(State law reference--Animals and animal husbandry, G.L. 1956, Sec. 4-1-1 et seq.)
As used in this chapter, the following terms mean:
At large: Any dog shall be deemed to be at large when he is off the property of his owner and not under restraint.
Collared: A dog is properly collared when it wears around its neck a collar with the license attached and the name of the owner or keeper distinctly impressed thereon.
Dog officer: The person employed by the city as its enforcement officer and shall include any police officer of the city.
Dog pound: Any premises designated by action of the city for the purpose of impounding and caring for all animals found running at large in violation of this chapter.
Exposed to rabies: A dog has been exposed to rabies within the meaning of this chapter if it has been bitten by, or been exposed to, any animal known to have been infected with rabies.
Kennel: Any person, group of persons, or corporations engaged in the commercial business of breeding, buying, selling or boarding dogs.
Leashed: A dog is properly leashed when it has a cord or chain attached to its collar or harness and held in the hand by the owner or competent person leading such dog.
Owner: Any person, group of persons, or corporation owning, keeping or harboring a dog.
Restraint: A dog is under restraint within the meaning of this chapter if he is leashed or on or within a vehicle being driven or parked on the streets, or within the property limits of its owner or keeper.
Spayed female: Any bitch which has been operated upon to prevent conception. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 1, 5-19-69)
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the dog officer of the city and any police officer of the city. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 2, 5-19-69)
Section 1. The Animal Control Officer of the City of Woonsocket, or his designated deputy, shall respond in person, within 24 hours, to all reports of abandoned, neglected and injured dogs anywhere within the City limits.
Section 2. The Animal Control Officer of the City of Woonsocket, or his designated deputy, shall, with the assistance of the Woonsocket Police Department, obtain a warrant authorizing the seizure of any dog which, in the determination of the Animal Control Officer, or his designated deputy, is abandoned, neglected or injured. Any such warrant must be executed by a uniformed member of the Woonsocket Police Department. Any animals seized in accordance with this provision shall be housed in the City's animal control facility or pound.
Section 3. Failure to carry out the responsibilities outlined in Section 1 and Section 2 of this ordinance shall constitute a dereliction of duty and will be grounds for progressive discipline.
Section 4. The Animal Control Officer of City of Woonsocket shall provide to the City Council of the City of Woonsocket, on a quarterly basis, a report of the number of dogs taken into the possession and control of the Animal Control Department as a result of being abandoned, neglected or injured. (Ch. No. 7300, 8-30-06)
No person shall throw, place or put, or cause to be thrown, placed or put the body or remains of any dead animal into any of the ponds, streams, or waters within the city limits, or shall leave any such body or remains of any such animal to decay on the surface of the ground or insufficiently buried therein. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 3)
Cross references--Garbage and trash, Ch. 10; health and sanitation, Ch. 11.
Every female dog or other animal 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. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 7, 5-19-69)
No wild animal may be kept within the city limits, except under such conditions as shall be fixed by the dog officer, provided, however that wild animals may be kept for exhibition purposes by circuses, zoos, and educational institutions, in accordance with such regulations as shall be established by the dog officer. Any wild animal which escapes and is found at large may be destroyed by the dog officer or any police officer of this city. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 7, 5-19-69)
No cows, goats, bulls, pigs, sheep or turkeys shall be kept within the city limits, except on property zoned farm land; provided, however that such animals may be kept for exhibition purposes by circuses, zoos and educational institutions, in accordance with such regulations as shall be established by the animal control officer. (Ch. No. 3982, Sec. 1, 4-19-82)
The owner shall keep his dog under restraint at all times and shall not permit such dog to be at large, off the premises or property of the owner, unless under restraint and properly collared. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 3, 5-19-69)
No person having control of an animal shall knowingly permit the same to defecate in or upon any sidewalk, public place, park or building, or in or upon any part of a building used by or open to the public, or upon the property of a person other than the owner of such animal. Any person having control of an animal which defecates in or upon any sidewalk, public place, park or building, or in or upon any part of a building used by or open to the public, or upon the property of a person other than the owner of such animal, shall forthwith remove the feces. (Ch. No. 6115, Sec. 1, 9-5-95)
The owner shall confine within a building or secure enclosure, every fierce, dangerous, or vicious dog, and not take such dog out of such building or secure enclosure unless such dog is securely muzzled. The owner or keeper of any dog that assaults any person shall be fined an amount not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200.00), said fines collected to be equally divided between the general fund and the budget allocation for animal control. This fine shall not be imposed unless the dog officer has conducted an investigation of the assault and has certified that the dog was off the property of its owner or keeper and at large at the time the assault occured or that the assault resulted from the negligence of the owner or keeper. An owner shall not be declared negligent if any injury or damage is sustained by a person who, at the time that injry or damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort upon premises occupied by the owner or keeper of the dog, or was teasing, tormenting, provoking, abusing or assaulting the dog or was committing or attempting to commit a crime. (Ch. 2398, Sec. 7, 5-19-69; Ch. 6994, Sec. 1, 9-16-02)
No dogs are allowed in school yards or on school property whether at large or under restraint, Seeing-eye dogs, so-called, excepted. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 18, 5-19-69)
No dogs are allowed in any stores or eating places within the city whether at large or under restraint, Seeing-eye dogs, so-called, excepted. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 18, 5-19-69)
Cross reference--Buildings and building regulations, Ch. 7; food and food establishments, Ch. 9.
