As used in this chapter, unless the context
requires otherwise, the following terms mean as indicated below:
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
The person employed by the town as its officer to enforce
this chapter. The Animal Control Officer shall report both functionally
and administratively to the Chief of Police. All full-time employees
of the Police Department of said town by virtue of their office shall
be Deputy Animal Control Officers. During the absence of the Animal
Control Officer, they may designate a substitute to act in their place.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145; 7-22-2024 by Ord. No. 420]
AT LARGE
Any animal shall be deemed to be "at large" when he is off
the property of his owner and not under control of a competent person.
DOG POUND
Any premises designated by action of the town for the purpose
of impounding and caring for all animals in violation of this chapter.
EXPOSED TO RABIES
An animal that has been bitten by or been exposed to any
animal determined by competent authority to have been infected with
rabies.
KENNEL
Any establishment engaged in breeding, buying, selling, training
or boarding animals.
OWNER
Any person owning, keeping or harboring an animal.
RESTRAINT
An animal that is controlled or at heel beside a competent
person and obedient to that person's commands, on or within a vehicle
being driven or parked on the street or within the property limits
of its owner or keeper.
SPAYED FEMALE
Any bitch which has been operated upon by an ovarian hysterectomy
to prevent conception.
VETERINARIAN
A veterinarian licensed to practice under the laws of Rhode
Island.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145; 6-12-1989 by Ch. 171; 6-11-1990 by Ord. No.
177]
All dogs over six (6) months old within the
jurisdiction of the Town of Charlestown shall be required to be licensed
annually. The fee for said license shall not exceed that set by resolution
by the Town Council. The Town shall also charge an additional fee, to be set
by resolution by the Town Council, for each license, said fee to be
used exclusively by the town for enforcement of laws pertaining to
animals.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
In addition to the valid license tag, every
dog shall be required to wear a plate or tag securely attached to
its collar, showing the name, town and telephone number of the owner
or keeper of the dog.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced
by the Animal Control Officer and Deputy Animal Control Officers of
the town.
A. In the discharge of the duties imposed by this chapter,
the Animal Control Officer or Deputy Animal Control Officer shall
have the authority, at all reasonable times, to enter upon any premises
to examine a dog or other animal which is allegedly in violation of
a provision of this chapter. Such officer shall have further authority
to take possession of any such dog or other animal and remove it from
such premises.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
B. The authority to enter upon a premises granted by Subsection
A shall not include the right to enter any residence on such premises.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
No person shall interfere with, hinder or molest
the Animal Control Officer or any Deputy Animal Control Officer in
the performance of his duties or seek to release any animal in the
custody of the Animal Control Officer or any Deputy Animal Control
Officer, except as herein provided.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
All complaints made under the provisions of
this chapter shall be made to the Animal Control Officer or Deputy
Animal Control Officer and may be made orally; provided, however,
that, within forty-eight (48) hours, such complaint shall be reduced
to writing on forms provided by the animal rescue officer and shall
be signed by the complainant, showing his address and telephone number,
if any.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
It shall be unlawful to allow or permit any
animal to trespass on private or public property so as to damage or
destroy any property or thing of value, and the same is hereby declared
to be a nuisance. Whenever it shall be affirmed in writing and signed
by a resident of this town or by a person regularly employed in the
neighborhood and such complaint has been verified by the Animal Control
Officer or a Deputy Animal Control Officer that any animal is a habitual
nuisance by reason of trespassing, howling, barking or making other
noise, causing damage to property, being vicious or by its actions
potentially vicious or in any other manner causing undue annoyance,
the Animal Control Officer, if he finds such nuisance to exist, shall
serve notice upon the owner or custodian of such animal that such
nuisance must be abated within a period not to exceed three (3) days
after the service of such notice.
The keeping or harboring of any dog, or other
animal or fowl, whether licensed or not, which by habitual howling,
yelping, barking or other noise disturbs or annoys a considerable
number of persons or a neighborhood, is unlawful and is hereby declared
to be a public nuisance, and each day shall constitute a separate
offense.
An owner shall keep his dog under restraint
at all times and shall not permit such dog to be at large, off his
premises or property, unless under the control of a competent person.
A. No dogs shall be allowed in yards of public or private
schools or on town beaches either at large or under restraint.
B. No dogs shall be allowed in any stores or eating places
within the town whether at large or under restraint.
C. This section shall not apply to Seeing Eye dogs accompanying
a blind or disabled person.
The owner shall confine, within a building or
secure enclosure, every fierce, dangerous or vicious dog and not take
such dog out of such building or secure enclosure unless such dog
is securely muzzled and on a leash.
Every female dog or other animal, when in heat,
shall be kept confined in a building or secure enclosure, or in a
veterinary hospital or boarding kennel, in such a manner that such
animal cannot come in contact with another animal, except for intentional
breeding purposes.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 146]
No wild animals may be kept within the town
limits except under such conditions as shall be fixed by the Animal
Control Officer; provided, however, that wild animals may be kept
for exhibition purposes by circuses, zoos and educational institutions,
in accordance with such regulations as shall be established by the
Animal Control Officer. Any wild animal which escapes and is found
at large may be destroyed by the Animal Control Officer or Deputy
Animal Control Officer of this town.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
Under emergency circumstances, the Animal Control
Officer or a Deputy Animal Control Officer may destroy an animal but
only after making every effort to communicate with the owner.