The text
Footnotes:
--- (1) --- Cross reference— Hunting prohibited, § 13-1; riding animals on sidewalks prohibited, § 18-3.
State Law reference— Animals generally, G.L. 1956, Tit. 4; maximum penalty for violation of dog ordinance, G.L. 1956, § 4-13-1; cruelty to animals, G.L. 1956, § 4-1-1 et seq.; poisoning animals, G.L. 1956, § 4-13-13; power of council to regulate dogs, G.L. 1956, § 4-13-1; town ordinances, contagious diseases, G.L. 1956, § 4-4-18; municipal regulation of animals, G.L. 1956, § 23-19.2-1; animals at large, G.L. 1956, § 4-15-1 et seq.
ARTICLE I. - IN GENERAL#
Sec. 3-1. - Livestock at large.#
Any person owning or having under his care any horse, goat, swine, sheep or cattle who shall allow the same to be at large upon the common or any street or highway shall be fined in accordance with section 1-8.
(Code 1967, § 4-1)
State Law reference— Animals at large, G.L. 1956, § 4-15-1 et seq.
Sec. 3-2. - Fowl at large.#
Any person owning or having under his care any hens or other fowl who shall allow the same to be at large upon the common or on any street or highway in the compact part of the town shall be fined in accordance with section 1-8.
(Code 1967, § 4-2)
State Law reference— Animals at large, G.L. 1956, § 4-15-1 et seq.
Sec. 3-2.5. - Maximum fowl permitted.#
(a)
The owner of any house lot in any residential zone except the residential 40 (R-40) zone containing at least one (1) dwelling may keep or permitted to keep on the house lot no more than six (6) fowl.
(b)
The keeping of more than six (6) fowl on any house lot requires an additional eight hundred (800) square feet of yard space dedicated to each additional fowl.
(c)
No person shall keep any rooster.
(d)
All fowl must be provided both a hen house (coop) and a fenced outdoor enclosure subject to the following provisions:
(1)
The hen house must be covered, predator-resistant and well ventilated. It shall be no more than eight (8) feet in height and a maximum of sixty-four (64) square feet in area;
(2)
The fence made of wire or a stronger substance shall be no more than six (6) feet in height;
(3)
The hen house must provide a minimum of two (2) square feet per fowl;
(4)
The hen house must be kept clean dry and sanitary at all times; manure must be composed in compost bins;
(5)
The hen house must be located upon a permeable surface that prevents waste run-off;
(6)
The fenced enclosure must adequately contain the fowl at all times;
(7)
The fenced enclosure must be kept clean and sanitary at all times;
(8)
The hen house must provide the fowl with adequate protection from the elements and inclement weather and provide for the fowl good health and prevent any unnecessary or unjustified suffering;
(9)
The hen house shall not be built onto any shared fence;
(10)
The hen house must be located at least twenty (20) feet from any dwelling;
(11)
The setbacks for the hen house and the enclosed area shall be those for the principal dwelling located on the house lot.
(e)
No person shall place food in the open for the feeding of any fowl, except in such containers as will prevent the scattering of such food upon the ground. After such feeding, such food shall not be allowed to remain where it is accessible to rats.
(f)
No fowl may be kept or raised within the dwelling.
(g)
The owner of the fowl must be a resident of the dwelling located on the house lot.
(h)
The raising of fowl shall be restricted to back yards or side yards; fowl shall not be permitted, at any time, on the part of the property directly abutting a main road.
(i)
The keeping of fowl pursuant to this section shall be primarily for the purpose of raising fowl and collecting the eggs produced thereof; this section shall not be construed to allow for the commercial slaughter and sale of any fowl for any purpose.
(j)
Slaughtering of fowl is not allowed.
(k)
This section shall be subject to the nuisance provisions of section 3-4.
(l)
All fowl must be confined between dawn and dusk.
(m)
The town manager, on the advice of the animal control officer, shall promulgate a registration process as a condition precedent to the construction of hen houses and the keeping of fowl. Such registration shall include:
(1)
Inspection and approval of the construction plans by the building official;
(2)
Payment of a fee set by the town council each year.
