Rhode Island § 4-15-7 - Animals at Large

§ 4-15-7. Fees paid to poundkeeper.

(a) The owner of any impounded animal shall not take the animal out of the pound until he or she first pays to the poundkeeper, the expenses of keeping that animal, no regard being had to the milk derived from the animal, and the fees of the poundkeeper for receiving the animal into the pound, namely: for each horse and neat-beast, not more than five dollars ($5.00); for each sheep and hog, not more than three dollars ($3.00); for every notification set up, or notice given to the owner, not more than one dollar ($1.00); and the following penalties, namely: for every horse, neat-beast, hog, and sheep, not more than two dollars ($2.00) as by ordinance provided by each town or city.

(b) The Richmond town council is authorized to enact ordinances:

(1) Prohibiting the owner or custodian of any animal including, but not limited to, horses, cattle, goats, sheep, swine, emus, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, poultry, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, pea fowl, peacocks, ostriches, reptiles, and birds, to allow that animal to be at large;

(2) Authorizing the animal control officer or any police officer to seize and impound any animal found off the property of its owner or custodian;

(3) Imposing the penalties prescribed by 4-13-1(b)(12) for allowing any animal to be at large; and

(4) Permitting the animal control officer or any police officer to issue citations for violations and to provide for payment of fines by mail.