| Chapter 337 |
| 2017 -- H 6314 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED Enacted 09/28/2017 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS |
| Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Marshall, Keable, Slater, and Craven |
| Date Introduced: June 08, 2017 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 4-1-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-1 entitled "Cruelty to |
| Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 4-1-26. Abandonment of animals. |
| (a) If any person having possession and/or control of an animal abandons that animal on a |
| street, road, highway or in a public place or on private property or from a motor vehicle, or in a |
| dwelling or any other building or structure without providing for the care of that animal, he or she |
| shall be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-2 for each such offense. If this abandonment |
| results in the death of the animal, the person shall be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-5. |
| Abandonment means the relinquishment of all right, title, claim, or possession of the animal with |
| the intention of not reclaiming it or resuming its ownership or possession. |
| (b) Any pound or animal shelter as defined under §4-19-2, shall deem abandoned any |
| animal impounded and not redeemed by its owner within ten (10) days of impoundment if such |
| animal is wearing identification. Any animal impounded and not wearing identification shall be |
| deemed abandoned if not redeemed by its owner within five (5) days of impoundment. Any |
| animal deemed abandoned shall become the property of the impounding agency and may be |
| adopted. |
| (c) Any pound or animal shelter shall make a prompt and reasonable attempt to locate |
| and notify the owner of the impounded animal, including scanning the animal for a microchip. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC002828/SUB A |
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