(Ord. of 10-9-2012)
Editor's note— Ord. of Oct. 9, 2012, repealed the former § 3-2.5, and enacted a new § 3-2.5 as set out herein. The former § 3-2.5 pertained to maximum chicken hens permitted and derived from Ord. of 11-8-2011.
Sec. 3-3. - Keeping swine.#
No person shall keep swine in the town within one-quarter of a mile of a main highway or within one-quarter of a mile of any residential section, unless such person shall first receive permission to do so from the town council.
(Code 1967, § 4-5)
Sec. 3-3.5. - Keeping livestock.#
No person shall be permitted to raise or keep any horse, goat, swine, sheep or cattle in any zone, except the residential 40 (R-40) farm conservation zone, and/or any excess of two (2) acres, unless that person is the owner of the horse, goat, swine, sheep or cattle being raised or kept, and is the owner of, and resides at, the property in which the horse, goat, swine, sheep or cattle is raised and kept.
(Ord. of 3-12-2013)
Sec. 3-4. - Nuisance.#
(a)
No owner or keeper of any animal or fowl shall permit such animals or fowl under his or her care and control to cause annoyance, alarm or noise disturbance for more than ten (10) minutes at any time of the day or night, by repeated barking, whining, screeching, howling, braying, crowing, or other like sounds which can be heard beyond the boundary of the owner's or keeper's property.
(b)
No owner or keeper of any animal or fowl shall permit such animals or fowl under his or her control to cause annoyance, alarm or noise disturbance at night by barking, whining, screeching, howling, braying, crowing, or other like sounds which can be heard beyond the boundary of the owner's or keeper's property.
(c)
No owner or keeper of any animal or fowl shall permit such animals or fowl under his or her control to cause annoying or noxious odors and smells to emanate from and be detected beyond the boundary of the owner's or keeper's property and unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of neighboring properties.
(Ord. of 6-8-99; Ord. No. O-1(3-5), 9-8-2009)
Editor's note— Ord. No. O-1, adopted Sept. 8, 2009, changed the title of § 3-4 from continuous or untimely noise by animals and fowl to nuisance.
State Law reference— Keeping swine and power of town council to enforce regulations, G.L. 1956, § 23-23.5-11.
Sec. 3-5. - Cleanliness and sanitation.#
The owner or person in control of any building or premises in which cows, goats, sheep, swine, poultry, horses and/or rabbits are maintained shall keep the building and premises clean and free from decaying food, dirt, water and fecal matter. Buildings and pens shall be properly disinfected and put in such sanitary conditions as may be ordered by the animal control officer.
(Ord. of 6-8-99; Ord. No. O-1(3-5), 9-8-2009)
Editor's note— Ord. No. O-1, adopted Sept. 8, 2009 enacted provisions intended for use as § 3-4. To preserve the style of this Code, and to facilitate indexing, said provisions have been designated as § 3-5.
Sec. 3-6. - Penalty.#
Any person, firm or corporation who violates any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to the penalties as set forth in section 1-8 of this Code, and each day of a continuing violation shall count as a separate offense.
(Ord. of 6-8-99; Ord. No. O-1(3-7), 9-8-2009)
Editor's note— Ord. No. O-1, adopted Sept. 8, 2009 enacted provisions intended for use as § 3-7. To preserve the style of this Code, and to facilitate indexing, said provisions have been designated as § 3-6.
Secs. 3-7—3-25. - Reserved.#
ARTICLE II. - DOGS#
Footnotes:
--- (2) --- State Law reference— Dog regulations, G.L. 1956, § 4-13-1 et seq.
Sec. 3-26. - Definitions.#
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Animal warden means the person or persons employed by the town as its enforcement officer and shall include any police officer or constable of the town. The animal warden and such assistance as may be necessary shall be appointed by the town council.
Dog pound means any premises designated by action of the town for the purpose of impounding and caring for all dogs running at large in violation of this article.
Owner means any person owning, keeping or harboring a dog or dogs.
