Chapter 000

Chapter 06-063

2006 -- H 7906 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

Enacted 06/09/06

A N A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- PERMIT PROGRAM FOR CATS

Introduced By: Representatives Lima, Lewiss, Gallison, and Kilmartin

Date Introduced: March 21, 2006

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Title 4 of the General Laws entitled "ANIMALS AND ANIMAL

HUSBANDRY" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 24

PERMIT PROGRAM FOR CATS

4-24-1. Short title. – This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island

Permit Program for Cats."

4-24-2. Legislative findings. – 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.

4-24-3. Spaying and neutering. – (a) No person, as defined by section 4-19-2, shall own

or harbor, within the state, any cat over the age of six (6) months which has not been spayed or

neutered, unless such person has adopted a cat from a licensed releasing agency as defined by

section 4-19-2 and is subject to the spaying and neutering requirements of section 4-19-16 or

holds either a license to keep an unaltered cat, or a license and permit for breeding cats issued by

the animal control officer for the city or town in which they live, or unless the caretaker states

that, due to age, health or illness it would be inappropriate to spay or neuter the cat and having in

their possession a letter from a licensed veterinarian stating such, which shall be provided to the

animal control officer.

(b) An "intact" permit shall be issued for an unaltered cat if the owner signs a written

statement that such animal will not be allowed to breed unless the owner has first obtained a

breeding permit. An "intact" permit may be issued by the animal control officer to an individual

who refuses to spay or neuter their cat. The fee for such a permit shall be one hundred dollars

($100) per year. All funds from "intact" permits shall be deposited in the city or town's

spay/neuter account.

days or longer shall be deemed the owner of such animal and shall adhere to the provisions of this

chapter. Provided, further, that cities and towns may, by ordinance, require a permit of persons

who provide care or sustenance for colony(s) of feral cats.

4-24-4. Breeding permits. – (a) No person shall cause or allow any cat owned or

harbored in the city or town in which they live to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit

under this section.

(b) Each city or town animal control officer shall administer a permit program to allow

the breeding of cats consistent with criteria and according to procedures contained in the city or

town ordinances; provided, however, that where city's or town's have ordinances, specifically

prohibiting the breeding of cats it shall be the city's or town's ordinances that shall govern with

respect to that subsection or provision only.

annual breeding permit fee of one hundred dollars ($100) per cat.

(d) No person shall cause or allow the breeding of a male or female cat without first

obtaining a breeding permit issued by the animal control officer. Breeding permits shall be valid

for twelve (12) months, renewable on an annual basis for a fee of one hundred dollars ($100) per

cat. Herein, all breeding permits shall contain the following terms and conditions and be subject

to all of the following requirements:

(1) No offspring may be sold or adopted and permanently placed until reaching an age of

at least eight (8) weeks;

(2) No offspring may be sold or adopted until immunized against common diseases as

determined by the director of environmental management in accordance with chapter 4-4 of the

general laws to be contagious or injurious to public health or to the health of other animals;

(3) Any permit holder advertising to the public the availability of any animal for adoption

or sale must prominently display the permit number in any publications in which they advertise.

The permit number must be provided to any person adopting or purchasing any animal bred by

the permit holder; and

(4) The breeding permit holder shall adhere to minimum standards regarding the care and

keeping of animals pursuant to chapter 4-19.

4-24-5. Sale or adoption of cats. – (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.

4-24-6. Revocation of permit. – (a) Any permit issued may be revoked if the animal

control officer has reasonable cause to believe any of the following to be true:

(1) The permittee has violated the provisions of chapter 4-19 or any other state or local

ordinances relating to the keeping, care or use of any animal;

(2) The permittee is in violation of any state health or safety law or regulation regarding

animal care or control;

(3) The permittee has failed to comply with any condition or requirement of the permit or

has failed to pay any fee imposed under this section;

(4) The permittee refuses to allow inspection, upon forty-eight (48) hours of written

notice, of any cat covered by the permit or the premises on which the animal is kept; or

(5) The permittee has transferred, sold or otherwise disposed of the cat for which the

permit was issued.

(b) If, after investigation, the animal control officer concludes that it is probable that one

or more of the above grounds for revocation has occurred, he or she shall cause written notice

thereof to be transmitted by mail to the address of the permittee. The notice shall specify the

grounds of possible revocation of the permit, and shall specify a date and time for an informal

hearing to be held before the animal control officer. The date shall be not less than five (5) days

subsequent to the date the notice is mailed. After the informal hearing, the animal control officer

may modify the terms of the permit or revoke the permit. Provided, further, that if the health or

well-being of the animal is in danger the animal control officer of that city or town may take

custody and control of the animal until such time that a hearing is conducted pursuant to

subsection 4-24-6(b).

4-24-7. Farmland exemption. – 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.

4-24-8. Abandonment of cats. – If any cat is abandoned by their owner or any person

having charge or custody of that cat, that person shall, for each offense be punished in the manner

provided in section 4-1-2.

4-24-9. Canine surcharge. – (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 act which is unused during any

calendar year shall remain in said city or towns spay/neuter account for use during the following

year.

4-24-10. Penalty for violation. – Any person who violates the permit provisions of this

chapter shall have no more than thirty (30) days to have their cat spayed or neutered or provide

proof from a licensed veterinarian indicating that arrangements have been made to spay or neuter

their cat(s). The animal control officer shall inform persons subject to this law to the availability

of reduced cost or free spay/neuter programs available for low income persons and any programs

sponsored by local humane organizations offering low cost spaying or neutering. If an animal is

not spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days of the notice, he or she shall be subject to a

seventy-five dollar ($75.00) fine for each thirty (30) days the animal is not spayed or neutered.

Funds generated pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the spay/neuter account of the city

or town where the violation occurred to be used to fund low-cost spay/neuter programs in

accordance with section 4-24-13.

4-24-11. Responsibility for enforcement. – The local animal control officer shall be

responsible for the enforcement and administration of this chapter.

4-24-12. Time for compliance. – Persons harboring a cat subject to this chapter on the

effective date thereof shall be given one hundred twenty (120) days from the date to comply with

the provisions thereof.

4-24-13. Low-cost spay/neuter accounts. – (a) All revenue generated pursuant to

sections 4-24-9 and 4-24-10 shall be deposited in the respective city and towns spay/neuter

accounts. Said funds shall be divided equally with fifty percent (50%) of which to be reserved for

the exclusive use of funding a low-cost spay/neuter program for the animals of persons who

qualify for one of the following public assistance programs or any other public assistance

program as determined by the city or towns animal control officer:

(1) Any program which qualifies as public assistance pursuant to chapter 40-6;

(2) The food stamp program authorized by Title XIII of the federal Food and Agriculture

Act of 1977, 7 USC 2011 et seq.;

(3) The supplemental security income program authorized by Title XVI of the federal

Social Security Act, 42-USC 1381 et seq.;

(4) The federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Act authorized by 42 USC 601

et seq.; or

(5) The Medicaid program authorized by Title IX of the federal Social Security Act, 42

USC 1381.

Persons who are eligible for any of the aforementioned programs must provide proof that

he or she is an eligible person to the animal control officer of that city or town to qualify for the

low-cost spay/neuter provisions of this section.

(b) All remaining funds shall be deposited in the respective city or towns spay/neuter

account to fund the spaying and neutering of animals currently residing in the city or towns pound

and to fund low-cost spay/neuter programs.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02744/3