Rhode Island § 4-1-5 § 4-1-5. Malicious injury to or killing of animals.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 4-1-5 — § 4-1-5. Malicious injury to or killing of animals.

Rhode Island § 4-1-5

Title 4Animals and Animal Husbandry

Ch. 4-1Cruelty to Animals

This text of Rhode Island § 4-1-5 (§ 4-1-5. Malicious injury to or killing of 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 § 4-1-5 (2026).

Text

§ 4-1-5. Malicious injury to or killing of animals.

(a) Every person who cuts out the tongue or otherwise dismembers any animal maliciously; or maliciously kills or wounds any animal; or maliciously administers poison to or exposes any poisonous substance with intent that the poison shall be taken or swallowed by any animal; or who maliciously exposes poisoned meat with intent that the poison meat is taken or swallowed by any wild animal, shall be imprisoned not exceeding five

(5)years or be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), and shall, in the case of any animal of another, be liable to the owner of this animal for triple dam

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§ 4-1-5. Malicious injury to or killing of animals.

(a) Every person who cuts out the tongue or otherwise dismembers any animal maliciously; or maliciously kills or wounds any animal; or maliciously administers poison to or exposes any poisonous substance with intent that the poison shall be taken or swallowed by any animal; or who maliciously exposes poisoned meat with intent that the poison meat is taken or swallowed by any wild animal, shall be imprisoned not exceeding five (5) years or be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), and shall, in the case of any animal of another, be liable to the owner of this animal for triple damages, to be recovered by civil action. In addition, any person convicted under this section is required to serve fifty (50) hours of community restitution. The community restitution penalty shall not be suspended or deferred and is mandatory.

(b) This section shall not apply to licensed hunters during hunting season or a licensed business killing animals for human consumption.

Legislative History

G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 22; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 22; P.L. 1913, ch. 919, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 22; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 22; G.L. 1956, § 4-1-5; P.L. 1979, ch. 238, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 316, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 656, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 456, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 457, § 1.