| Chapter 283 |
| 2018 -- S 2980 Enacted 07/02/2018 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DISPOSITION OF RESEARCH ANIMALS |
| Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, and Archambault |
| Date Introduced: June 19, 2018 |
| 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 27 |
| RETIREMENT OF RESEARCH DOGS AND CATS |
| 4-27-1. Short title. |
| This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Research Animal Retirement Act." |
| 4-27-2. Research dogs and cats -- Retirement. |
| (a) A higher education research facility that receives public money, including tax-exempt |
| status, or a facility that provides research in collaboration with a higher education facility shall, |
| after the completion of any testing or research involving a dog or cat, assess the health of the dog |
| or cat and determine whether it is suitable for adoption. Such The facility shall thereafter make |
| reasonable efforts to offer for adoption the dog or cat determined to be suitable for adoption, |
| either through private placement or through an animal rescue and shelter organization,; a duly |
| incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals,; a duly incorporated humane |
| society,; or a duly incorporated animal protective association that operates physical animal |
| sheltering facilities and offers household pets to the public for adoption by way of an established |
| adoption program. These efforts shall be made prior to euthanizing such the dog or cat. Nothing |
| in this section shall create a duty upon such an organization, association, or society to accept a |
| dog or cat offered by a higher education research facility for adoption. |
| (b) A facility that is required to offer dogs or cats for adoption under this section may |
| enter into an agreement with an animal rescue and shelter organization,; a duly incorporated |
| society for the prevention of cruelty to animals,; a duly incorporated humane society,; or a duly |
| incorporated animal protective association that operates physical animal sheltering facilities and |
| offers household pets to the public for adoption by way of an established adoption program. |
| (c) The attending or institutional veterinarian at a facility that is required to offer dogs or |
| cats for adoption under this section shall have the authority to assess the health of an animal and |
| determine whether an animal is suitable for adoption. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005588 |
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