Restraint means that a dog is under restraint if he is: (1)
Controlled by means of a leash securely connected to the dog and held by a competent person;
(2)
On or within a vehicle being driven or parked on the streets;
(3)
In a building or within a fenced enclosure on the property of its owner, which building or fence shall be adequate to prevent the dog from escaping from such building or fenced enclosure;
(4)
Securely attached on the premises of the owner by means of chain, rope or similar materials so as to limit motion of the dog to the limits of the property owner;
(5)
Under control of a competent person and obedient to that person's commands while upon the premises of the owner or upon such public property as designated by the town council.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-9)
Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 3-27. - Enforcement.#
Enforcement of the provisions of this article shall be the general responsibility of the police department, including, but not limited to, the animal control officer, including the power to enter on private property and issue tickets and citations for any violation of this article.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-10; Ord. of 11-10-97)
Sec. 3-28. - Restraint.#
The owner shall keep his dog under restraint at all times.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-11)
Sec. 3-29. - Impoundment.#
(a)
Any dog found in violation of the provisions of this article may be taken up by the animal warden, in lieu of issuance of a violation notice, and impounded in the shelter designated as the town dog pound, and there confined in a humane manner for a period of not less than five (5) days, and may thereafter be disposed of in a humane manner at the discretion of the animal warden if not claimed by their owners.
(b)
The animal warden may transfer title of any dog held at the dog pound to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after the legal detention period has expired and such dog has not been claimed by its owner.
(c)
Immediately upon impounding dogs, the animal warden shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owners of such dogs and inform such owners of the conditions whereby they may regain custody of such dogs.
(d)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, any person who immediately notifies the animal warden that his dog has escaped from restraint and requests assistance in bringing the dog under restraint, shall not be liable for a fine, charge or fee pursuant to this article for failure to restrain the dogs.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-12)
Sec. 3-30. - Redemption of impounded dogs.#
(a)
The owner shall be entitled to regain possession of any impounded dogs upon the payment of impoundment fees as provided in section 3-31.
(b)
Any dog impounded under the provisions of this article and not reclaimed by its owner within five (5) days, may be; humanely destroyed by the animal warden, have its title transferred to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as provided for in section 3-29(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 article.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-13)
Sec. 3-31. - Impoundment fees.#
Any dog impounded under the provisions of this article may be reclaimed upon payment by the owner to the town clerk of the sum of ten dollars ($10.00) and the additional sum of two dollars ($2.00) for each day such dog is kept, except that the second reclamation within a one-year period shall incur a fifteen dollar ($15.00) charge and thereafter, at twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per reclamation and the dog must be licensed prior to accepting the impoundment fee. The town clerk shall require any unlicensed impounded dog to be licensed prior to accepting the impoundment fees.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-14)
Sec. 3-32. - Confinement of certain dogs.#
(a)
Dangerous dogs. An owner shall confine every fierce, vicious or dangerous dog within a building or secure enclosure, and shall not take such dog out of such building or secure enclosure unless such dog is securely muzzled and upon a leash.
(b)
Confinement in the case of dog bite. With respect to any dog who shall have bitten any person or animal, the animal warden may direct the confinement of such dog for a period of fourteen (14) days from the date of such bite. Every owner so directed by the animal warden to confine his dog shall keep such a dog within a building or enclosure. If the owner shall fail to confine the dog as aforesaid, the animal warden may seize such dog and cause it to be confined in an animal shelter at the expense of the owner. At the end of the period of confinement, the owner shall provide to the animal warden a certificate of a veterinarian to the effect that the confined dog is not rabid. Upon the provision of such certificate, such dog may be released from confinement. Failure to provide a certificate in accordance with this section shall result in the dog being disposed of in such manner as the animal warden may direct.
(c)
Destruction of dog. The animal warden may destroy any dog which is found abroad in violation of the provisions of this section.
(d)
Unspayed female dogs to be confined. The owner or keeper of a female dog which has not been spayed shall keep such dog confined while the dog is in heat. It shall be a violation of this section for such dog to be allowed to run at large or be restrained out-of-doors. The animal warden shall direct that such confinement be within a building on the owner's premises, or at the owner's expense, in a kennel or veterinary hospital of the owner's choice. Any dog in heat found running at large shall be impounded by the animal warden in accordance with section 3-29.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-15)
State Law reference— Regulation of vicious dogs, G.L. 1956, § 4-13.1-1 et seq.
