Chapter 318

2013 -- H 5426

Enacted 07/15/13

A N A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Fellela, Costa, Shekarchi, and Azzinaro

Date Introduced: February 13, 2013

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

4-1-41. Devocalization or declawing as requirement for property occupancy

prohibited. -- (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.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01301

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