Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 435 - Dogs and Other Companion Animals. Kennels and Pet Shops
Section 22-327. - Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Animal” means any brute creature, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, monkeys, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, birds and reptiles;
(2) “Chief Animal Control Officer”, “Assistant Chief Animal Control Officer” and “animal control officer” mean, respectively, the Chief State Animal Control Officer, the Assistant Chief State Animal Control Officer and a state animal control officer appointed under section 22-328;
(3) “Commercial kennel” means a place maintained for boarding or grooming dogs or cats, and includes, but is not limited to, any veterinary hospital which boards or grooms dogs or cats for nonmedical purposes;
(4) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Agriculture;
(5) “Grooming facility” means any place, other than a commercial kennel, which is maintained as a business where dogs are groomed;
(6) “Keeper” means any person, other than the owner, harboring or having in his possession any dog;
(7) “Kennel” means one pack or collection of dogs which are kept under one ownership at a single location and are bred for show, sport or sale;
(8) “Municipal animal control officer” means any such officer appointed under the provisions of section 22-331;
(9) “Pet shop” means any place at which animals not born and raised on the premises are kept for the purpose of sale to the public;
(10) “Poultry” has the same meaning as provided in section 22-326s;
(11) “Regional animal control officer” and “assistant regional animal control officer” means a regional Connecticut animal control officer and an assistant regional Connecticut animal control officer appointed under the provisions of section 22-331a;
(12) “Training facility” means any place, other than a commercial kennel or grooming facility, which is maintained as a business where dogs are trained;
(13) “Service animal” has the same meaning as provided in 28 CFR 35.104 and includes any animal in training to become a service animal.
(1949 Rev., S. 3374; 1949, S. 709b; 1953, S. 1812d; 1959, P.A. 637, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 67; 1963, P.A. 613, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 81, S. 1; 423, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 446, 448; 1972, P.A. 180, S. 1; P.A. 77-314, S. 1; P.A. 82-91, S. 14, 38; P.A. 91-46, S. 10, 12; 91-59, S. 1; P.A. 93-435, S. 29, 95; P.A. 98-12, S. 3, 22; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 19-156, S. 1; P.A. 21-90, S. 1, 2.)
History: 1959 act replaced commissioner of agriculture with commissioner of agriculture, conservation and natural resources; 1961 act replaced commissioner of agriculture, conservation and natural resources with commissioner of agriculture and natural resources; 1963 act defined “regional warden” and “pet shop”; 1969 acts replaced definitions re wardens with definitions re canine control officers, clarified definitions of “commercial kennel” and “pet shop” and defined “grooming facility”; 1971 act replaced commissioner of agriculture and natural resources with commissioner of agriculture; 1972 act substituted “animals” for “dogs” in definition of “pet shop” and defined “animals”; P.A. 77-314 defined “training facility”; P.A. 82-91 expanded definition of commercial kennel to include a veterinarian hospital boarding or grooming dogs for nonmedical purposes; P.A. 91-46 included references to cats in the definition of “commercial kennel”; P.A. 91-59 replaced references to “regional canine control officer”, “assistant regional canine control officer” and “local dog warden” with references to “regional animal control officer”, “assistant regional animal control officer” and “municipal animal control officer”, respectively; P.A. 93-435 made certain technical and grammatical revisions to conform section to Connecticut's standard statutory style, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 98-12 changed “canine control officer” to “animal control officer” in Subdiv. (2), effective July 1, 1998; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 19-156 redefined “commercial kennel” in Subdiv. (3), effective July 9, 2019; P.A. 21-90 amended Subdiv. (10) to redefine “poultry” and added Subdiv. (13) to define “service animal”, effective June 28, 2021.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 22 - Agriculture. Domestic Animals

Chapter 435 - Dogs and Other Companion Animals. Kennels and Pet Shops

Section 22-327. - Definitions.

Section 22-328. - Enforcement. Animal control officers. Expenses. Training of animal control officers. Reimbursement. Training program curriculum. Issuance of certificate. Continuing education requirement.

Section 22-329. - Prevention of cruelty to dogs and other animals.

Section 22-329a. - Seizure and custody of neglected or cruelly treated animals. Vesting of ownership of animal. Animal abuse cost recovery account.

Section 22-329b. - Reporting of neglected or cruelly treated animals.

Section 22-330. - Authority of officers issuing summons.

Section 22-331. - Municipal animal control officers. Assistants.

Section 22-331a. - Regional animal control officers. Pounds.

Section 22-332. - Impoundment and disposition of roaming, injured or mistreated animals. Authority to spay or neuter unclaimed dog. Liability for provision of veterinary care to injured, sick or diseased impounded animal.

Section 22-332a. - Use of dogs for medical research restricted.

Section 22-332b. - License for use of dogs.

Section 22-332c. - Penalty.

Section 22-332d. - Impoundment and disposition of certain cats. Authority to spay or neuter unclaimed cat.

