[Adopted 8-13-1991 by Ch. No. 983 as §§ 3-20 through 3-24 of the 1991 Code (Ch. No. 1322)]
It is hereby declared:
A. 
That dogs possessing an aggressive nature are a threat to the safety and welfare of citizens of the Town, in that aggressive dogs have in recent years assaulted without provocation and injured numerous individuals, and have killed numerous other animals. Many of these attacks have occurred in public places as well as on private property.
B. 
That the number of these attacks are attributable to the failure of owners to register, confine and properly control aggressive dogs.
C. 
That there is the necessity for the regulation and control of aggressive dogs by the Town and that existing ordinances are inadequate to deal with the threat to public health and safety posed by aggressive dogs.
The following words and terms shall be defined as follows:
AGGRESSIVE DOG
A "vicious dog" as defined in RIGL 4-13.1-2.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
ENCLOSURE
A fence of at least six feet in height, forming or causing a barrier suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and suitable to confine an aggressive dog in conjunction with other measures which may be taken by the owner or keeper, such as tethering of the aggressive dog. The enclosure shall be securely locked and designed to prevent the animal from escaping and act as an exercise run. This enclosure shall have a cement patio to prevent the dog from burrowing, a rooftop enclosure and shall be not less than 100 square feet.
A. 
The owner or keeper of any dog falling within the definition of "aggressive dog" herein shall display a sign on his or her premises warning that there is an aggressive dog or guard dog on the premises. The sign shall be visible and capable of being read from the public highway.
B. 
Such owner or keeper shall, on or prior to the effective date of the licensing of the animal, have an enclosure as defined herein for the aggressive dog on the property where the aggressive dog will be kept or maintained.
C. 
Such owner or keeper shall notify the licensing authority and the Animal Control Officer or Police Department within one hour if an aggressive dog is on the loose, has attacked a human being, has died or has been sold or given away; the owner or keeper shall also provide the licensing authority with the name, address and telephone number of the new owner of the dog.
D. 
At any time when an aggressive dog is not in its enclosure, the animal must be securely muzzled and restrained with a leash or chain having a minimum tensile strength of 300 pounds and not exceeding three feet in length, and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the owner or keeper of the vicious dog.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
The Animal Control Officer is hereby empowered to make whatever inquiry is deemed necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this article, and any such Animal Control Officer is hereby empowered to seize and impound any aggressive dog whose owner or keeper fails to comply with the provision hereof.
B. 
The owner of any animal who is guilty of any violation of this article shall be fined a sum of $500 and shall provide satisfactory evidence to the Animal Control Officer that liability insurance is in effect for not less than $25,000.
C. 
In the event that the owner or keeper of an aggressive dog refuses to surrender the animal to the Animal Control Officer, the Animal Control Officer may request a police officer to obtain a warrant from the Municipal Court Judge of the Town of Westerly and to seize the dog upon execution of the warrant.