[Amended in entirety 12-7-2023. Prior history includes Ord. 6/11/62; Ord. 8/23/84.]
[1]
Editor's Note: For State Law as to the authority of the Town
Council, see Gen. Laws, 1956 as amended, Title 4, Chapter 13.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
a.
If a complaint is made to the police department or the Animal Control
Officer about any dog within the Town, which, by barking, biting,
howling, by reason of doing damage to property, or in any other way
or manner, unreasonably disturbs the peace, or annoys any person,
the Police Department or the Animal Control Officer shall investigate
the matter. If, after investigation, they shall find facts to warrant
the complaint, and if after due notice to the person owning or keeping
such dog or permitting such dog to be kept, the Police Department
or Animal Control Officer ascertain that the nuisance is not abated,
the Police Department or Animal Control Officer shall give notice
to such person owning or keeping the dog or permitting the dog to
be kept to forthwith remove such dog and keep him beyond the limits
of the Town; and such person shall thereupon cause such dog to be
forthwith removed and kept beyond the limits of the Town.
b.
A dog is considered to "unreasonably disturb the peace" if it causes
a disturbance by excessive barking or other noise making for sustained
periods of more than one-half hour during the day or night so as to
disturb the quiet of a neighborhood or area. This subsection does
not apply to a dog guarding, working or herding livestock.
c.
A dog is considered a "nuisance" if it damages, soils, defiles, or
defecates on private property other than the owner's or on public
property, unless such waste is immediately removed and properly disposed
of by the owner of such dog.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
[Amended 12-7-2023]
a.
The owner shall confine permanently within a building or secure enclosure,
every fierce, dangerous, or vicious dog, and shall not take such dog
out of such building or secure enclosure unless such dog is securely
muzzled.
b.
The owner of every female dog in heat shall keep it confined in a
building or secure enclosure, or in a veterinary hospital or boarding
kennel, in such a manner that such female dog cannot come in contact
with another dog, except for intentional breeding purposes.
c.
Any dog described in the foregoing subsections, found at large, may
be impounded by the Animal Control Officer.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
a.
Immediately upon impounding dogs or other animals the Animal Control
Officer or any Police Officer shall make reasonable efforts to notify
the owners of such dogs or other animals, so impounded, and inform
such owners of the conditions whereby they may regain custody of such
animals. 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. Unlicensed
dogs that are unclaimed after five (5) days may be placed up for adoption
at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer if not claimed by
their owner.
b.
Under emergency circumstances, the Animal Control Officer or any
Police Officer may destroy any injured or maimed animal after making
reasonable efforts to contact the owner of said animal if owner's
identification is present on the animal.
c.
It shall not be the responsibility of the Animal Control Officer
or any Police Officer to dispose of dogs at owner's request.
The owner of a dog or any domestic animal who wishes to dispose of
such animal, shall assume all cost and the responsibility for same.
d.
Every owner or keeper of a dog shall annually, in the month of April,
cause such dog to be licensed from the first day of the ensuing May
1, in the office of the Town Clerk. Such owner or keeper shall pay
to the Town Clerk the currently required license fee. Any person who
shall become the owner or keeper of a dog in the Town shall cause
the dog to be licensed within 30 days after they becomes the owner
or keeper. Every person, owning or keeping a dog not licensed and/or
collared according to the provisions of this section shall be fined
$25, and that fine shall be in addition to all other lawful fees.
e.
No license shall be issued for any dog required to be licensed in
the Town, unless the person making application shall first present
to the duly authorized person a current certificate of vaccination
or inoculation for said dog from a certified veterinary provider.
f.
All complaints made under the provisions of this section shall be
made to the Animal Control Officer or any Police Officer and may be
made by telephone or in person at the Little Compton Public Safety
Complex.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
In the discharge of the duties imposed by this section, the
Animal Control Officer or any Police Officer shall have the authority
at all reasonable times to enter upon any premises (but such authority
should not include the right to enter any residence on such premises
without owner's permission) to examine a dog or other animal
which it is reasonable to suspect is in violation of a provision of
this section. Such officer shall have the further authority to take
possession of any such dog or other animal and remove it from such
premises.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
[Amended 12-7-2023]
Any Police Officer or Animal Control Officer may, where applicable,
enforce the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended in entirety 12-7-2023. Prior history includes Ord. 6/11/62; Ord. 4/8/76; Ord.
6/23/77; Ord. 7/18/91.]
[Amended 12-7-2023]
a.