Section 22-332e. - Regional or municipal dog pound contract with animal rescue organization for veterinary treatment of injured, sick or diseased animal. Contract requirements. Department of Agriculture complaint. Maintenance of list of animal rescue...

Section 22-333. - Redemption of impounded dog, cat or other animal.

Section 22-334. - Municipal animal control officer's fees.

Section 22-335. - Removal of municipal animal control officer. Complaint against municipal animal control officer.

Section 22-336. - Towns to provide pounds or other suitable facilities. Regulations. Enforcement.

Section 22-337. - Notice of licensing requirements.

Section 22-338. - Licensing of dogs. Fees. Rabies certificate. Exemptions.

Section 22-339. - Licensing of dogs which are six months of age or older by new owners. Fees.

Section 22-339a. - Town clerks may deputize agents for the issuance of licenses. Licensing of dogs acquired from dog pounds. Fees. Rabies certificate.

Section 22-339b. - Rabies vaccination required for dogs and cats. Exemption from rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccination exemption certificate. Veterinarian appeal. Penalty.

Section 22-339c. - Certificate of rabies vaccination.

Section 22-339d. - Municipal control of feral cats.

Section 22-340. - Town clerk to provide licenses and tags.

Section 22-341. - Tag or plate to be attached to dog collar or harness. Cost.

Section 22-342. - Kennel licenses. Certain breeders to be licensed. Inspection of kennel facilities. Penalties.

Section 22-343. - Temporary placing of dog.

Section 22-344. - Licensing of commercial kennel, pet shop, training facility or grooming facility. Advertising by commercial kennels. Registration of animal importer. Fees. Humane treatment of animals. Registration of animal shelters. Inspection. Fi...

Section 22-344a. - Euthanasia of animals by pet shops.

Section 22-344b. - Pet shop required to have dogs and cats examined by veterinarian. Replacement or refund. Statement of customer rights. Penalty.

Section 22-344c. - Licensure of breeding facilities by towns. Standard of care for breeders of cats or dogs.

Section 22-344d. - Signs required in pet shops selling dogs. Penalty.

Section 22-344e. - License required for procurement of dog or cat for resale. Exception. Penalty.

Section 22-344f. - Veterinarian examination of cat or dog imported into state by animal importer or person operating or maintaining animal shelter. Records of veterinary services rendered. Fines.

Section 22-345. - *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) License and tag for guide dogs for blind, deaf or mobility impaired persons.

Section 22-346. - Guide dogs on trains.

Section 22-347. - Use of license fees.

Section 22-348. - Allocation of license fees to The University of Connecticut. Balance to towns.

Section 22-349. - Unlicensed dogs. Regulations. Impoundment.

Section 22-350. - Dogs as personal property. Tax exemption. Theft.

Section 22-350a. - Tethering dog to stationary object or mobile device. Prohibited means. Confining or tethering dogs for unreasonable period of time. Adequate shelter. Retention of other protections afforded dogs. Fines.

Section 22-351. - Theft, killing or injuring of companion animal. Penalty. Liability.

Section 22-351a. - *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (c) and effective date.) Liability for intentionally killing or injuring companion animal.

Section 22-352. - Change of residence of owner.

Section 22-353. - Identifying insignia or tattoo marks.

Section 22-354. - Imported dogs and cats. Certificates of health. Importation from rabies quarantine area. Sale of young puppies and kittens. Sale of dogs by pet shop licensees. Certificate of origin required. Purchase of dog or cat from outside of s...

Section 22-354a. - Payment contracts and lease agreements for ownership of dogs or cats. Voided. Ownership of affected dog or cat. Exemptions.

Section 22-355. - Damage by dog to domestic animals or poultry.

Section 22-356. - Damage by two or more dogs.

Section 22-357. - Damage by dogs to person or property.

Section 22-358. - Killing of dogs doing damage. Restraint or disposal orders. Notice. Seizure. Euthanasia and examination of potentially rabid animals. Complaints by persons sustaining damage by dog to poultry, ratite, domestic rabbit, companion anim...

Section 22-359. - Control of rabies. Quarantine. Regulations.

Section 22-359a. - Clinic for vaccination against rabies.

Section 22-359b. - Rabies vaccine.

Section 22-359c and 22-359d. - Certificate of rabies vaccination. Licensing and vaccination of cats not required.

Section 22-359e. - Tags and certificates indicating rabies vaccination.

Section 22-359f. - Request for reduction of quarantine period after potential rabies exposure of animal.

Section 22-360 and 22-361. - Pasteur treatment. Examination of dog for rabies.

Section 22-362. - Annoyance by dogs on highway.

Section 22-363. - Nuisance.

Section 22-364. - Dogs roaming at large. Intentional or reckless subsequent violation.

Section 22-364a. - Intentional or reckless release of domestic animal which causes damage.

Section 22-364b. - Control of dogs in proximity to guide dogs.

Section 22-365. - Obstruction of commissioner or any animal control officer. Penalty.

Section 22-366. - Cropping of dog's ears.

Section 22-367. - General penalty. Enforcement.

Section 22-367a. - Regulations.