the first offense and not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the second and subsequent offense and loss of animal(s) and revocation of license and/or certificate after a public hearing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-22 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-7 / Section 4-7-22
§ 4-7-22. Treble damages in civil action by producer  Alternative remedy.
Status: in_force

Any person failing to pay for livestock purchased from the livestock producer, and who is or should be licensed under this chapter, is liable for damages three (3) times the amount unpaid plus reasonable attorney fees as liquidated damages in a civil suit brought by the livestock dealer under the applicable rules of law in the courts. This provision is an additional or alternative remedy to the livestock producer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-25-4 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-25 / Section 4-25-4
§ 4-25-4. Record keeping.
Status: in_force

A seller shall maintain the written record on the health and disposition of each dog sold by the seller for a period of two (2) years following the sale. The record shall also contain all of the information required to be disclosed pursuant to §§ 4-25-2 and 4-25-3 herein. These records shall also be available to animal control and law enforcement officers for inspection and copying within normal business hours.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-5-18 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-5 / Section 4-5-18
§ 4-5-18. Violations by public officers.
Status: in_force

(a) Any cattle commissioner, veterinarian or other officer, agent, or employee appointed by the director of environmental management, having immediate control of the carcass of an affected animal as described in § 4-5-3, who permits the disposal of that carcass or any part in any manner as will be detrimental to the public health, shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years.

(b) Any cattle commissioner, veterinarian or other officer, agent, or employee appointed who shall knowingly certify for payment the claim of any person not the owner of the affected animals at the time of the test described in § 4-5-1, shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or be imprisoned not exceeding one year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-11-10 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-11 / Section 4-11-10
§ 4-11-10. Indemnity for destroyed birds denied.
Status: in_force

No indemnity will be paid the owner or other person in charge of those birds for destroyed birds.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-12-7 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-12 / Section 4-12-7
§ 4-12-7. Certification of health  Expiration  Quarantine  Eradication.
Status: in_force

(a) If, by reason of an owner requested inspection, the director is satisfied that no apparent disease or pest exists in any colony in an apiary, the director shall issue to the owner a certificate of health setting out the date of the inspection, the number of colonies and the results of the inspection. This certificate shall expire ninety (90) days after the inspection.

(b) If, by reason of any inspection, the director is satisfied of the existence of any disease or pest, the director shall notify the beekeeper owning the apiary, in writing, of the results of the inspection, setting out the number and location of infected colonies and informing the owner of the proper methods of treating or destroying the infected colonies. Any apiary infected with any contagious or infectious bee disease or pest may be declared under quarantine and the owner shall be prohibited from moving this apiary, bees, honey, wax, or used beekeeping equipment. The owner shall eliminate the diseased or pest infested condition within the apiary or equipment or both, to the satisfaction of the director. The quarantine will then be lifted.

(c) If, by the time of the next inspection, which will be no more than thirty (30) days after the initial inspection, the disease or pest infested condition has not been eliminated, the director shall supervise either the treatment or eradication of the disease or pest infested bees and equipment, or shall otherwise eliminate the diseased or pest infested condition and lift the quarantine on any remaining bees, colonies or equipment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-11-11 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-11 / Section 4-11-11
§ 4-11-11. Enforcement of chapter  Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The director of environmental management in cooperation with the local health officers shall carry out the provisions of this chapter. The director of environmental management is authorized to make reasonable rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-17-6 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-17 / Section 4-17-6
§ 4-17-6. Penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred ($500) dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-33 — RI Code / Title 4 / Chapter 4-13 / Section 4-13-33
§ 4-13-33. Agent of society for prevention of cruelty as special constable.
Status: in_force

The board of police commissioners of any city, and the city council and town council of any city or town where there is no board of police commissioners, may appoint an agent of the Rhode Island society for the prevention of cruelty to animals as special constable or officer to enforce this chapter, and when appointed that agent shall have all the authority and power and be subject to all the duties and liabilities imposed upon special officers by this chapter. The general agent or any special agent of The Rhode Island society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shall have the authority to enforce this chapter whenever any violation of this chapter comes to the attention of that general agent or special agent.