No person, being the owner of keeper of or having the charge or custody
of any dog, shall allow such dog to run loose off its owner or keeper's
property within the Town of Little Compton unless such dog is properly
leashed and said leash is controlled by the owner or keeper of such
dog. A dog or other animal is considered "leashed" within the meaning
of this chapter only when it has a cord or chain attached to its collar
or harness and is held by the owner, keeper or competent person leading
said animal, who shall have the animal under control. It is unlawful
for any owner of a dog to place that dog or allow it to be placed
in the custody of any other person not physically capable or maintaining
effective control or restricting the dog. Any dog found in this Town
off the owner's or keeper's premises, acting in a threatening
or menacing manner, or biting or attempting to bite any person so
as to constitute a public menace, may be impounded.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
Any person who willfully or negligently permits or allows a dog(s) to wander on or run at large upon any public or private property in the Town other than the property of the owner of the dog(s) may be fined according to Section 4-6 of this chapter.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
Any person who willfully or negligently permits or allows any cattle, horse, sheep, goat or pig, or any other animal to escape or stray from its enclosure or restraint onto or to wander on or run at large upon any public or private property in the Town other than the property of the owner of the animal may be fined according to Section 4-6 of this chapter.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
No dogs shall be allowed on South Shore Beach during the hours
the beach is open.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
Dogs are always prohibited on Goose Wing Beach.
[Added 12-7-2023]
a.
Aggressive dog means any dog that, is determined in writing by a
hearing pursuant to the provisions of RIGL § 4-13.1-11,
when unprovoked, bites, harms or attacks a human being or other animal
either on public or private property; or one who has been determined
to be aggressive by another municipality.
b.
Enclosure means a fence or structure at least six feet in height;
suitable to prevent the entry of young children and suitable to confine
an aggressive dog. Such enclosure shall be securely enclosed and locked
with secure sides, top and bottom to prevent escape of the dog from
the enclosure.
[Added 12-7-2023]
a.
Any person having custody, ownership or control of an aggressive
dog as defined must register said dog with the Town.
b.
No such dog shall be registered or licensed unless the owner or keeper
shall meet the following requirements:
1.
The owner or keeper shall present the Town Clerk, proof of liability
insurance in the amount of at least $100,000 valid for one year from
the date of registration and fully paid, covering any damage or injury
which may be caused by such aggressive dog.
2.
The owner or keeper shall not voluntarily cancel the liability insurance
unless they cease to own or keep the aggressive dog.
3.
The owner of keeper shall notify the Police Department within a reasonable
amount of time if the aggressive dog is on the loose, has attacked,
bitten, or injured, whether provoked or unprovoked and human or another
animal or has died or been sold or given away.
4.
The owner or keeper must ensure that the aggressive dog is securely
muzzled and restrained with a leash not exceeding three feet whenever
it is outside the owners dwelling or a secure dog enclosure.
[Added 12-7-2023]
a.
It shall be a violation of this section for an owner or keeper of
a dog(s) to fail to provide a dog with adequate feed, adequate clean
water, or adequate veterinary care. The adequate veterinary care may
be provided by an owner using acceptable animal husbandry practices.
[Added 12-7-2023]
a.
It shall be a violation of this section for an owner or keeper of
a dog(s) to keep a dog outside of adequate shelter during inclement
weather.
[Added 12-7-2023]
[Added 12-7-2023]
[Amended in entirety 12-7-2023. Prior history includes Ord. 7/11/55, § 1; Ord.
8/23/84, § 5.]
[1]
Editor's Note: For State Law as to the authority of the Town
Council, see Public Laws of 1955, Chapter 3571; see also, General
Laws as amended, Chapter 641.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
The owner of any animal going at large that has been impounded
shall not take the animal out of the shelter until they have paid
a $100 impound release fee. Upon payment an animal release form will
be provided by the Little Compton Police Department. A grace period
for payment of or waiving of the impound release fee shall be at the
discretion of the Chief of Police. If the animal in question is a
dog and the owner of said dog is a resident of the Town of Little
Compton, the resident shall license the dog and obtain an animal release
form prior to the dog being picked up from the shelter.
[Amended 12-7-2023]
This section is in addition to the provisions of Chapter 641
of the General Laws as amended and is in no way to be construed as
a limitation thereof.
[Ord. 8/23/84, § 8; amended 12-7-2023]
Under authority granted in Title 4, Chapter 13, Section 1 (4-13-1)
of the General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956 as amended, entitled "Regulatory
Ordinances-Enforcement", the following procedure is hereby established
to permit the enforcement of the Ordinances of the Town of Little
Compton pertaining to Chapter IV, Animal Control by pecuniary penalty
to be recovered by action of debt which may be offered to the person
violating this chapter.
Unless otherwise stated in this chapter the following schedule
of fees is herein established:
|
Offense
|
Fee
|
|---|---|
|
First offense
|
$50
|
|
Second offense
|
$100
|
|
Third offense
|
$200
|
Failure by the violator to dispose of any violation in the manner
herein provided will be deemed to be a waiver, on the part of the
violator to be allowed such privilege, and the Chief of Police will
cause a complaint to be filed in the Second Division Court, Newport,
Rhode Island.
The Chief of Police is hereby directed to have printed summonses
containing information as to the violation being cited, the manner
in which the violator may pay for the offense, by paying the prescribed
fee to the Town Treasurer, or set forth the date and time for appearance
in Court.
[1]
Editor's Note: For State Law as to the authority of the Town
Council, see Gen. Laws, 1956 as amended, Title 4, Chapter 13.
[Added 12-7-2023]
All complaints made under the provisions of this chapter shall
be made to the Animal Control Officer or any Police Officer and may
be made by telephone or in person at the Little Compton Public Safety
Complex.
