Sec. 3-61. - Spaying/neutering.

(a)

No person shall own or harbor, within the city any cat over the age of six months which has not been spayed or neutered, unless such person holds either a license to keep an unaltered cat or a license and permit for breeding cats issued by the city animal control officer, or the owner submits to the animal control officer a letter from a licensed veterinarian stating that it would be inappropriate to spay/neuter the cat due to age, health, or illness. The owner of any cat over the age of six months is responsible to provide proof of spay/neuter through records or certificate of examination by a licensed veterinarian to the animal control officer within seven days of a request for said records by the animal control officer.

(b)

An "intact" permit shall be issued for an unaltered cat if the owner signs a written statement that such animal will not be allowed to breed unless the owner has first obtained a breeding permit. An "intact" permit may be issued by the ACO to an individual who refuses to spay or neuter their cat. The fee for such a permit shall be $100.00 per year. All funds from "intact" permits shall be deposited in the city's spay/neuter account.

(c)

Any person, who keeps, has custody, owns, maintains, harbors, provides care or sustenance for, has control or charge of or responsibility for a cat or who permits a cat to habitually be or remain on or be lodged or fed within such person's property or premises, and any refusal to permit any animal control officer to impound such cat shall be deemed evidence of ownership unless ownership of the cat by another party is established pursuant to Rhode Island General Law § 4-22-2.

(d)

Subsection (c) above shall not be interpreted to apply to a person caring for a colony of feral cats if such person:

(1)

Registers (at no charge) with the city as a caretaker for feral cats;

(2)

Regularly feeds or arranges for the feeding of the colony, including on weekends and holidays;

(3)

Traps all feral cats over the age of eight weeks in his/her care, and has them spayed or neutered or identifies to animal control those cats deemed unable to be trapped;

(4)

Has all trapped cats tested for feline aids and leukemia and has those who test positive humanely euthanized or isolated indoors;

(5)

Identifies feral cats that have been spayed or neutered by means of ear notching, ear tipping, or ear tagging;

(6)

Has all trapped cats vaccinated according to state and local laws.

(Ch. 449, § I, 5-6-08)