Sec. 3-32.1. - Vicious dogs.#
(a)
Reserved.
(b)
Registration of vicious dogs (vicious dogs as defined in G.L. 4-13.1 et seq. in which a dog is ruled vicious after a hearing. No vicious dog shall be licensed for any licensing period commencing after the passage of this article unless the owner or keeper of such vicious dog shall meet the following requirements pursuant to G.L. ch. 4-13.1-3:
(1)
The owner or keeper shall present to the town clerk proof that the owner or keeper has procured liability insurance in the amount of at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), covering any damage or injury which may be caused by the vicious dog during the twelve-month period for which licensing is sought, which policy contains a provision requiring the town to be named as additional insured for the sole purpose of the town clerk to be notified by the insurance company of any cancellation, termination or expiration of the liability insurance.
(2)
The owner or keeper shall have the licensing number assigned to such vicious dog or such other identification number as the town clerk shall determine, tattooed upon such vicious dog by a licensed veterinarian or tattooist on the upper inner lip or upper left rear thigh of the vicious dog. The dog officer may, in his or her discretion, designate the particular location of the tattoo. Said number shall be noted on the town licensing files for such vicious dog if it is different from the license number of such vicious dog. For the purposes of this section, "tattoo" shall be defined as any permanent numbering of a vicious dog by means of indelible or permanent ink with the number designated by the licensing authority or any other permanent, acceptable method of tattooing. The town clerk shall affix a two (2) letter prefix to the identification number in order to identify the town in which the dog was initially licensed.
(3)
The owner or keeper shall display a sign on his or her premises warning that there is a vicious dog on the premises. Said sign shall be visible and capable of being read from the public highway.
(4)
The owner or keeper shall sign a statement attesting that:
The owner or keeper shall maintain and not voluntarily cancel the liability insurance required by this section during the twelve-month period for which licensing is sought, unless the owner or keeper shall cease to own or keep the vicious dog prior to expiration of such license; and
The owner or keeper shall, on or prior to the effective date of such license for which application is being made, have a fenced enclosure for the vicious dog on the property where the vicious dog will be kept or maintained; and
The owner or keeper shall notify the licensing authority as soon as practicable, but in no case later than twenty-four (24) hours if a vicious dog is on the loose, is unconfined, has attacked another animal or has attacked a human or has died or has been sold or given away. If the vicious dog has been sold or given away, the owner or keeper shall also provide the licensing authority the name, address and telephone number of the new owner or keeper.
(5)
The dog officer may make whatever injury he or she deems necessary to ensure compliance with this ordinance and he or she is empowered to seize and impound a vicious dog whose owner or keeper fails to comply with this section.
(6)
In the event that the owner or keeper of the dog refused to surrender the animal to the dog officer, the dog officer may request a police officer to obtain a search warrant from a justice of the district court and to seize the dog upon execution of the warrant.
(c)
Penalties for violations. Any vicious dog:
(1)
Which does not have a valid license in accordance with the provisions of this article; or
(2)
Whose owner or keeper does not secure the liability insurance coverage required in accordance with this section; or
(3)
Which is not maintained on property with an enclosure; or
(4)
Which shall be outside of the dwelling of the owner or keeper or outside of an enclosure except as provided for in the provisions of this section; or
(5)
Which is not tattooed;
Shall be confiscated by a dog officer and promptly destroyed in an expeditious and humane manner. In addition, the owner or keeper shall pay a two hundred fifty dollar ($250.00) fine.
