The bill amends Section 4-13-42 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-13 entitled "Dogs" to introduce new regulations regarding the care of dogs. It specifies conditions under which dogs may be tethered or confined, including restrictions on the size of the tethered area, the type of collars used, the weight of the tether relative to the dog's body weight, and the duration of tethering or confinement. It prohibits tethering dogs overnight from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for more than 15 minutes and keeping dogs outside in extreme temperatures as per the Tufts Animal Care and Condition Weather Safety Scale. The bill also mandates adequate feed, water, and veterinary care, and prohibits exposing dogs to adverse weather conditions for conditioning purposes. Exceptions to these rules are provided for medical reasons, authorized hunting, livestock protection, sled dogs, licensed entities, veterinary facilities, and exhibitors with a class C license under the Animal Welfare Act, subject to annual renewal and revocation under certain conditions.

The bill increases the penalties for violations of the dog care statute, with fines ranging from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $1,000 per violation, replacing the previous range of $50 to $500. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense. The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) agents are authorized to enforce these provisions in cooperation with animal control officers and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM). The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
8095: 4-13-42