[1]
Editor's Note: For related provisions, see G.L. 1956 § 4-13-26
et seq.
A.
No dog over six (6) months old shall be permitted within
the town limits unless such dog shall have been vaccinated or immunized against
rabies within a period of twelve (12) months, if such dog shall have been
vaccinated or immunized with the one-year vaccine, or within a period of thirty-six
(36) months, if such dog shall have been vaccinated or immunized with the
three-year vaccine.
B.
The vaccination or immunization required by this section
shall be by a vaccine approved by the Health Officer and shall be certified
to by a veterinarian. Such certificate shall be dated as of the date of inoculation
or vaccination, shall show the rabies tag number, the sex and breed of the
dog and the owner thereof and whether the vaccine given is the one-year vaccine
or the three-year vaccine, together with such other information as may reasonably
be required by the Health Officer or the veterinarian administering the same.
C.
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, or other person duly authorized to issue such license,
a current certification of vaccination or inoculation, as provided in this
section, 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
section.
D.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor
any dog over six (6) months old within the town, unless such dog shall have
been vaccinated or inoculated in accordance with the provisions of this section.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
It shall be the duty of every physician or other medical practitioner
to report to the Animal Control Officer or to 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.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
Any dog or cat vaccinated or unvaccinated that bites a person shall
be impounded for ten (10) days (quarantine observation), unless the owner
of said animal can provide satisfactory assurance to the Animal Control Officer
that said animal will be confined within a building or secure enclosure, in
strict isolation, for a period not less than ten (10) days, and further agree
to let the Animal Control Officer or Deputy Animal Control Officer, at a reasonable
time, to enter upon the premises to examine said animal periodically. Violation
of this quarantine by the owner or keeper of said animal will result in immediate
impoundment of said animal for the remainder of ten (10) days' quarantine.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
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
and his investigation of the same.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
It shall be the duty of every veterinarian to report to the Animal Control
Officer any animal considered by him to be a rabies suspect.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
A dog which is bitten by a known rabid animal shall be immediately destroyed
by the Animal Control Officer, or, if the owner is unwilling to destroy the
exposed animal, strict isolation of the animal in a kennel approved by the
Animal Control Officer for six (6) months shall be enforced. If the dog has
been previously vaccinated, within time limits established by the Health Officer
based on the kind of vaccine used, revaccination and restraint (leashing and
confinement) for thirty (30) days shall be carried out. The head of an animal
so destroyed shall be sent to the appropriate official of the state for examination
and evaluation.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
No person shall kill, or cause to be killed, any rabid animal suspected
of having been exposed to rabies, or any animal biting a human, except as
herein provided, nor remove it from the town limits without written permission
from the Animal Control Officer.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
The carcass of any dead animal exposed to rabies shall, upon demand,
be surrendered to the Animal Control Officer or Deputy Animal Control Officer.
[Amended 1-13-1986 by Ch. 145]
No person shall fail or refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine
or destruction as required herein when demand is made therefor by the Animal
Control Officer or Deputy Animal Control Officer.
