§ 4-13-15.1. Ordinances concerning unrestricted and vicious dogs prohibited — Leash laws.
(a) City or town councils may make any ordinances concerning dogs in their cities or towns
as the councils deem expedient, pertaining to the conduct of dogs, which ordinances
shall include regulations relating to unrestricted dogs, leash laws, confinement,
and destruction of vicious dogs. Those ordinances may provide as follows:
(1) Every owner or custodian of a dog shall cause that dog not to run unrestricted anywhere
in the city or town. This section does not apply to any person who uses a dog under
his or her direc
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§ 4-13-15.1. Ordinances concerning unrestricted and vicious dogs prohibited — Leash laws.
(a) City or town councils may make any ordinances concerning dogs in their cities or towns
as the councils deem expedient, pertaining to the conduct of dogs, which ordinances
shall include regulations relating to unrestricted dogs, leash laws, confinement,
and destruction of vicious dogs. Those ordinances may provide as follows:
(1) Every owner or custodian of a dog shall cause that dog not to run unrestricted anywhere
in the city or town. This section does not apply to any person who uses a dog under
his or her direct supervision while lawfully hunting, while engaged in a supervised
formal obedience training class or show or during formally sanctioned field trials.
(2) It is unlawful for any owner of a dog to place that dog or allow it to be placed in
the custody of any other person not physically capable of maintaining effective control
of restricting the dog.
(3) The city or town dog officer is empowered to seize and impound any dog found off the
property of its owner or custodian when that dog is unrestricted.
(4) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be fined not exceeding two
hundred and fifty dollars ($250).
(b) The town council of the town of Westerly is authorized to enact an ordinance permitting
the animal control officer in that town to issue citations to the owner of any dog
found off the property of its owner or custodian and to prescribe a pecuniary penalty
not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each violation.
(c) The town council of the town of Exeter is authorized to enact an ordinance imposing
an initial fee of up to fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the impoundment of a dog plus
two dollars ($2.00) per day for each day of impoundment. The town of Exeter may also,
in addition to the fines provided for under subsection (a)(4) of this section and
under any other provision of law, require proof of liability insurance for a twelve
(12) month period in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for third
time offenders of its animal control ordinances. Said insurance policy shall cover
injuries and damages caused by the dog and shall, for purposes of notice, name the
town as an additional insured.