PROVIDENCE, RI — A Rhode Island bill to protect pets was signed into law.
“This legislation addresses an oversight in our laws designed to protect animals,” one of the bill's sponsors, state sen. Lori Urso, D-Pawtucket, said in a media releas.
“Animal control officers’ duties often bring them into contact with animals who need rescue and care, but they lack the legal authority to act themselves," Urso said. "By allowing them to take charge of abused animals, without having to refer the case to law enforcement agents of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, these bills will prevent prolonged suffering and ensure that mistreated animals get the care they need swiftly.”
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The new law allows municipal animal control officers to lawfully take charge of and provide adequate care to any animal found abandoned, neglected, cruelly treated or in a dangerous hording situation, according to the release.
“This bill is simple and about two things, common sense and protecting defenseless animals from abandonment, abuse and neglect," state Rep. Matthew S. Dawson, D-East Providence, said in the release.
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"While the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals does fine and admirable work, these crimes happen too frequently for the Society to handle this problem on its own," Dawson said. "And it’s common sense to empower our local animal control officers with the ability to lawfully remove animals from dangerous or abusive situations, while also being lawfully able to provide the care and assistance that the animal may need.”
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