(d)
If any vicious dog shall kill, wound or worry or assist in killing or wounding any domestic animal as defined in G.L. ch. 14-13.1-2, the owner or keeper of said dog shall pay a two hundred fifty dollar ($250.00) fine; and the dog officer is empowered to confiscate and the owner or keeper shall destroy said vicious dog; and for each subsequent violation, the owner or keeper of said dog shall pay a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(e)
If any vicious dog shall attack, assault, wound, bite or otherwise injure or kill a person, the owner or keeper shall pay a five hundred dollar ($500.00) fine and, for each subsequent violation, pay a fine of an additional five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(f)
In addition to those provisions of Rhode Island General Law as adopted in this amended ordinance the town does hereby accept the provisions of G.L. tit., ch. 13.1, as amended, and does hereby incorporate them within this Code.
(g)
The penalties in this section are in addition to, and shall in no way limit, any other civil or criminal remedies which may accrue as a result of any conduct of a vicious dog as described in this section.
(Ord. of 9-17-2002; Ord. of 7-11-2017(1))
Editor's note— Ord. of Sept. 17, 2002 set out provisions for use as § 3-37a. To preserve the style of this Code and at the editor's discretion these provisions have been included as § 3-32.1.
Sec. 3-33. - Nuisance abatement.#
No person shall keep or harbor any dog, whether licensed or not, which by habitual howling, yelping, barking or other noise disturbs or annoys persons residing in the neighborhood, and each day of the keeping or harboring of such dog shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-16)
Sec. 3-34. - Unvaccinated dogs prohibited.#
(a)
No dog over six (6) months old shall be permitted within the town limits unless such dog shall have been vaccinated or immunized in the manner set forth in subsection (c) of this section, within a period of twelve (12) months, if such dog shall have been vaccinated or immunized with the one-year vaccine, or within a period of thirty-six (36) months, if such dog shall have been vaccinated or immunized by the two-year vaccine.
(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, or harbor any dog over six (6) months old within the town, unless such dog shall have been vaccinated or inoculated in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(c)
The vaccination or immunization referred to in this section shall be by a vaccine approved by the state department of health and shall be certified to by a licensed veterinarian. Such certificate shall be dated as of the date of inoculation or vaccination, shall show the rabies tag number, the sex and breed of dog, and the owner thereof, and whether the vaccine given is the one-year or two-year vaccine, together with such other information as may reasonably be required by the health officer or the veterinarian administering the same.
(d)
No license shall be issued for any dog required to be licensed in the town unless the person making application therefor shall first present to the town clerk a current certificate of vaccination or inoculation for the dog for which license is requested. Such certificate shall certify that the dog for which the license is to be issued has been properly vaccinated or inoculated in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(e)
Any dog over six (6) months old found within the limits of the town without evidence that such dog has been vaccinated or inoculated in accordance with the provisions of this section may be impounded by the animal warden or other authorized person. Such dog shall be held in impoundment under the terms and procedures set forth in sections 3-29, 3-30 and 3-31 and may be redeemed in accordance with such terms and procedures and a showing of proof that the dog has been vaccinated.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-17)
State Law reference— Compulsory rabies vaccination, G.L. 1956, § 4-13-31.
Sec. 3-35. - Prohibited in certain places.#
Warren Town Beach. Licensed and leashed dogs are permitted to walk on the sidewalk and grass areas at the Warren Town Beach. All dogs must be leashed and under control at all times. Those in control of said dogs are required to clean up and dispose of all animal waste. The fines and duties imposed by section 3-35.1 of this section shall apply.
Dogs are prohibited from being on the sand at the beach from 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m. daily, from Memorial Day—Labor Day.
These restrictions do not apply to service dogs.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-18; Ord. of 4-9-2019)
Cross reference— Parks and recreation, Ch. 14.
Sec. 3-35.1. - Dog waste removal.#
(a)
It shall be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by his/her dog on any sidewalk, street, sports field/facility, park, school property and other grounds or other public area. It shall further be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by his/her dog on any private property which is not owned or occupied by such person.
(b)
No person who owns, possesses or controls a dog shall enter upon any sidewalk, street, sports field/facility, park, school property or other ground, other public area, or any private property not owned by said person without the means of removal of any feces left by such dog.
(c)
Any person who fails to comply with (a) of this section shall be subject to a fine of up to twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each offense. The town animal control officer may impose any such fine as he or she sees fit.
