Rhode Island § 4-1-21 § 4-1-21. Powers of agents of society for prevention of cruelty to animals.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 4-1-21 — § 4-1-21. Powers of agents of society for prevention of cruelty to animals.

Rhode Island § 4-1-21

Title 4Animals and Animal Husbandry

Ch. 4-1Cruelty to Animals

This text of Rhode Island § 4-1-21 (§ 4-1-21. Powers of agents of society for prevention of cruelty to animals.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-21 (2026).

Text

§ 4-1-21. Powers of agents of society for prevention of cruelty to animals.
The general agent of the Rhode Island society for the prevention of cruelty to animals
            and any number of special agents as may be appointed by that society have the same
            power and authority to arrest as any officer authorized to serve criminal process
            for the purpose of enforcing any of the laws of this state in relation to cruelty
            to animals, that power and authority to extend throughout the state, and they may
            serve any search warrant issued under § 4-1-19 and may search any building or place named in that warrant. A general agent and any
            special agents may, for the purpos

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

§ 4-1-21. Powers of agents of society for prevention of cruelty to animals.

The general agent of the Rhode Island society for the prevention of cruelty to animals and any number of special agents as may be appointed by that society have the same power and authority to arrest as any officer authorized to serve criminal process for the purpose of enforcing any of the laws of this state in relation to cruelty to animals, that power and authority to extend throughout the state, and they may serve any search warrant issued under § 4-1-19 and may search any building or place named in that warrant. A general agent and any special agents may, for the purpose of carrying out their duties, possess and carry pistols as defined in § 11-47-2, and the provisions of § 11-47-8 shall not apply to them. Any person who interferes with or obstructs any of those agents in the discharge of their duty shall be guilty of obstructing an officer and punished as provided in § 11-32-1.

Legislative History

G.L. 1909, ch. 114, § 19; P.L. 1907, ch. 1446, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 138, § 18; G.L. 1923, ch. 141, § 18; G.L. 1938, ch. 640, § 18; P.L. 1945, ch. 1651, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 4-1-21; P.L. 2013, ch. 501, § 1.