Section 4-24-1. – Short title.

§ 4-24-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Rhode Island Permit Program for Cats.” History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 59, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 63, § 1.

Section 4-24-10. – Penalty for violation.

§ 4-24-10. Penalty for violation. Any person who violates the permit provisions of this chapter shall have no more than thirty (30) days to have their cat spayed or neutered or provide proof from a licensed veterinarian indicating that arrangements have been made to spay or neuter their cat(s). The animal control officer shall inform […]

Section 4-24-11. – Responsibility for enforcement.

§ 4-24-11. Responsibility for enforcement. The local animal control officer shall be responsible for the enforcement and administration of this chapter. History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 59, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 63, § 1.

Section 4-24-12. – Time for compliance.

§ 4-24-12. Time for compliance. Persons harboring a cat subject to this chapter on the effective date thereof [June 9, 2006] shall be given one hundred twenty (120) days from the date to comply with the provisions thereof. History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 59, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 63, § 1.

Section 4-24-13. – Low-cost spay/neuter accounts.

§ 4-24-13. Low-cost spay/neuter accounts. (a) All revenue generated pursuant to §§ 4-24-9 and 4-24-10 shall be deposited in the respective city and towns spay/neuter accounts. Said funds shall be divided equally with fifty percent (50%) of which to be reserved for the exclusive use of funding a low-cost spay/neuter program for the animals of […]

Section 4-24-2. – Legislative findings.

§ 4-24-2. Legislative findings. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that: (1) An unacceptable number of healthy, but abandoned cats are euthanized annually in Rhode Island. (2) Due to the large number of stray and abandoned cats, euthanasia is not a cost effective, acceptable or ethical solution to the threats to public health and […]

Section 4-24-3. – Spaying and neutering.

§ 4-24-3. Spaying and neutering. (a) No person, as defined by § 4-19-2, shall own or harbor, within the state, any cat over the age of six (6) months which has not been spayed or neutered, unless such person has adopted a cat from a licensed releasing agency as defined by § 4-19-2 and is […]

Section 4-24-4. – Breeding permits.

§ 4-24-4. Breeding permits. (a) No person shall cause or allow any cat owned or harbored in the city or town in which they live to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit under this section. (b) Each city or town animal control officer shall administer a permit program to allow the breeding of cats […]

Section 4-24-5. – Sale or adoption of cats.

§ 4-24-5. Sale or adoption of cats. (a) Any person or licensed business who provides or offers to the public, whether or not for compensation, any pet or pet related goods, where they are the primary products, or pet services shall provide to their clients, at no charge, information relating to pet care and ownership, […]

Section 4-24-6. – Revocation of permit.

§ 4-24-6. Revocation of permit. (a) Any permit issued may be revoked if the animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe any of the following to be true: (1) The permittee has violated the provisions of chapter 19 of this title or any other state or local ordinances relating to the keeping, care or […]

Section 4-24-7. – Farmland exemption.

§ 4-24-7. Farmland exemption. Farmland defined as any tract or tracts of land, including woodland and wasteland constituting a farm unit which is actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use including, but not limited to: forages and sod crops; grains and feed crops; fruits and vegetables; poultry, dairy, and other livestock and their products; nursery, […]

Section 4-24-8. – Abandonment of cats.

§ 4-24-8. Abandonment of cats. If any cat is abandoned by their owner or any person having charge or custody of that cat, that person shall, for each offense be punished in the manner provided in § 4-1-2. History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 59, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 63, § 1.

Section 4-24-9. – Canine surcharge.

§ 4-24-9. Canine surcharge. (a) Each city and town is required to collect a one dollar ($1.00) surcharge on each dog license issued by the municipality. The revenue generated by this surcharge shall be deposited in the respective city’s and town’s spay/neuter account to fund low-cost spay/neuter programs. (b) Any remaining revenue collected pursuant to […]