The text
(a)
It shall be a violation of this section 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, head collar, or prong-type collar. The weight of any chain or tether shall not exceed one-eighth of the dog's total body weight.
(3)
Keep any dog tethered for more than ten hours during a twenty-four-hour period or keep any dog confined in an area or primary enclosure for more than 14 hours during any twenty-four-hour period, and more than ten hours during a twenty-four-hour period, if the area is not greater than that which is required under the most recently adopted version of the department of environmental management's rules and regulations governing animal care facilities.
(4)
Tether a dog anytime from the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., except for a maximum of 15 minutes.
(5)
Keep any dog outside, either tethered or otherwise confined, when the ambient temperature is beyond the industry standard for the weather safety scale as set forth in the most recent adopted version of the Tufts Animal Care and Condition Weather Safety Scale (TACC).
(6)
No person shall allow a dog to be kept outside tethered, penned, caged, fenced, or otherwise confined for more than 30 minutes without access to adequate shelter or adequate water for use by such dog.
(b)
It shall be a violation of this section for an owner or keeper to fail to provide a dog with adequate feed, adequate water, or minimum veterinary care as those terms are defined in section 3-1.
(c)
Exposing any dog to adverse weather conditions strictly for the purpose of conditioning shall be prohibited.
(d)
The provisions of this section, as they relate to the duration and timeframe of tethering or confinement, 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, or duly sworn police officer assigned to the animal control division, for the purposes, including, but not limited to, hunting dogs, dogs protecting livestock, and sled dogs. Written authorization must be renewed annually. The written authorization issued by an animal control officer or duly sworn police officer assigned to the animal control division in the political subdivision of the state where the dogs are kept shall be considered valid in every other political subdivision of the state. The written authorization issued by an animal control officer or duly sworn police officer assigned to the animal control division in the political subdivision of the state where the dogs are kept is revocable by that animal control officer or police officer if there are any conditions present that warrant revocation. The conditions include, but are not limited to, changes in the number or type of dogs, changes in the facility structure or safety, and changes in the health of the dog;
(3)
To any entity licensed by the state pursuant to Chapter 19 of Title 4 of the Rhode Island General Laws, or any veterinary facility; or
(4)
To an exhibitor holding a class C license under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2133) that are temporarily in the state, if authorized by the department of environmental management (DEM);
(e)
Any person in violation of this section shall be fined in accordance with section 3-25. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.
(f)
General agents or special agents of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) are hereby authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter in cooperation with animal control officers and the department of environmental management (DEM).
(Ch. 449, § I, 5-6-08; Ch. 744, § I, 12-17-19; Ch. 806, § III, 7-20-21)
Editor's note— Ch. 744, § I, adopted December 17, 2019, renamed § 3-41 from "sheltering, tethering, and nourishment of dogs" to "care of dogs."
Cross reference— Penalties for violation of this section as set by section 3-25.