§ 4-1-42. Care of neglected animals by department — Forfeiture of owner’s rights — Expenses.
(a) The director of environmental management, or any veterinarian employed by the department of environmental management (“department”), may lawfully take charge of any animal found abandoned or neglected or hazardously accumulated as defined in § 4-1-1, or that, in the opinion of the department, is aged, maimed, disabled, lame, sick, diseased, injured, unfit for the labor it is performing, or cruelly treated, and shall give notice to the owner, if known, or his or her agents, and may provide suitable care.
(b) Every owner, guardian, or agent, upon conviction, entry of a guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere, of abandonment, neglect, hazardous accumulation as defined in § 4-1-1, or otherwise cruel treatment of any animal taken charge of by the department under this section, forfeits the right to ownership or control of that animal to the department for disposition in any manner deemed suitable for that animal.
(c) Whenever the department lawfully takes charge of any animal under this section, all reasonable expenses for the care and treatment of the animal(s), while in the custody of the department during this time, shall be paid for by the owner, guardian, or his or her agent, upon conviction, a plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere. The department has the authority to commence a civil action for damages against the owner or his or her agent thirty (30) days after written demand for payment of the expense of the suitable care of that animal has been sent and no payment received.
History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 261, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 321, § 2; P.L. 2017, ch. 439, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 444, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry
Chapter 4-1 - Cruelty to Animals
Section 4-1-1. - Definitions — Responsibility for agents and employees.
Section 4-1-2. - Overwork, mistreatment, or failure to feed animals — Shelter defined.
Section 4-1-3. - Unnecessary cruelty.
Section 4-1-3.1. - Prohibited practices in destruction of animals.
Section 4-1-3.2. - Animal confinement in motor vehicles prohibited.
Section 4-1-4. - Abandonment of infirm animals.
Section 4-1-5. - Malicious injury to or killing of animals.
Section 4-1-6. - Shearing of horses in winter.
Section 4-1-6.1. - Operating upon tails of bovines prohibited.
Section 4-1-7. - Live poultry containers.
Section 4-1-8. - Sale of chicks and ducklings — Dyeing prohibited.
Section 4-1-9. - Animal fighting.
Section 4-1-10. - Possession or training of fighting animals.
Section 4-1-11. - Attendance at bird or animal fight.
Section 4-1-13. - Forfeiture of fighting birds or animals.
Section 4-1-14. - Appeal of sentence of forfeiture.
Section 4-1-15. - Expense of care of seized birds or animals.
Section 4-1-16. - Use of birds as targets.
Section 4-1-17. - Unloading of animals in transit for rest, water, and feeding.
Section 4-1-18. - Arrest of violators without warrant — Care of animals.
Section 4-1-19. - Issuance of search warrants.
Section 4-1-21. - Powers of agents of society for prevention of cruelty to animals.
Section 4-1-22. - Care of neglected animals by society — Forfeiture of owner’s rights — Expenses.
Section 4-1-23. - Destruction of infirm animals by society.
Section 4-1-24. - Jurisdiction of offenses — Appeals.
Section 4-1-25. - Appropriations for prevention of cruelty — Payments to society.
Section 4-1-26. - Abandonment of animals.
Section 4-1-26.1. - Reports of abandoned, neglected or abused animals.
Section 4-1-27. - Auction of lost or abandoned animals and poultry.
Section 4-1-28. - Greasy pig contests prohibited.
Section 4-1-29. - Release of caged animals in park or zoo.
Section 4-1-30.1. - Cruelty to public safety — Dogs and horses.
Section 4-1-31. - Assignment of state veterinarian.
Section 4-1-33. - Persons using animals for research — Registration.
Section 4-1-34. - Destruction of racing greyhounds.
Section 4-1-34.1. - Restriction on sale of greyhounds.
Section 4-1-34.2. - Autopsies and medical treatment permitted.
Section 4-1-34.3. - Violations — Penalties.
Section 4-1-35. - Community restitution.
Section 4-1-36. - Psychiatric counseling.
Section 4-1-37. - Immunity from suit.
Section 4-1-38. - Use of the terms owner or guardian.
Section 4-1-39. - Transport and shelter of horses.
Section 4-1-40. - Possession of animals.
Section 4-1-41. - Devocalization or declawing as requirement for property occupancy prohibited.
Section 4-1-42. - Care of neglected animals by department — Forfeiture of owner’s rights — Expenses.
Section 4-1-43. - Use of bullhooks or similar devices on elephants prohibited.