Chapter 187

2017 -- H 5326 Enacted 07/18/2017

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOGS

Introduced By: Representatives Solomon, Edwards, O'Brien, Williams, and Serpa

Date Introduced: February 01, 2017

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 4-13-42 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-13 entitled "Dogs" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

4-13-42. Care of dogs.

(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') radius at

ground level.

(2) Tether a dog with a choke-type collar or prong-type collar.

(3) Keep any dog tethered for more than ten (10) hours during a twenty-four (24) hour

period or keep any dog confined in a pen, cage, or other shelter for more than fourteen (14) hours

during any twenty-four (24) hour period.

(4) Keep any dog outside either tethered, penned, caged, fenced, or otherwise confined

without access to an outdoor housing facility 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) if the dog is showing signs

of poor health due to the weather conditions.

(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) Any person in violation of this section shall be given a warning for a first violation.

Second and subsequent violations of this subsection can be considered a violation of § 4-1-2.

Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.

(d) The provisions of this section 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;

(3) To a training facility, grooming facility, commercial boarding kennel, pet shop

licensed in accordance with chapter 4-19 19 of this title, animal shelter, municipal pound, or

veterinary facility;

(4) To licensed hunters, field trial participants, or any person raising or training a gun dog

or hunting dog, provided that the licensed hunter or field trial hunt test participant is actively

engaged in hunting, training, or field trial hunt testing or is transporting the dog to or from an

event;

(5) To livestock farmers who use their dogs to protect their livestock from predators;

(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; or

(7) To sled dog owners who are actively training their dogs to pull sleds in winter

conditions.

(e) Any person in violation of this section shall be imprisoned not exceeding eleven (11)

months, or fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), 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.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC000204

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