(a) Any person who steals, confines or conceals any companion animal, as defined in section 22-351a, or who, with the intention of stealing such companion animal or concealing its identity or the identity of its owner or with the intention of concealing the fact that the companion animal is licensed, removes the collar or harness or tag from any licensed companion animal, or who unlawfully kills or injures any companion animal, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. For a second offense, or for an offense involving more than one companion animal, any such person shall be guilty of a class E felony.
(b) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be liable to the owner in a civil action, except that, if such person intentionally kills or injures any companion animal, such person shall be liable to the owner in a civil action as provided in section 22-351a.
(1949 Rev., S. 3401; 1953, S. 1839d; 1957, P.A. 143, S. 2; 1963, P.A. 613, S. 22; P.A. 93-435, S. 53, 95; P.A. 04-239, S. 2; P.A. 05-288, S. 90; P.A. 13-258, S. 24.)
History: 1963 act made provisions applicable with respect to all dogs where previously applicability was limited to licensed dogs and dogs under six months old; P.A. 93-435 made certain technical and grammatical revisions, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 04-239 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended said Subsec. to replace “dog” with “companion animal” where appearing, specify that companion animal is defined in Sec. 22-351a, increase the maximum fine from $200 to $1,000 for a first offense and from $500 to $2,000 for a second offense or an offense involving more than one companion animal and delete provision re liability to the owner in a civil action, and added Subsec. (b) re liability to the owner in a civil action or, if the companion animal was intentionally killed or injured, liability to the owner in a civil action under Sec. 22-351a; P.A. 05-288 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 13-258 amended Subsec. (a) to change penalty from fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment of not less than 1 year or more than 3 years to a class E felony.
See Sec. 14-226 re requirement that operator of vehicle causing injury to or death of dog shall report the injury or death.
Under previous law, no recovery could be had for negligently killing unregistered dog; early legislation reviewed. 79 C. 427. Action is in tort; statute need not be counted on. 80 C. 434. That dog killed did not wear tag is no defense; various matters as to kennel license considered. 84 C. 640. Effect of mistake of town clerk in registering dog in name of wrong person. 100 C. 128. To “unlawfully” kill, etc., means conduct which is wilful or so wanton as to be equivalent thereto. 127 C. 690. Cited. 139 C. 624.
Owner of unregistered dog may recover at common law for its wanton and wilful killing. 18 CS 53.
“Unlawfully” refers to conduct that is wilful or at least so wanton as to be equivalent thereto. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 466.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 22 - Agriculture. Domestic Animals
Chapter 435 - Dogs and Other Companion Animals. Kennels and Pet Shops
Section 22-327. - Definitions.
Section 22-329. - Prevention of cruelty to dogs and other animals.
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 22-332a. - Use of dogs for medical research restricted.
Section 22-332b. - License for use of dogs.
Section 22-333. - Redemption of impounded dog, cat or other animal.
Section 22-334. - Municipal animal control officer's fees.
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 22-339c. - 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 22-343. - Temporary placing of dog.
Section 22-344a. - Euthanasia of animals by pet shops.
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 22-346. - 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 22-351. - Theft, killing or injuring of companion animal. Penalty. Liability.
Section 22-352. - Change of residence of owner.
Section 22-353. - Identifying insignia or tattoo marks.
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 22-359. - Control of rabies. Quarantine. Regulations.
Section 22-359a. - Clinic for vaccination against rabies.
Section 22-359b. - Rabies vaccine.
Section 22-359e. - Tags and certificates indicating rabies vaccination.
Section 22-360 and 22-361. - Pasteur treatment. Examination of dog for rabies.
Section 22-362. - Annoyance by dogs on highway.
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.