The text
(a)
An animal, other than a dog, is deemed to be vicious when it is dangerously aggressive, savage, ferocious or depraved in its attitude towards other animals or to persons to the extent that it injures or is likely to injure or cause injury to such animal or persons. An animal shall be deemed to be vicious if it has a propensity to want to attack or attempt to attack other animals or persons. An animal shall not be deemed vicious if it is provoked, or bites, attacks, or attempts to attack, any animal or person in self-defense or in defense of its owner or owner's property.
(b)
A vicious dog shall be defined and determined pursuant to G.L. 1956, §§ 4-13.1-2 and 4-13.1-11.
A dog shall not be deemed vicious merely by reason of growling or barking.
(Code 1982, § 4-1; Code 2003, § 10-2; Ord. of 11-15-2021, § 1(Exh. A))
State Law reference— Regulation of vicious dogs, G.L. 1956, § 4-13.1-1 et seq.