It shall be unlawful to keep more than three (3) licensed dogs at a single-family residence and more than one licensed dog per dwelling unit at a multifamily residence, except as provided by the director of public safety. This provision shall not apply to licensed kennels. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 18, 5-19-69; Ch. No. 3193, Sec. 1, 1-19-76)
(a) Any dog found running at large not under restraint or uncollared, shall be taken up by the dog officer and impounded in the shelter designated as the city 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 if not claimed by its owner. Dogs not claimed by their owners before the expiration of five (5) days, may be disposed of at the discretion of the dog officer, except as provided in this chapter in the cases of certain dogs.
(b) The dog officer may transfer title to any dog held at the dog pound to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after the legal detention period has expired and such dog has not been claimed by its owner.
(c) When dogs are found running at large, and their ownership is known to the dog officer, such dogs need not be impounded, but such officer may cite the owners of such dogs to appear in court to answer to charges of violation of this chapter.
(d) Immediately upon impounding dogs, the dog 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.
(e) Any animal, other than a dog, found running at large within the city limits may be impounded or disposed of according to law when such action is required either to protect the animal or to protect the residents of the city.
(f) Every person owning or keeping a dog not licensed and/or collared according to the provisions of this chapter shall be fined fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense, one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the second offense and one hunded fifty dollars ($150.00) for the third and subsequent offenses.
(Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 4, 5-19-69; Ch. No. 4038, Sec. 1, 8-2-82; Ch. No. 6994, Sec. 1, 9-16-02)
Any animal described in sections 5-4 and 5-7, found at large, shall be impounded by the dog officer and may not be reclaimed by owners, unless such reclamation be authorized by any court having jurisdiction.
(Ch. 2398, Sec. 7, 5-19-69)
(a) The owner or keeper of any dog impounded hereunder shall not take such dog out of the pound until he shall have first paid to the pound keeper the expense of keeping such dog, such expense not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) per day and the fee for the pound keeper, five dollars ($5.00) for receiving such dog into the pound. Impoundment fees set forth herein shall be collected for the City of Woonsocket, and such additional sums as herein provided for keeping animals, shall be collected by the dog officer for the City of Woonsocket.
(b) Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, except 5-7 and 5-11 (f), shall be subject to a pecuniary penalty not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense, not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the second offense with a calendar year, not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for the third offense and any subsequent offense within a calendar year. All fines imposed under this section shall be equally divided between the general fund and the budget allocation for animal control.
(c) Whenever a person shall be charged with a violation of any provision under this chapter, and is so notified by the issuing of an animal control violation ticket, such person may in person or by authorized agent appear at the Woonsocket Animal Control Shelter, admit the truth of such charge by paying to the pound keeper such fine as established for such violation by this section within seven (7) days of such notification. Failure to appear within such time shall be deemed a waiver of the right to dispose of such charge without personal appearance in the district court. The payment of the fine to the pound keeper shall act as a final disposition of such charge.
(d) The notice provided on the animal control violation ticket shall indicate the offense charged to enable the person charged to take advantage of the provisions of this section.
(e) The pound keeper is hereby authorized to receive payment of the fine from any person charged with a violation of the provisions of this chapter, and such funds so received and collected shall be turned over by the pound keeper to the city treasurer.
(f) The police department is hereby authorized and directed to have printed animal control violations tickets with spaces for the amount of the fine together with spaces for writing in of the violations as charged and for the complaint officer's badge number.
(g) The dog officer shall charge a fee, as specified in the following schedule, to be paid for by the owner or keeper of any dog or cat taken to the dog pound for the purpose of transferring title or for disposal according to law.
