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Town of East Greenwich, RI
Kent County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (9) Index
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
AT LARGE
Any animal shall be deemed to be at large when he is off the property of his owner and not under restraint as hereinafter defined.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
The person employed by the Town as its officer for the enforcement of this chapter, and shall include any police officer of the Town or any other person designated by the Town Council.
DOG POUND
Any premises designated by action of the Town Council for the purpose of impounding and caring for all animals found running at large in violation of this chapter.
EXPOSED TO RABIES
An animal has been exposed to rabies within the meaning of this chapter if it has been bitten by, or been exposed to, any animal known to have been infected with rabies.
KENNEL
Any person, group of persons or corporation engaged in the commercial business of breeding, buying, selling or boarding dogs.
LEASHED
An animal is leashed within the meaning of this chapter when it has a cord, chain or leash attached to or affixed to its collar or harness, and is held or being led by a person capable of controlling the animal.
OWNER
Any person, group of persons or corporation owning, keeping or harboring an animal.
RESTRAINT
An animal is under restraint within the meaning of this chapter when it is leashed, within a motor vehicle, on the property of its owner or keeper, or on the property of a person other than its owner or keeper, provided that such person is agreeable to the animal's presence.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The definition of "spayed female," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV).
A. 
Hospitals, clinics and other premises operated by licensed veterinarians for the care and treatment of animals are exempt from the provisions of this chapter, except where expressly stated.
B. 
The licensing and vaccination requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any dog or cat belonging to a nonresident of the Town and kept within the Town for not longer than 30 days, provided that all such dogs shall at all times be kept under restraint by the owner.
A. 
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any person convicted of violating any provision of this chapter shall be punished by the payment of a pecuniary penalty as follows:
(1) 
For the first offense, a penalty not exceeding $25.
(2) 
For the second offense within a year, a penalty not exceeding $50.
(3) 
For the third and any subsequent offense within a year, a penalty not exceeding $75.
B. 
Such pecuniary penalties shall be recovered by an action of debt, or by complaint and warrant, to the use of the Town.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Animal Control Officer or any police officer of the Town.
All complaints made under the provisions of this chapter shall be made to the Animal Control Officer and may be made verbally; provided, however, that such complaint shall be within 48 hours, reduced to writing on forms provided by the Animal Control Officer and shall be signed by the complainant showing his or her address and telephone number, if any; and provided, further, that any complaint made by a police officer need not be reduced to writing as provided in this section.
In the discharge of the duties imposed by this chapter, the Animal Control Officer or police officer shall have the authority at all reasonable times to enter upon any premises (but such authority does not include the right to enter any residence on such premises) to examine any animal which is allegedly in violation of any provision of this chapter. The said officers shall have the further authority to take possession of any animal and remove it from the premises.
No person shall interfere with, hinder or molest the Animal Control Officer in the performance of his/her duties, to seek to release any animal in the custody of the Animal Control Officer, except as provided in this chapter.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to keep, or cause to be kept, accurate and detailed records of all bite cases reported to him or her and the results of the investigation of such cases.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to keep, or cause to be kept, accurate and detailed records of the impoundment and disposition of all animals coming into his or her custody.