§ 4-24-2. Legislative findings.
The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
(1) An unacceptable number of healthy, but abandoned cats are euthanized annually in Rhode
Island.
(2) Due to the large number of stray and abandoned cats, euthanasia is not a cost effective,
acceptable or ethical solution to the threats to public health and safety posed by
large populations of stray, feral or homeless cats.
(3) Stray and abandoned pets, specifically cats, create numerous public health and safety
problems, including transmission of diseas
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§ 4-24-2. Legislative findings.
The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
(1) An unacceptable number of healthy, but abandoned cats are euthanized annually in Rhode
Island.
(2) Due to the large number of stray and abandoned cats, euthanasia is not a cost effective,
acceptable or ethical solution to the threats to public health and safety posed by
large populations of stray, feral or homeless cats.
(3) Stray and abandoned pets, specifically cats, create numerous public health and safety
problems, including transmission of disease and traffic hazards created by cats running
loose on public streets.
(4) A permit system for breeding of cats owned or harbored in the state, combined with
a program for spaying/neutering, is a reasonable and effective means of reducing the
population of abandoned or stray cats, and for eliminating the practice of euthanizing
homeless cats, except those for whom euthanasia is an escape from suffering or necessary
to protect people and/or other animals from vicious behavior.
The general assembly therefor finds and declares that it intends to provide for the
public health, safety and welfare through a program requiring spaying and neutering
cats unless appropriate permits are acquired. The provisions of this chapter shall
be in addition to the cat registration or identifying program requirements set forth
in this title.