Fee schedule:
| (1) Applicable to animals kept within city limits; | |
| | |
| For each adult (6 mos. or older) dog | $10.00 |
| | |
| For each adult (6 mos. or older) cat | 5.00 |
| | |
| For each puppy | 3.00 |
| | |
| For each kitten | 2.00 |
| | |
| (2) Applicable to animals kept outside city limits; | |
| | |
| For each dog | $20.00 |
| | |
| For each cat | 10.00 |
| | |
| Any other animal | 10.00 |
(Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 6, 5-19-69; Ch. No. 2637, Sec. 1, 2-16-71; Ch. No. 3193, Sec. 2, 1-19-76; Ch. No. 3692, Sec. 1, 1-7-80; Ch. No. 4038, Sec. 2, 8-2-82; Ch. No. 4060, Sec. 1, 9-20-82; Ch. No. 6146, Sec. 1, 10-2-95; Ch. No. 6994, Sec. 1, 9-16-02)
| (1) Applicable to animals kept within city limits: | | |
| | | |
| | For each dog | $10.00 |
| | | |
| | For each cat | $10.00 |
| | | |
| | Any other animal | $10.00 |
| | | |
| (2) Applicable to animals kept outside city limits: | | |
| | | |
| | For each dog | $20.00 |
| | | |
| | For each cat | $20.00 |
| | | |
| | Any other animal | $20.00 |
(Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 5, 5-19-69; Ch. No. 6994, Sec. 1, 9-16-02)
Any dog or other animal may, the first time it is impounded for being a public nuisance, be reclaimed as provided in section 5-11(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. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 7, 5-19-69)
When in the judgment of the dog officer or any police officer in this city, an animal should be destroyed for humane reasons, such animal may not be reclaimed. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 7, 5-19-69)
(a) Every animal which bites a person shall be promptly reported to the dog officer, and shall thereupon be securely quarantined at the direction of the dog officer for a period of fourteen (14) days, and shall not be released from such quarantine except by written permission of the dog officer. At the discretion of the dog officer, such quarantine may be on the premises of the owner, at the shelter designated as the dog pound, or at the owner's option and expense, in a veterinary hospital of his choice. In the case of stray animals, or in the cases of animals whose ownership is not known, such quarantine shall be at the shelter designated by the dog officer.
(b) The owner upon demand by the dog officer shall forth-with surrender any animal which has bitten a human, or which is suspected as having been exposed to rabies, for supervised quarantine, the expense of which shall be borne by the owner. Such animal may be reclaimed by the owner if it is adjudged free of rabies, upon payment of fees set forth in section 5-13.
(c) When rabies has been diagnosed in an animal under quarantine or rabies suspected by a licensed veterinarian, and the animal dies while under such observation, the dog officer shall immediately send the head of such animal to the state health department for the pathological examination, and shall notify the proper public health officer of reports of human contacts and the diagnosis.
(d) When one (1) or both reports indicate a positive diagnosis of rabies, the dog officer shall recommend an area wide quarantine for a period of ninety (90) days, and upon invoking of such emergency quarantine, no animal shall be taken into the streets, or permitted to be in the streets, during such period of quarantine. During such quarantine, no animal may be taken or shipped from the city without written permission of the dog officer. During this quarantine period and as long afterward as he decides it is necessary to prevent the spread of rabies, the health officer shall require all dogs, three (3) months of age and older, to be vaccinated against rabies with a canine rabies vaccine approved by the Biologics Control Section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The types of approved canine anti-rabies vaccine to be used and the recognized duration of immunity for each shall be established by the health officer. All vaccinated dogs shall be restricted (leashing or confinement on enclosed premises) for thirty (30) days after vaccination. During the quarantine period, the health officer shall be empowered to provide for a program of mass immunization by the establishment of temporary emergency canine rabies vaccination clinics strategically located throughout the city. No dog which has been impounded by reason of its being a stray, unclaimed by its owner, is allowed to be claimed during the period of the rabies emergency quarantine, except by special authorization of the health officer and the dog officer.
(e) Dogs bitten by a known rabid animal shall be immediately destroyed or if the owner is unwilling to destroy the exposed animal, strict isolation of the animal in a kennel for six (6) months shall be enforced. If the dog has been previously vaccinated, within time limits established by the health officer based on the kind of vaccine used, revaccination and restraint (leashing and confinement) for thirty (30) days shall be carried out.
(f) In the event there are additional positive cases of rabies occurring during the period of the quarantine, such period of quarantine may be extended for an additional six (6) months.
