Chapter 193
2012 -- H 7139 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/11/12
A N A C T
RELATING TO
ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - ANIMAL ADVOCATE
Introduced By: Representatives Petrarca, Winfield, Keable, and Azzinaro
Date Introduced: January 17, 2012
It is enacted by the
General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 4-1-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-1
entitled "Cruelty to
Animals" is hereby
amended to read as follows:
4-1-31.
Assignment of state veterinarian. -- (a)
Examination of fighting animals. - A
licensed veterinarian from the department of environmental
management, shall be made available
to agents of the
state police for the purpose of examining any animal which
those agents believe to have been
involved in animal fighting in violation of section 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
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
holding a public health service (PHS) assurance of compliance
shall be exempt from the
provisions of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC00546/SUB A/2
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