§ 4-1-22 - Care of neglected animals by society – Forfeiture of owner's rights – Expenses.
SECTION 4-1-22
§ 4-1-22 Care of neglected animals bysociety – Forfeiture of owner's rights – Expenses. – (a) An officer or agent of the Rhode Island society for the prevention ofcruelty to animals may lawfully take charge of any animal found abandoned orneglected or which in the opinion of that officer or agent is aged, maimed,disabled, lame, sick, diseased, injured, unfit for the labor it is performing,or cruelly treated, and shall give notice to the owner, if known, or hisagents, and may provide suitable care.
(b) Every owner or agent, upon conviction of abandonment,neglect, or cruel treatment of any animal taken charge of by the Rhode Islandsociety for the prevention of cruelty to animals under this section, forfeitsthe rights to ownership or control of that animal to the society fordisposition in any manner deemed suitable for that animal.
(c) Whenever any officer or agent of the Rhode Island societyfor the prevention of cruelty to animals lawfully takes charge of any animalunder this section, the expense of suitable care of that animal, uponconviction of the owner of that animal for a violation of any section of thischapter, is charged against the owner or agent of the owner having custody ofthat animal at the time the officer or agent of the Rhode Island society forthe prevention of cruelty to animals took charge of the animal. The RhodeIsland society for the prevention of cruelty to animals has the authority tocommence a civil action for damages against the owner or his or her agentthirty (30) days after a written demand for payment of the expense of thesuitable care of that animal has been sent and no payment received.