(g) No person shall kill, or cause to be killed, any rabid animal, any animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies, or any animal biting a human, except as herein provided, nor remove from the city limits without written permission from the dog officer.
(h) The carcass of any dead animal exposed to rabies shall upon demand be surrendered to the dog officer.
(i) The dog officer shall direct the disposition of any animal found to be infected with rabies.
(j) No person shall fail or refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine or destruction as required herein when demand is made therefor by the dog officer. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 8, 5-19-69)
Cross reference--Health and sanitation, Ch. 11.
It shall be the duty of every physician or other medical practitioner, to report to the dog officer at the police department the names and addresses of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such other information as will be helpful in rabies control. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 9, 5-19-69)
It shall be the duty of every licensed veterinarian to report to the dog officer any animal considered by him to be a rabies suspect. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 10, 5-19-69)
(a) No dog over six (6) months old shall be permitted within the city limits unless such dogs shall have been vaccinated or immunized in the manner set forth in this chapter within a period of twelve (12) months, if such dog shall have been vaccinated or immunized with the one (1) year vaccine, or within a period of thirty-six (36) months, if such dog shall have been vaccinated or immunized by the three (3) year vaccine.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor any dog over six (6) months old within the city, unless such dog shall have been vaccinated or inoculated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (Ch. No. 2398, Secs. 12, 15, 5-19-69)
The vaccination or immunization referred to in section 5-20 (a) 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 (1) year vaccine or the three (3) year vaccine, together with such other information as may reasonably be required by the health officer or the veterinarian administering the same. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 13, 5-19-69)
No license shall be issued for any dog required to be licensed in the city unless the person making application therefor shall first present to the person duly authorized to issue such license a current certificate of vaccination or inoculation as provided in this chapter, for the dog for which such 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 chapter. Public clinics providing inoculations at a nominal charge shall be made available twice a year by the director of public safety. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 14, 5-19-69)
(a) Any dog over six (6) months old found within the limits of the city without evidence that such dog has been vaccinated or inoculated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be impounded by any police officer of the city or other authorized person for a period not exceeding fifteen (15) days, during which time such dog may be returned to its owner upon proof of ownership, vaccination of the dog, payment by such owner of the fees provided in section 5-13.
(b) At the expiration of the fifteen (15) day period above mentioned, any dog not so claimed by its owner may be disposed of in accordance with section 5-14. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 16, 5-19-69)
All complaints made under the provisions of this chapter shall be made to the dog officer and may be made orally, provided, however, that such complaint is within forty-eight hours, reduced to writing on forms provided by the dog officer and shall be signed by the complainant showing his address and telephone number, if any. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 18, 5-19-69)
In the discharge of the duties imposed by this chapter, the dog officer or any police officer of this city shall have the authority at all reasonable times to enter upon any premises (but such authority should not include the right to enter any residence on such premises) to examine a dog or other animal which is allegedly in violation of a provision of this chapter. Such officer shall have the further authority to take possession of any such dog or other animal and remove it from such premises. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 19, 5-19-69)
No person shall interfere with, hinder or molest the dog officer or any police officer of this city in the performance of his duties, or seek to release any animal in the custody of the dog officer or any police officer, except as provided in this chapter. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 20, 5-19-69)
(a) It shall be the duty of the dog officer to keep, or cause to be kept, accurate and detailed records of the impoundment and disposition of all animals coming into his custody.
(b) It shall be the duty of the dog officer to keep, or cause to be kept, accurate and detailed records of all bite cases reported to him and his investigation of the same.
(c) It shall be the duty of the dog officer to keep, or cause to be kept, accurate and detailed records of all monies belonging to the city which records shall be open to inspection at reasonable times by such persons responsible for similar records of the city and shall be audited by the city annually in the same manner as other city records are audited. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 21, 5-19-69)
(d) The dog officer shall present a report to the City Council, as provided in Chapter III, Section 9 of the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter and all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 21, 5-19-69; Ch. No. 6994, Sec. 1, 9-16-02)
(a) Hospitals, clinics, and other premises operated by licensed veterinarians for the care and treatment of animals are exempt from the provisions of this chapter, except where expressly stated.
(b) The licensing and vaccination requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any dog belonging to a nonresident of the city and kept within the city for not longer than thirty (30) days, provided all such dogs shall at all times while in the city be kept within a building, enclosure or vehicle, or be under restraint by the owner. (Ch. No. 2398, Sec. 11, 5-19-69)