§ 4-1-1. Definitions — Responsibility for agents and employees.
(a) In this chapter and in §§ 4-4-9, 4-4-10, and 23-19-8:
(1) "Animal� and "animals� means every living creature except a human being.
(2) "Licensed graduate veterinarian� or "veterinarian� means a person licensed to engage
in the practice of veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry in this state who is
a graduate of an accredited veterinary medical, surgical, and dental school or college
of a standard recognized by the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association.
(3) "Owner,� "person,� and "whoever� means corporations as well as individuals.
(4) "Guardian� shall mean a person(s) having the same rights and responsibilities of an
owner, and both terms shall be used interchangeably. A guardian shall also mean a
person who possesses, has title to or an interest in, harbors, or has control, custody,
or possession of an animal and who is responsible for an animal's safety and well-being.
(5) Except for livestock as defined in § 4-26-3(6), "adequate living conditionsâ€� shall mean a sanitary environment that is dry and free
of accumulated feces and free of debris and garbage that may clutter the environment,
pose a danger, or entangle the animal. The environment in which the animal is kept
must be consistent with federal regulatory requirements, where applicable, or generally
recognized professional standards, where applicable, or otherwise be of sufficient
size so as not to inhibit comfortable rest, normal posture, or range of movement,
and suitable to maintain the animal in a good state of health. "Adequate living conditions�
for livestock as defined in § 4-26-3(6) shall mean best management practices established, no later than July 1, 2014, by
the Rhode Island livestock welfare and care standards advisory council.
(6) Except for livestock as defined in § 4-26-3, "hazardous accumulation of animalsâ€� means the accumulation of a large number of
animals, to a point where the owner, possessor, or person having the charge of custody
of the aforementioned animals fails to or is unable to provide "adequate living conditions�
as defined herein, resulting in harm or danger to the health and wellbeing of the
animals.
(b) The knowledge and acts of agents of and persons employed by corporations in regard
to animals transported, owned or employed by or in the custody of that corporation
are held to be the acts and knowledge of that corporation.