As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise, the
following terms mean as indicated below:
The person employed by the town as its officer to enforce this chapter.
All full-time employees of the Police Department of said town by virtue of
their office shall be Deputy Animal Control Officers. During the absence of
the Animal Control Officer, he may designate a substitute to act in his place.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
Any animal shall be deemed to be "at large" when he is off the property
of his owner and not under control of a competent person.
Any premises designated by action of the town for the purpose of
impounding and caring for all animals in violation of this chapter.
An animal that has been bitten by or been exposed to any animal determined
by competent authority to have been infected with rabies.
Any establishment engaged in breeding, buying, selling, training
or boarding animals.
Any person owning, keeping or harboring an animal.
An animal that is controlled or at heel beside a competent person
and obedient to that person's commands, on or within a vehicle being
driven or parked on the street or within the property limits of its owner
or keeper.
Any bitch which has been operated upon by an ovarian hysterectomy
to prevent conception.
A veterinarian licensed to practice under the laws of Rhode Island.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145; 6-12-1989
by Ch. 171; 6-11-1990 by Ord. No. 177]
All dogs over six (6) months old within the jurisdiction of the Town
of Charlestown shall be required to be licensed annually. The fee for said
license shall not exceed that set by resolution by the Town Council.[1] The Town shall also charge an additional fee, to be set by resolution
by the Town Council, for each license, said fee to be used exclusively by
the town for enforcement of laws pertaining to animals.[2]
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
In addition to the valid license tag, every dog shall be required to
wear a plate or tag securely attached to its collar, showing the name, town
and telephone number of the owner or keeper of the dog.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Animal Control
Officer and Deputy Animal Control Officers of the town.
A.
In the discharge of the duties imposed by this chapter,
the Animal Control Officer or Deputy Animal Control Officer 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 further authority to take possession of any
such dog or other animal and remove it from such premises.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
No person shall interfere with, hinder or molest the Animal Control
Officer or any Deputy Animal Control Officer in the performance of his duties
or seek to release any animal in the custody of the Animal Control Officer
or any Deputy Animal Control Officer, except as herein provided.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
All complaints made under the provisions of this chapter shall be made
to the Animal Control Officer or Deputy Animal Control Officer and may be
made orally; provided, however, that, within forty-eight (48) hours, such
complaint shall be reduced to writing on forms provided by the animal rescue
officer and shall be signed by the complainant, showing his address and telephone
number, if any.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
It shall be unlawful to allow or permit any animal to trespass on private
or public property so as to damage or destroy any property or thing of value,
and the same is hereby declared to be a nuisance. Whenever it shall be affirmed
in writing and signed by a resident of this town or by a person regularly
employed in the neighborhood and such complaint has been verified by the Animal
Control Officer or a Deputy Animal Control Officer that any animal is a habitual
nuisance by reason of trespassing, howling, barking or making other noise,
causing damage to property, being vicious or by its actions potentially vicious
or in any other manner causing undue annoyance, the Animal Control Officer,
if he finds such nuisance to exist, shall serve notice upon the owner or custodian
of such animal that such nuisance must be abated within a period not to exceed
three (3) days after the service of such notice.
The keeping or harboring of any dog, or other animal or fowl, whether
licensed or not, which by habitual howling, yelping, barking or other noise
disturbs or annoys a considerable number of persons or a neighborhood, is
unlawful and is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, and each day shall
constitute a separate offense.
An owner shall keep his dog under restraint at all times and shall not
permit such dog to be at large, off his premises or property, unless under
the control of a competent person.
A.
No dogs shall be allowed in yards of public or private
schools or on town beaches either at large or under restraint.
B.
No dogs shall be allowed in any stores or eating places
within the town whether at large or under restraint.
C.
This section shall not apply to Seeing Eye dogs accompanying
a blind or disabled person.
The owner shall confine, within a building or secure enclosure, every
fierce, dangerous or vicious dog and not take such dog out of such building
or secure enclosure unless such dog is securely muzzled and on a leash.
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 boarding
kennel, in such a manner that such animal cannot come in contact with another
animal, except for intentional breeding purposes.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 146]
No wild animals may be kept within the town limits except under such
conditions as shall be fixed by the Animal Control Officer; provided, however,
that wild animals may be kept for exhibition purposes by circuses, zoos and
educational institutions, in accordance with such regulations as shall be
established by the Animal Control Officer. Any wild animal which escapes and
is found at large may be destroyed by the Animal Control Officer or Deputy
Animal Control Officer of this town.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
Under emergency circumstances, the Animal Control Officer or a Deputy
Animal Control Officer may destroy an animal but only after making every effort
to communicate with the owner.
