Rhode Island § 4-1-43 § 4-1-43. Use of bullhooks or similar devices on elephants prohibited.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 4-1-43 — § 4-1-43. Use of bullhooks or similar devices on elephants prohibited.

Rhode Island § 4-1-43

Title 4Animals and Animal Husbandry

Ch. 4-1Cruelty to Animals

This text of Rhode Island § 4-1-43 (§ 4-1-43. Use of bullhooks or similar devices on elephants prohibited.) 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 § 4-1-43 (2026).

Text

§ 4-1-43. Use of bullhooks or similar devices on elephants prohibited.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person who houses, possesses, or is
            in direct contact with an elephant utilized in a traveling show shall not:
         
(1) Use a bullhook, ankus, baseball bat, axe handle, pitchfork, or similar device designed
            to inflict pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant;
            or
         
(2) Permit an employee, agent, or contractor to use a bullhook, ankus, baseball bat, axe
            handle, pitchfork, or similar device designed to inflict pain for the p

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

§ 4-1-43. Use of bullhooks or similar devices on elephants prohibited.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person who houses, possesses, or is in direct contact with an elephant utilized in a traveling show shall not:

(1) Use a bullhook, ankus, baseball bat, axe handle, pitchfork, or similar device designed to inflict pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant; or

(2) Permit an employee, agent, or contractor to use a bullhook, ankus, baseball bat, axe handle, pitchfork, or similar device designed to inflict pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant.

(b) For purposes of this section "traveling showâ€� means a circus, public show, trade show, photographic opportunity, carnival, city or county fair, ride, parade, race, performance or similar undertaking that involves transporting elephants from location to location or otherwise moves elephants away from a place of permanent residency for performance purposes. The term "traveling showâ€� does not include the transportation of an elephant between nonprofit United States Department of Agriculture licensed sanctuaries for the purpose of providing lifetime care.

(c) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.