Chapter 457 |
2025 -- H 5025 Enacted 07/05/2025 |
A N A C T |
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS |
Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Bennett, Spears, O'Brien, Hull, Newberry, and Chippendale |
Date Introduced: January 10, 2025 |
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 |
shethe person 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. |
(d) It shall not be considered abandonment, and the provisions of subsection (a) of this |
section and of § 4-24-8 shall not apply to any person who traps unowned feral or free roaming cats, |
causes those cats to be spayed or neutered, and subsequently releases those cats, provided: |
(1) Any medical or surgical procedures performed on those cats are performed by a licensed |
veterinarian; and |
(2) The cats are returned to the property where they were trapped. |
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC000319 |
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