Rhode Island § 4-13-38 - Dogs

§ 4-13-38. Dogs attacking deer.

A person owning, keeping or possessing a dog shall not allow, permit or consent to this dog chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing a deer. The director of environmental management is authorized to issue an order to restrain all dogs from running at large in any city or town where, in the director’s opinion, this restraining order is necessary to prevent dogs from chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing deer. This order shall be in effect forty-eight (48) hours after publication in one or more newspapers circulated in the city or town. When, in the director’s opinion, the director determines that this restraining order is no longer necessary, the director shall, by publication, rescind this order. A person owning, keeping, or possessing a dog shall restrain it from running at large in any city or town in which this restraining order is in effect. The chief of the division of enforcement, the chief’s assistants, conservation officers, members of the state police, members of the local police, in areas over which they have jurisdiction, may issue a citation to the owner of any dog found chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing a deer, charging the owner with a violation of this chapter. During any period when this order is not in force, the chief of the division of enforcement, the chief’s assistants, conservation officers and members of the state police and members of the local police and park police in areas over which they have jurisdiction, may issue a citation to the owner of any dog found chasing or hunting a deer if the dog is chasing or hunting with the knowledge or consent of the owner. Whenever a dog has been found chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing a deer and the owner or keeper of the dog has been notified by the director, and the same dog is found chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing, it shall be prima facie evidence that this chasing, hunting, molesting, attacking, or killing was with the knowledge or consent of the owner or keeper.