Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 4-13 - Dogs
Section 4-13-20. - Appraisal of damages done by dogs.

§ 4-13-20. Appraisal of damages done by dogs.
Each town or city council, excepting the town and city councils in the cities of Newport and Pawtucket and in the towns of Jamestown, Little Compton, New Shoreham, Tiverton, Exeter, and Burrillville shall annually in the month of April appoint one or more suitable persons as appraisers, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties, to appraise the damage that may be done to any owner of any sheep, goats or lambs, cattle or horses, hogs or fowls, closely confined game birds, or closely confined rabbits suffering loss by reason of the biting, maiming, or killing by any dog or dogs, and to give a statement in writing to the owner suffering the loss; and the owner, suffering loss, shall, within two (2) days after the loss comes to his or her knowledge, notify the appraiser, appointed and sworn, living nearest to him or her in the city or town where the damage occurred, of the loss; and the appraiser shall, on receipt of twenty-five cents (25¢) for each mile’s travel (or, in the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth, twenty cents (20¢) for each mile’s travel) and the sum of one dollar ($1.00) from the owner, appraise the damage and give a statement in writing, with his or her lawful fees taxed thereon, to the owner; and the owner shall, within sixty (60) days, present the statement to the city or town council of the city or town, who shall draw an order on the city or town treasurer for the amount of the appraisal and fees, or for any other amount as the council, in the council’s discretion, after careful examination, shall deem just; and the order, when presented to the city or town treasurer, shall be paid in the same manner as any other order made by the city or town council upon the city or town treasurer.
History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 111, § 15; G.L. 1909, ch. 135, § 15; G.L. 1923, ch. 136, § 15; P.L. 1932, ch. 1942, § 1; P.L. 1932, ch. 1951, § 3; G.L. 1938, ch. 639, § 15; impl. am. P.L. 1949, ch. 2233, § 1; P.L. 1949, ch. 2323, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 4-13-20; P.L. 1962, ch. 7, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 93, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 298, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 455, § 1.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry

Chapter 4-13 - Dogs

Section 4-13-1. - Regulatory ordinances — Enforcement and penalties.

Section 4-13-1.1. - Towns of Portsmouth, West Warwick, and Middletown and city of Woonsocket — Vicious dog ordinance.

Section 4-13-1.2. - Definitions.

Section 4-13-1.3. - Rabies control board.

Section 4-13-2. - Tax imposed by cities and towns — Enactment of local laws to prevent damage to livestock.

Section 4-13-3. - Prior ordinances preserved.

Section 4-13-4. - Dog licenses — Fees — Penalties.

Section 4-13-4.1. - Notice to new owner of inoculation and licensing requirements.

Section 4-13-5. - License information and record.

Section 4-13-6. - Repealed.

Section 4-13-7. - Notice as to time and place of issuing licenses.

Section 4-13-8. - Disposition of license fees.

Section 4-13-9. - Pups exempt from license.

Section 4-13-10. - Thoroughbred dogs exempt — Kennel licenses.

Section 4-13-11. - Annual census of dogs — List of licenses issued.

Section 4-13-12. - Repealed.

Section 4-13-13. - Wrongful removal of collar — Theft or destruction of licensed dogs — Poisoning.

Section 4-13-14. - Licensing by police authorities.

Section 4-13-15. - Collaring of dogs — Impoundment and disposition of uncollared dogs.

Section 4-13-15.1. - Ordinances concerning unrestricted and vicious dogs prohibited — Leash laws.

Section 4-13-16. - Action for damages to animals — Double damages on second recovery — Destruction of offending dog.

Section 4-13-16.1. - Injury to seeing-eye dogs or persons who are visually impaired— Damages.

Section 4-13-17. - Civil liability of person harboring dog for damages.

Section 4-13-18. - Destruction of dogs in defense of person or livestock.

Section 4-13-19. - Order to confine or kill vicious dog — Subsequent damages.

Section 4-13-20. - Appraisal of damages done by dogs.

Section 4-13-21. - Appraisal and payment of damages in certain Newport county towns.

Section 4-13-22. - Subrogation of town or city to claim for damages.

Section 4-13-23. - Sworn testimony before appraiser.

Section 4-13-24. - Penalty for neglect of duties.

Section 4-13-25. - Election of special constable and appraiser in Pawtucket.

Section 4-13-26 - — 4-13-28. Repealed.

Section 4-13-29. - Quarantine to suppress rabies — Report of cases.

Section 4-13-29.1. - Responsibility for local rabies control.

Section 4-13-29.2. - Exemption from liability.

Section 4-13-29.3. - Regulations for suppression of rabies.

Section 4-13-30. - [Obsolete.]

Section 4-13-31. - Compulsory rabies vaccination.

Section 4-13-32. - Penalty for violation of rabies suppression provisions.

Section 4-13-33. - Agent of society for prevention of cruelty as special constable.

Section 4-13-34. - Correction of defects in prosecutions.

Section 4-13-35. - Immunity of officers from costs.

Section 4-13-36. - Agent of Robert Potter league for animals in town of Portsmouth as special constable.

Section 4-13-37. - Agent of Robert Potter league for animals in town of Middletown as special constable.

Section 4-13-38. - Dogs attacking deer.

Section 4-13-39. - Penalties.

Section 4-13-40. - Exemptions from application of chapter.

Section 4-13-41. - Use of the terms owner or guardian.

Section 4-13-42. - Care of dogs.

Section 4-13-43. - Prohibition of breed specific regulation.

Section 4-13-44. - Minimum maturity level for sale of dogs.