The bill proposes amendments to the General Laws in Chapter 4-13 entitled "Dogs," which would allow city or town councils to create and enforce ordinances concerning dogs, including the imposition of fines for dog-related offenses. The fines for a first offense can be up to $10, with higher fines for subsequent offenses within a year, and the amounts can vary by town, with Barrington, Bristol, and Middletown having the authority to impose fines up to $75, $100, and $200 respectively for certain offenses. The bill also empowers town councils to enact ordinances for animal control officers to issue citations payable by mail and to regulate the number of licensed dogs at a single-family residence, excluding breeding kennels. Specific provisions are included for various towns, each with the ability to set its own fine amounts and regulations.

The bill further outlines the authority for town councils to establish fines for repeated animal control offenses within a year, with Richmond allowed to set fines up to $100 and issue citations for fines up to $500. Towns such as Scituate, Smithfield, Tiverton, and others have similar provisions with varying maximum fines. Pawtucket city council can impose fines up to $1,000 for repeated offenses related to pit bull ownership and can enforce imprisonment for unlicensed pit bulls. The bill also addresses the impoundment of dogs, requiring owners to pay expenses before reclaiming their pets. No deletions from current law are indicated, but new legal language is added to enhance local authority over animal control. The bill includes a provision for Hopkinton to establish higher fines for dog ordinance violations, with a scale of $50 for the first offense and up to $150 for subsequent offenses within a year, and an impoundment fee of not more than $20 per day. The act would take effect immediately upon passage.