The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
The person(s) employed by the Town as its enforcement officer,
and shall include any police officer or Constable of said Town.
Any dog or other animal shall be deemed at large when not
under restraint.
Any premises designated by action of the Town for the purpose
of impounding and caring for animals under the provisions of this
chapter.
An animal has been exposed to rabies if it has been bitten
by, or been exposed to, any animal known to have been infected with
rabies.
Any person, group of persons, or corporation owning, keeping
or harboring a dog or other animal.
A dog or other animal is under restraint within the meaning
of this chapter if it is:
Any bitch which has been operated upon to prevent conception.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Animal
Control Officer of the Town of West Greenwich and any police officer
or Constable of said Town.
No person shall interfere with, hinder or molest the Animal
Control Officer, any police officer or Constable of said Town in the
performance of his/her duties, or seek to release any animal in custody
of the Animal Control Officer, any police officer, or Constable except
as herein provided.
A.
Hospitals, clinics and other premises operated by a licensed veterinarian
for the care and treatment of animals are exempt from the provisions
of this chapter, except where expressly stated.
B.
The licensing and vaccination requirements of this chapter shall
not apply to any dog belonging to a nonresident of the Town and kept
within the Town for not longer than 30 days, provided all such dogs
shall at all times while in the Town be kept within a building, enclosure,
or vehicle or be under restraint by the owner.
All complaints made under the provisions of this chapter shall
be made to the Animal Control Officer and may be made orally; provided,
however, that within 48 hours such complaint shall be reduced to writing
on forms provided by the Animal Control Officer and shall be signed
by the complainant, showing the complainant's full name, address,
telephone number and date of birth.
A.
In the discharge of the duties imposed by this chapter, the Animal
Control Officer or any police officer of this Town shall have the
authority, at all reasonable times, to enter upon any premises to
examine a dog or other animal which is allegedly in violation of a
provision of this chapter. Such officer shall have the further authority
to take possession of any such dog or other animal and remove it from
such premises with a court order where necessary.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
The owner of any dog shall keep said dog under restraint at
all times and shall not permit such dog to be at large within the
Town. Dogs which are impounded shall be liable for an impoundment
fee and holding fee in any calendar year as set from time to time
by the Town Council.
A.
No dog shall be allowed in any school yard or on any school property,
whether such dog is at large or under restraint, unless sanctioned
by the School Department and excepting dogs in vehicles.
B.
No dog shall be allowed in any store or eating place within the Town,
whether such dog is at large or under restraint.
C.
This section shall not apply to Seeing Eye or service dogs accompanying
a blind or disabled person.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
It shall be the duty of every physician, hospital or other medical
practitioner to report to the Animal Control Officer, at the Police
Department, the names and addresses of persons treated for bites inflicted
by animals, together with such other information as will be helpful
in rabies control.
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to keep or
cause to be kept accurate and detailed records of all bite cases reported
to him/her and his/her investigation of such cases.
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to keep or
cause to be kept accurate and detailed records of the impoundment
and disposition of all animals coming into his/her custody.
A.
The owner shall confine within a building or secure enclosure every
fierce, dangerous or vicious dog or other animal, and shall not take
such dog or other animal out of such building or secure enclosure
unless such dog is securely muzzled and such other animal is provided
with a similar device for ensuring the safety of the public.
B.
Every female dog or other animal, when in heat, shall be kept confined
in a building or secure enclosure or in a veterinary hospital or a
boarding kennel in such a manner that such female animal cannot come
in contact with another dog or animal, except for intentional breeding
purposes.
A.
Whenever it shall be affirmed in writing by any two persons having
separate residence or regularly employed in the neighborhood or if
the Animal Control Officer or police officer determines in his or
her judgment that any domestic animal is a habitual nuisance by reason
of trespassing, howling, barking, or other noise (day or night), or
by damaging property, being vicious or by its actions potentially
vicious, or if the animal displays vicious actions such as biting,
chasing or attacking a human or any animal, the Animal Control Officer
or police officer shall have the authority to issue violations and/or
impound said animal and/or serve notice upon the owner or custodian
that such nuisance or vicious actions must be abated. Each day that
such condition continues shall constitute a separate offense.
B.
Livestock and fowl shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter
relative to noise disturbances; however, livestock and fowl shall
not be permitted to run at large.
C.
Any residence utilizing a pet (dog) door allowing animals to enter
and exit the home shall keep the pet door locked from 10:00 p.m. to
6:00 a.m. so as not to cause a nuisance due to barking, howling or
other noise. Each occurrence shall constitute a separate offense.
D.
It shall be unlawful for any owner of a dog or other animal to refuse
or neglect to abate such a nuisance within 24 hours after verbal or
written notice to do so.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
No wild animals may be kept within the Town limits, unless otherwise
permitted by Rhode Island General Laws Title 4 (Animal Husbandry),
Chapter 18 (Importation of Wild Animals).
No license shall be issued for any dog required to be licensed
in the Town unless the person making application therefor shall first
present to the Town Clerk a current certificate of vaccination or
inoculation, as provided in this chapter, for the dog for which such
license is requested. Such certificate shall certify that the dog
for which the license is to be issued has been properly vaccinated
or inoculated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
A.
Every owner or keeper of a dog who resides in the Town shall, annually,
in the month of April cause such dog to be licensed for the first
day of the ensuing May in the office of the Town Clerk, and shall
pay to the Town Clerk fees as set from time to time by the Town Council
plus an additional surcharge pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 4-24-9.
A late fee shall be assessed for dogs registered after May 15 of each
year. All licenses issued under this section shall be valid during
the then-current year. All persons licensing dogs must be 18 years
of age or have a parent/guardian sign to be legally responsible for
the dog(s) if said dog(s) incurs fees/fines/damages, etc.
B.
Any person who becomes the owner or keeper of a dog shall cause such
dog to be licensed as provided in this section within 30 days after
such person becomes such owner or keeper.
C.
All dogs must be registered/licensed upon six months of age in accordance
with Rhode Island General Laws.
D.
A fee as set from time to time by the Town Council shall be assessed
for a replacement dog tag.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor any
dog, cat or ferret over four months of age within the Town, unless
such dog, cat or ferret shall have been vaccinated or inoculated in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Any person violating
this section shall be fined not less than $200 for each offence.
It shall be unlawful for any person to bury or cause to be buried
the body of any horse, ox, mule, cow, bull, sheep, dog or other large
animal within the Town limits, unless every part and portion of such
body shall be at least three feet below the natural surface of the
ground where the same is buried and such burial is done in conformity
with the requirements of the Animal Control Officer or in accordance
with accepted practice.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than six licensed
dogs at the same residence, except as permitted by the Animal Control
Officer or if more than six dogs are currently already licensed with
the Town at the time of adoption of this chapter. This provision shall
not apply to licensed kennels.
B.
Should the number of cats/ferrets in a residence be deemed to be
unsafe, unsanitary or unhealthy to the residents or animals by the
Department of Health, Human Services, or equivalent authority, then
the Animal Control Officer will cite the responsible party or parties
and remove the animals at the owner's expense.
D.
The Animal Control Officer has the obligation to notify the residents
of his or her intent to enter the property to determine the ownership
or caretaker of an animal(s). If the resident is not at home, proper
notification shall be left that the Animal Control Officer was there
and what was accomplished.
