Four dog-related bills tracked by the American Kennel Club (AKC) were recently signed into law by Rhode Island Governor McKee.
HOUSE BILL 7294/SENATE BILL 2732 – CAPTIVE HUNTING PROHIBITED
H.7294 amended/S.2792 amended were signed into law on June 24 and are effective immediately. The law prohibits captive hunting of domestic or wild animals but, does not prohibit the release of upland game birds for hunting on licensed shooting preserves. AKC negotiated a clarifying amendment to ensure these changes would not interfere with lawful field trials, which was included in the bill’s final language. AKC is grateful to New England Chapter Backcountry Hunters & Anglers for supporting the clarifying amendment to their legislation.
HOUSE BILL 7970 – DOMESTIC RELATIONS – PETS IN DIVORCE AND SEPARATION PROCEEDINGS
H. 7970 was signed on June 26 and is effective immediately. It establishes a custody procedure for domestic companion animals in divorce and separation cases by requiring the court consider the best interest of the animal, including factors such as original ownership, caretaking responsibilities, time spent with the animal, living arrangements, children’s attachment to the animal, and shared custody logistics. Three years ago, AKC secured amendments to this re-filed bill substituting the words “ownership” and “possession” in lieu of “custody” because of the common divorce and separation proceedings’ use of the word “custody” in relation to children. However, the sponsor reserved using “shared custody” in this session’s version in relation to court decisions awarding joint ownership. Despite AKC’s testimony requesting an amendment removing the term, the bill advanced with support from the Rhode Island Family Court’s Chief Judge to the Governor’s desk, without AKC’s requested change.
HOUSE BILL 8060 – HOPKINTON ANIMAL ORDINANCES
H. 8060 authorizes the town of Hopkinton to enact ordinances that increase the fines pertaining to the violation of any dog ordinance. It became law without the Governor’s signature on June 20.
SENATE BILL 2538 – REGULATION OF VICIOUS DOGS
Amended S. 2538 permits euthanasia of a vicious dog upon finding that its condition warrants euthanasia or after determination that there is no reasonable placement for the dog. Any municipality that surrenders one to RISPCA will be responsible for the costs. The Governor signed it into law on June 24 and it becomes effective immediately.
For more information on these or other legislative issues in Rhode Island, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.