(d)
This regulation shall not apply to a licensed dog accompanying any handicapped person, who by reason of his/her handicap, is physically unable to comply with the requirements of this section.
(e)
The provisions of this section are severable and if any of the provisions of this section shall be held unconstitutional or in conflict with any other section of the Town Charter or the Warren Town Code or state law, then such section shall be void without affecting or impairing any of the remaining provisions.
(Ord. of 11-10-97; Ord. of 4-9-2019)
Sec. 3-36. - Mistreating dogs.#
(a)
No person shall cruelly hurt or mistreat any dog or other animal, whether by intent to so hurt or mistreat or by neglect or negligence in the care of such animal.
(b)
No owner or keeper of a dog who shall move from his or her place of residence shall leave behind such dog or animal without notifying the animal warden of their intent to move and to give the animal warden sufficient time to remove such animal.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-20)
State Law reference— Cruelty to animals, G.L. 1956, §§ 4-1-1—4-1-16.
Sec. 3-37. - Keeping of more than three dogs.#
No person shall keep or harbor more than three (3) dogs, aged three (3) months or older, whether or not owned by such person, except when such person is a hobby breeder of purebred dogs holding a valid kennel license issued by the town, subsequent to a public hearing being held by the town council.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-23)
Sec. 3-38. - Records.#
Records as may be deemed necessary and proper by the town council shall be maintained.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-23)
Sec. 3-39. - Violation notices; charges.#
(a)
The animal warden may issue a violation notice to any owner or owners of any dog which violates any provision of this article or fails to cause a dog owned or kept by him to be licensed. The violation notice shall inform such person of the particular violation and that he shall pay the following charges:
First offense .....$25.00
Second offense within a one-year period .....50.00
For the third and each offense thereafter within a one-year period .....100.00
(b)
Payment shall be made to the town treasurer by mail or in person, within seven (7) days of the date of the violation. If a person refuses or fails to pay the charge within the seven-day period, the town treasurer shall so inform the police department and the person shall be prosecuted in court according to law for such violation.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-21; Ord. of 4-12-2005)
State Law reference— Penalties for violation of municipal dog ordinances, G.L. 1956, § 4-13-1.
Sec. 3-40. - Penalty.#
Any person who fails to pay the fine within the seven-day period as required by section 3-39, shall be prosecuted in the First District Court and subject to the same fines as set out in section 3-39 plus costs.
(Ord. of 5-14-85, § 4-22)
Secs. 3-41—3-99. - Reserved.#
ARTICLE III. - CAT BREEDER ORDINANCE#
Sec. 3-100. - Spaying and neutering.#
(a)
No person shall own or harbor, within the Town of Warren, any cat over the age of six (6) 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 town clerk upon written recommendation of the animal control officer (hereinafter "ACO") or unless the caretaker states that, due to age, health or illness it would be inappropriate to spay or neuter the cat and having in their possession a letter from a licensed veterinarian stating such, which shall be provided to the town clerk within seven (7) business days of a request for said records by the ACO.
(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 animal control officer to an individual who refuses to spay or neuter their cat. The fee for such a permit shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) per year, per cat. All funds from "intact" permits shall be deposited in the town's spay/neuter account.
(c)
Any person providing care or sustenance for an uninterrupted period of sixty (60) days or longer shall be deemed the owner of such animal and shall adhere to the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. of 3-13-12)
Sec. 3-101. - Permit to breed cats.#
(a)
No person shall cause or allow any male or female cat, owned or harbored in the town, to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit from the town clerk, who shall issue the permit upon the written recommendation of the animal control officer.
(b)
The following conditions shall apply to all permits issued under this chapter:
(1)
The permit holder shall adhere to the minimum standards for the care and keeping of animals contained in G.L. tit. 4, ch. 19.
(2)
No kitten shall be sold or placed unless it is at least eight (8) weeks old and has been immunized against common diseases as determined by the state department of environmental management in accordance with G.L. tit. 4, ch. 4, to be contagious or injurious to public health or to health of other animals.
