§ 4-13-15 - Collaring of dogs – Impoundment and disposition of uncollared dogs.
SECTION 4-13-15
§ 4-13-15 Collaring of dogs –Impoundment and disposition of uncollared dogs. – (a) Every owner or keeper of a dog shall cause the dog to wear a collar aroundits neck distinctly marked with its owner's or keeper's name and with itsregistered number. Any person may cause any dog not so collared to be impoundedin the public pound of the town or city where the dog is found; and if the dogis not claimed by its owner or keeper within a period of five (5) days afterthe impoundment, the dog may be disposed of or destroyed. The five (5) daysshall not include any day or part of a day that the public pound is not openfor a specified period of time, not to be less than one-half (1/2) the normalhours of business, for the purpose of reclaiming any impounded dog by itsrightful owner. All periods of time shall be listed in a prominent location atthe entrance to all public pounds. The owner or keeper of any dog so impoundedshall not take the dog out of the pound until he or she has first paid to thepoundkeeper the expense of keeping the dog, that expense not to exceed twodollars ($2.00) per day and to be determined by the city or town council inwhich impoundment occurs. The town council of the town of Glocester may, byordinance, determine an expense not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) for each ofthe first five (5) days during which this impoundment occurs plus five dollars($5.00) every day the animal is detained, plus an additional ten dollars($10.00) if the owner or keeper is unable to show that the dog has a currentrabies shot pursuant to § 4-13-31, and further, the dog shall not bereleased from the pound until all the provisions of this chapter and theordinances of the city or town are complied with. The provisions of thissection relating to the five (5) day waiting period shall not be deemed toapply to any dog which, when impounded, was injured or maimed, and after thedog has been examined by a licensed veterinarian who shall confirm, in writing,that the dog be destroyed for humanitarian purposes.
The town of West Warwick may provide by ordinance animpounding fee of five dollars ($5.00) per day and may provide by ordinance fora fee for the purposes of transferring ownership or for the disposition of saidanimals according to law for each adult dog (six (6) months or older) the sumof twenty dollars ($20.00) and for each puppy the sum of five dollars ($5.00)for each adult cat (six (6) months or older) the sum of ten dollars ($10.00).
(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section issubject to the penalty provisions of § 4-1-2.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) the towncouncil of the town of Exeter may impose an initial impoundment fee of up tofifteen dollars ($15.00) plus two dollars ($2.00) per day for each day ofimpoundment.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), thecity council of the city of East Providence is authorized to enact an ordinanceimposing an initial impoundment fee of up to twenty dollars ($20.00) plus fivedollars ($5.00) per day for each day of impoundment.