The text
Sec. 8-131. - Restraint; at large dogs; bites.#
The owner of a dog shall keep his dog under restraint at all times and shall not permit such dog to be at large, off the premises or property of the owner, unless under restraint and properly collared. Any bite inflicted by any such dog at large or not restrained, as required by this section shall, in addition to any violation for dogs at large or unrestrained, constitute a violation of this division by the owner of such dog.
(Code 1994, § 8-32.1; Ord. of 12-14-1998; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))
Sec. 8-132. - Dog license fees.#
(a)
Every owner or keeper of a dog who resides in the city shall in the month of April cause such dog to be licensed from the first day of the ensuing May, in the office of the city clerk and shall pay to the city clerk for the license issued $20.00 plus a spay and neuter fee of $1.00, with the exception of senior citizens, who shall upon proof that they have attained the age of 65 years of age be exempt from this licensing fee. Four dollars of each license fee collected by the city clerk shall be used exclusively by the city for the enforcement of laws pertaining to animals as provided for by R.I.G.L. § 4-13.1-9.
(1)
It shall be unlawful to keep more than three licensed dogs at the same residence, except as permitted by the animal control officer.
(2)
The animal control officer is empowered to impound up to 10 days any dog exceeding the limits set forth above. Such animal(s) may be reclaimed at any time subject to a showing to the satisfaction of the animal control officer that the animal(s) is in compliance with the requirements of this section. If the animal is unable to be reclaimed, after 10 days it shall be subject to removal pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(3)
Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply to licensed kennels or commercial locations keeping dogs for purpose of security.
(b)
All licenses issued under the provisions of this section shall be valid in every city or town during the then current year; provided that any person who shall become the owner or keeper of a dog shall cause the same to be licensed as aforesaid within 30 days after he becomes such owner.
(c)
Every owner or keeper of any dog found to be in violation of this section shall be fined $25.00.
(d)
Any person who fails to license his dog after April 30, shall in addition to the animal license fee, pay a late charge of $3.00.
(Code 1994, § 8-37; Ord. No. 96-007-O, 5-13-1996; Ord. of 12-14-1998; Ord. of 12-13-2004; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1); Ord. of 6-25-2018(1), § 1)
Sec. 8-133. - Dog license; fees; penalty.#
Every person, owner or keeper of a dog not licensed and/or not collared according to the provisions of this division shall be fined $10.00 to be applied to the support of the city, and that fine shall be in addition to all other lawful fees.
(Code 1994, § 8-37.1; Ord. of 12-14-1998; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))
Sec. 8-134. - Vicious dogs and females in heat.#
(a)
Every female dog or other animals in heat shall be kept confined in a building or secure enclosure or in a veterinary hospital or boarding kennel or under control of a competent agent in such a manner that such female dog or other animals cannot come in contact with another dog or animal, except for intentional breeding purposes.
(b)
Any animal described in subsection (a) of this section found at large shall be impounded by the animal control officer and may not be reclaimed by owners unless such reclamation is authorized by any court having jurisdiction.
(c)
Any dog or other animal may, the first time it is impounded for being a public nuisance, be reclaimed as provided in section 8-74, but may not be reclaimed when so impounded on the second or subsequent occasions unless such reclamation is authorized by a court having jurisdiction in the matter.
(d)
When in the judgment of the animal control officer or any police officer in this city an animal should be destroyed for humane reasons, such animal may not be reclaimed.
(Code 1973, § 4-11; Code 1994, § 8-33; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))
State Law reference— Order to confine or kill vicious dogs, G.L. 1956, § 4-13-19.
Sec. 8-135. - Sanitary conditions for the keeping of dogs.#
(a)
The owner or person in control of any building, kennel or premises in which a dog is kept and maintained shall keep the building and/or premises clean and free from decaying food, dirt, fur, stagnant water, and fecal matter.
(b)
The owner or keeper of any dog that is kept out of doors, or in a kennel, shall provide the dog with appropriate shelter from the weather. Appropriate shelter shall be defined as a dog house.
(c)
It shall be a violation of this chapter for an owner or keeper to:
(1)
Keep any dog on a permanent tether that restricts movement of the tethered dog to an area less than 113 square feet, or less than a six-foot radius at ground level.
