2022 -- H 7075 | |
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LC003459 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATED TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- VICIOUS DOGS | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, and Bennett | |
Date Introduced: January 12, 2022 | |
Referred To: House Health & Human Services | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 4-13.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-13.1 entitled "Regulation |
2 | of Vicious Dogs" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 4-13.1-2. Definitions. |
4 | As used in §§ 4-13.1-1 -- 4-13.1-14, the following words and terms shall have the following |
5 | meanings, unless the context indicates another or different meaning or intent: |
6 | (1) "Dog officer" means any person defined by the provisions of chapter 19 of this title. |
7 | (2) "Domestic animals" means animals that, through extremely long association with |
8 | humans, have been bred to a degree that has resulted in genetic changes affecting the temperament, |
9 | color, conformation, or other attributes of the species to an extent that makes them unique and |
10 | distinguishable from wild individuals of their species. Such animals may include, but are not |
11 | limited to: |
12 | (i) Domestic dog (Canis familiaris); |
13 | (ii) Domestic cat (Felis catus); |
14 | (iii) Domestic horse (Equus caballus); |
15 | (iv) Domestic ass, burro, and donkey (Equus asinus); |
16 | (v) Domestic cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus); |
17 | (vi) Domestic sheep (Ovi aries); |
18 | (vii) Domestic goat (Capra hircus); |
19 | (viii) Domestic swine (Sus scrofa domestica); |
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1 | (ix) Llama (lama alama); |
2 | (x) Alpaca (lama pacos); |
3 | (xi) Camels (Camelus bactrianus and Camel dromedarius); |
4 | (xii) Domestic races of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus); |
5 | (xiii) Domestic races of chickens (Callus gallus); |
6 | (xiv) Domestic races of duck and geese (Anatidae) morphologically distinguishable from |
7 | wild birds; |
8 | (xv) Domestic races of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris); |
9 | (xvi) Domestic races of peafowl (Pavo scristatus). |
10 | (3) "Enclosed area" means an area surrounded by a fence that will prevent the dog from |
11 | leaving the owner's property. |
12 | (4) "Enclosure" means a fence or structure of at least six feet (6') in height, forming or |
13 | causing an enclosure suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and suitable to confine a |
14 | vicious dog in conjunction with other measures that may be taken by the owner or keeper, such as |
15 | tethering of the vicious dog. The enclosure shall be securely enclosed and locked and designed with |
16 | secure sides, top, and bottom and shall be designed to prevent the animal from escaping from the |
17 | enclosure. |
18 | (5) "Guardian" shall mean a person(s) having the same rights and responsibilities of an |
19 | owner and both terms shall be used interchangeably. A guardian shall also mean a person who |
20 | possesses; has title to or an interest in, harbors; or has control, custody, or possession of an animal |
21 | and who is responsible for an animal's safety and well-being. |
22 | (6) "Impounded" means taken into the custody of the public pound in the city or town |
23 | where the vicious dog is found. |
24 | (7) "Leash" means a rope, cable, nylon strap, or other means attached to the dog that will |
25 | provide the owner with control of the dog. |
26 | (8) "Muzzle" means a device that shall not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its |
27 | vision or respiration but shall prevent the dog from biting a person or animal. |
28 | (9) "Person" means a natural person or any legal entity, including but not limited to, a |
29 | corporation, firm, partnership, or trust. |
30 | (10) "Serious injury" means any physical injury consisting of a broken bone(s) or |
31 | permanently disfiguring lacerations requiring stitches, multiple stitches or sutures, or cosmetic |
32 | surgery. |
33 | (11) "Tie-out" means a cable, rope, light-weight chain, or other means attached to the dog |
34 | that will prevent the dog from leaving the owner's property. |
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1 | (12) "Vicious dog" means: |
2 | (i) Any dog that, when unprovoked, in a vicious or terrorizing manner, approaches any |
3 | person in apparent attitude of attack upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds or places; |
4 | (ii) Any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to physically attack |
5 | unprovoked, to cause injury, or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic |
6 | animals; |
7 | (iii) Any dog that bites, inflicts injury, assaults, or otherwise attacks a human being or |
8 | domestic animal without provocation on public or private property; or |
9 | (iv) Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or any |
10 | dog trained for dog fighting that is deemed vicious after it has been properly assessed by the Rhode |
11 | Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) pursuant to the provisions of § |
12 | 4-13.1-5(d). |
13 | Notwithstanding the definition of a vicious dog in subsection (12), no dog may be declared |
14 | vicious in accordance with § 4-13.1-11 if an injury or damage is sustained by a person who, at the |
15 | time that injury or damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort upon premises |
16 | occupied by the owner or keeper of the dog; or was teasing, tormenting, provoking, abusing, or |
17 | assaulting the dog; or was committing, or attempting to commit, a crime; or until the society for |
18 | the prevention of cruelty to animals has an opportunity to assess the dog pursuant to the provisions |
19 | of § 4-13.1-5(d). |
20 | (v) No dog may be declared vicious if an injury or damage was sustained by a domestic |
21 | animal which, at the time that injury or damage was sustained, was teasing, tormenting, provoking, |
22 | abusing, or assaulting the dog. No dog may be declared vicious if the dog was protecting or |
23 | defending a human being within the immediate vicinity of the dog from an unjustified attack or |
24 | assault. |
25 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATED TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- VICIOUS DOGS | |
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1 | This act would provide that a dog can only be declared vicious if it is involved in a physical |
2 | attack. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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