The text
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.