(2)
Tether a dog with a choke-type collar or prong-type collar.
(3)
Keep any dog tethered for more than ten hours during a 24-hour period or keep any dog confined in a pen, cage or other shelter for more than 14 hours during any 24-hour period.
(d)
The provisions of this section shall not apply:
(1)
If the tethering or confinement is authorized for medical reasons in writing by a veterinarian licensed in Rhode Island, the authorization is renewed annually, and shelter is provided;
(2)
If tethering or confinement is authorized in writing by an animal control officer;
(3)
To a training facility, grooming facility, commercial boarding kennel, licensed pet shop, animal shelter, municipal pound or veterinary facility,
(e)
Any person in violation of this section shall be given a warning for a first violation. Second and subsequent violations of this subsection can be considered a violation, subject to penalty. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.
(Code 1994, § 8-44; Ord. of 12-14-1998; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))
Sec. 8-136. - Presence on school or store property prohibited; exceptions; limitation on number to be kept.#
(a)
No dog shall be allowed in school yards or a school property, whether at large or under restraint, except service dogs.
(b)
No dogs shall be allowed in any stores or eating places within the city, whether at large or under restraint, except service dogs.
(Code 1994, § 8-45; Ord. of 12-14-1998; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1); Ord. of 6-25-2018(1), § 1)
Sec. 8-137. - Spaying or neutering required.#
(a)
No person shall own or harbor, within the City of Central Falls, any cat over the age of six months which has not been spayed or neutered, unless such person obtains an "intact" permit issued by the animal control officer to an individual upon request. Intact permits shall be issued only for:
(1)
Medical/health reasons.
(2)
A cat that the owner certifies to be a purebred show cat.
(3)
An unaltered cat if the owner signs a written statement that such animal will not be allowed to breed.
(b)
An annual fee for an intact permit shall be $100.00 per cat and shall be deposited in an account used exclusively by the city for the enforcement of laws pertaining to animals.
(c)
Cats exempted because of medical/health reasons are not required to pay the intact permit fee.
(d)
Any permit issued may be revoked if the animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe any of the following to be true:
(1)
The permittee has failed to comply with any condition or requirement of the permit or has failed to pay any fee imposed under this article;
(2)
The permittee refuses to allow inspection, upon 48 hours' written notice, of any cat covered by the permit or the premises on which the animal is kept;
(3)
The permittee has transferred, sold or otherwise disposed of the cat for which the permit was issued;
(4)
The permittee is in violation of any state health or safety law or regulation regarding animal care or control;
(5)
The permittee has violated the provisions of Chapter 4-19 of the General Laws of the State of Rhode Island entitled "Animal Care" or any other state or local ordinances relating to the keeping, care or use of any animal.
(e)
If, after investigation, the animal control officer concludes that it is probable that one or more of the above grounds for revocation has occurred, he/she shall cause written notice thereof to be transmitted by mail to the address of the permittee. Said notice shall specify the grounds of possible revocation of the permit and shall specify a date and time for an informal hearing to be held before an animal control officer. Said date shall be not less than five days subsequent to the date the notice is mailed. After the informal hearing, the animal control officer may modify the terns of the permit or revoke the permit; provided, further, that if the health or well-being of the animal is in danger, the animal control officer of the city may take custody and control of the animal until time that a hearing is conducted pursuant to this section.
(Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))
Sec. 8-138. - Abandonment of dogs or cats.#
If any dog or cat is abandoned, as determined by the animal control officer or a police officer, in a car, in a public place or on private property, by its owner or any person having charge or custody of that dog or cat, the officer(s) may take reasonable measures to rescue said dog or cat and that person shall, for each offense, be punished pursuant to § 4-1-2 of the General Laws of the State of Rhode Island, as follows: be imprisoned not exceeding 11 months or be fined not less than $50.00 nor exceeding $500.00, or both.
(Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))
Sec. 8-139. - Breeding of dogs and cats prohibited.#
The breeding of dogs and cats is prohibited in the City of Central Falls, unless provided a written exemption by the animal control officer.
(Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))
Sec. 8-140. - False information.#
Any person who intentionally gives false information to the animal control officer either verbally or in writing to evade the enforcement of the laws prescribed in this chapter shall be fined in an amount not less than $125.00, subject to trial and appeal in the municipal court.
(Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))