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2012 -- S 2193 | |
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LC00170 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012 | |
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A N A C T | |
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RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | |
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Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Perry, Sosnowski, Tassoni, and Miller | |
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Date Introduced: January 24, 2012 | |
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Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture | |
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It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby |
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amended by adding thereto the following section: |
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4-1-41. Devocalization prohibited. – (a) No person shall surgically debark or silence a |
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dog or cat, or cause the surgical debarking or silencing of a dog or cat, unless a veterinarian |
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licensed in this state has filed a written certification with the applicable animal control officer |
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stating that the surgical debarking or silencing is medically necessary to treat or relieve an illness, |
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disease, or injury, or correct a congenital abnormality that is causing or will cause the dog or cat |
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medical harm or pain. |
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(b) The written certification described in subsection (a) above shall contain the date and |
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description of the veterinarian's examination and evaluation of the dog or cat, a statement |
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certifying that surgical debarking or silencing is medically necessary to treat or relieve an illness, |
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disease, or injury, or correct a congenital abnormality that is causing or will cause the dog or cat |
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harm or pain, any supporting diagnosis and findings, the name and current address and telephone |
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number of the dog or cat's owner or keeper, and the name and current address and telephone |
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number, state license number, and signature of the veterinarian. |
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(c) No person except a veterinarian licensed in this state, using anesthesia, may surgically |
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debark or silence a dog or cat. |
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(d) Any person found guilty of violating this section shall be fined not more than one |
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thousand dollars ($1,000). In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person convicted |
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under this section may be barred from owning or possessing any animals, or living on the same |
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property with someone who owns or possesses animals, for a period of time deemed appropriate |
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by the court, and required to take humane education, pet ownership and dog training classes as |
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ordered by the court. |
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(e) Any person or business selling a dog or cat for profit shall disclose whether the dog or |
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cat has been surgically debarked or silenced and provide the purchaser with a copy of the |
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veterinarian certification required by subsection (a) above. |
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC00170 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
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BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
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OF | |
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A N A C T | |
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RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | |
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This act would provide penalties for the devocalization of dogs and cats. |
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This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC00170 | |
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