(3)
Any permit holder advertising to the public the availability of any animal for sale [or] adoption must prominently display the permit number assigned by the ACO in any publication in which he or she advertises. The permit number must be provided to any person purchasing or adopting any cat bred by the permit holder.
(c)
The license shall expire one (1) year from the date it was issued. Permits are not transferrable.
(Ord. of 3-13-12)
Sec. 3-102. - Sale or adoption of cats.#
(a)
Any person who provides or offers to the public, whether or not for compensation, any live pet or live pet related goods (where they are the primary products) or live pet services shall provide to their clients, free of charge, information relating to live pet care and ownership, including information on city laws pertaining to animal control. This required information will be prepared and provided by the person offering the pet or related goods.
(b)
No person shall offer for sale or adoption any cat on any public street, sidewalk, or public park unless such person first obtains a license to sell pets or is a recognized pet rescue/adoption.
(c)
Any cat adopted from any animal welfare agency shall be spayed or neutered as early as is medically appropriate, but no later than six (6) months of age, unless the adoptive owner obtains a certificate from a licensed veterinarian certifying as to the health reasons for failing to alter such animal, and the approximate date when the cat can be spayed or neutered.
(Ord. of 3-13-12)
Sec. 3-103. - Revocation of permit.#
(a)
A permit may be revoked if the animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe that:
(1)
The permit holder has violated any of the minimum standards for the care and keeping of animals contained in G.L. tit. 4, ch. 19, or any other state statute or regulation or town ordinance concerning animal care or control, or
(2)
The permit holder has failed to adhere to the conditions or requirements of the permit or has failed to pay any fee imposed under this section, or
(3)
The permit holder refuses to allow inspection, with forty-eight-hours' written notice, of any cat for which a permit has been issued, or the premises where the cat is kept.
(4)
The permit holder has transferred, sold or disposed of the cat which has been permitted.
(b)
If an ACO has reasonable cause to believe that any of the circumstances in subsection (a) of this section, have occurred, the animal control officer shall send the permit holder, by first class mail, a notice stating the grounds for revocation. The 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 the ACO. The date shall be not less than five (5) days from the date the notice is mailed. After the informal hearing the ACO may modify the terms of the permit or revoke the permit, provided that if the health or well-being of the animal(s) is in danger, the ACO may take custody and control of the animal(s) until such time that a hearing is conducted pursuant to this subsection.
(c)
As a result of the informal hearing, the animal control officer may modify the terms of the permit or revoke the permit. The animal control officer shall promptly communicate any modification or revocation of a breeding permit to the town clerk.
(Ord. of 3-13-12)
Sec. 3-104. - Enforcement and violations.#
(a)
The ACO of the Town of Warren shall be responsible for the enforcement and administration of the permits under this chapter.
(b)
The animal control officer shall notify any person who owns, keeps or harbors an unneutered or unspayed cat over six (6) months old who does not have a permit to keep an unaltered cat, a permit to breed the cat, or a statement signed by a licensed veterinarian, that the person must comply with this chapter within thirty (30) days. The notice shall be sent by regular mail. If an animal is not spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days of notice they shall be subject to a seventy-five dollars ($75.00) fine for each thirty (30) days the animal remains unaltered.
(c)
Farm cats exempt. Cats kept on any tract of land devoted to commercial agricultural use are exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. of 3-13-12)
State Law reference— G.L. tit. 4, ch. 24.
Secs. 3-105—3-149. - Reserved.#
ARTICLE IV. - KENNEL LICENSES#
Sec. 3-150. - The licensing of kennels.#
Any person granted a special use permit to operate a kennel in the Town of Warren, or otherwise operating a kennel in the town, shall pay a licensing fee to the town in the amount of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per year, due no later than December 1 of the licensing year. For new kennels, the licensing fee may be paid upon commencement of operation and pro-rated. Fifty dollars ($50.00) late fees shall be assessed for failure to timely pay the licensing fee as set forth herein.
(Ord. of 12-9-2025)
Editor's note— An ordinance adopted Dec. 9, 2025, set out provisions intended for use as § 4-1. For purposes of classification, and at the editor's discretion, these provisions have been included as § 3-150.