The text
Footnotes:
--- (6) --- State Law reference— Redemption or adoption of animals, G.L. 1956, § 4-19-17.
Sec. 10-171. - Authorized actions.#
(a)
Taking up; disposal. Any animal described in section 10-71 and section 10-174 shall be taken up by the animal control officer in the shelter designated as the animal pound. Animals not claimed by their owners before the expiration of five days, may be disposed of at the discretion of the animal control officer, except as provided in this chapter in the cases of certain animals.
(b)
Transfer of title to SPCA or Animal Rescue League. The animal control officer may transfer title of any animal held at the animal pound to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and/or the Animal Rescue League after the legal detention period has expired and such animal has not been claimed by its owner.
(c)
Notification of owners. Immediately upon impounding dogs, the animal control officer shall make every possible reasonable effort to notify the owners of such dogs, so impounded, and inform such owners of the conditions whereby they may regain custody of such dogs.
(d)
Protection of town residents by impounding or disposition. Any dog found running at large within the town limits may be impounded or disposed of according to law when such action is required either to protect the dog or to protect the residents of the town.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 3)
Sec. 10-172. - Redemption of impounded dogs.#
(a)
The owner shall be entitled to regain possession of any impounded dog, except as provided in the cases of certain dogs, upon the payment of impoundment fees set forth in this article. Proof of ownership includes a license receipt, affidavits of neighbors, a photograph, etc.
(b)
Any dog impounded under the provisions of this chapter and not reclaimed by its owner within five days may be humanely destroyed by the animal control officer, have its title transferred to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and/or the Animal Rescue League as provided for in section 10-171(b), or placed in the custody of some person deemed to be a responsible and suitable owner, who will agree to comply with the provisions of this chapter and such other regulations as shall be fixed by the town; provided, however, that if the animal is one as to which the respective rights of the owner and the person in possession or custody are determined by the state law, such law shall be complied with. Under no circumstances shall the ownership of any dog be transferred to a vivisection association.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 4)
Sec. 10-173. - Fees.#
(a)
Any animal impounded under this chapter's provisions may be reclaimed as provided in this section upon payment by the owner to the animal control officer of the sum of $15.00 and the additional sum of one dollar for each day such animal is kept after the expiration of the legal detention period. Impoundment fees set forth in this section, and such additional sums as provided in this section for keeping the animals, shall be collected by the town clerk for the use of the animal control officer.
(b)
Exeter animal shelter schedule of fees. The following is a schedule of minimum fees to be charged:
Boarding fees (cats and dogs): In-town animals, per day .....15.00
West Greenwich and out-of-town animals, per day .....20.00
Turn-in Fees (Exeter Cats and Dogs Only): Cats and Dogs sterilized .....25.00
Cats not sterilized .....75.00
Dogs not sterilized .....175.00
License fee (dogs only): .....5.00
Spay/neuter surcharge (dogs only): .....1.00
Late license fee (dogs only) .....25.00*
Adoption fee (cats and dogs): .....75.00 Deposit for sterilization (cats and dogs) (deposit required for sterilization—refundable upon proof of sterilization) .....25.00
*Total license fee for late registration is $31.00 (includes license fee, spay/neuter surcharge and late license fee).
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 5; Ord. of 12-14-98(3); Ord. of 2-7-00(1); Amd. of 10-6-03(1); Amd. of 4-4-05; Ord. of 9-5-06; Ord. of 10-2-06; Ord. of 12-1-14)
Sec. 10-174. - Confinement of certain dogs and other animals.#
(a)
The owner shall confine within a building or secure enclosure, every fierce, dangerous or vicious animal, and not take such animal out of such building or secure enclosure unless such animal is securely muzzled.
(b)
Every female dog 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 female dog or other animal cannot come in contact with another dog or animal, except for intentional breeding purposes.
(c)
Any dog described in subsection (b) of this section, found at large, shall be impounded by the animal control officer and may not be reclaimed by owners, unless such reclamation be authorized by any court having jurisdiction.
(d)
Any animal may, the first time it is impounded for being a public nuisance, be reclaimed as provided in section 10-172(a), but may not be reclaimed when so impounded on second or subsequent occasion unless such reclamation is authorized by a court having jurisdiction in the matter.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 6)