Rhode IslandS21512026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS .

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.

Lose pet ownership after cruelty

If you are convicted or plead guilty or nolo for abandoning, neglecting, hazardously accumulating, or cruelly treating an animal taken under this law, you lose ownership and control of that animal. Ownership passes to the Rhode Island SPCA for suitable placement.

Owners must pay seized pet care

If your animal is held by a city or town shelter or the Rhode Island SPCA, you must pay reasonable care and treatment costs. The shelter or Society must send you a written demand for payment. If you do not pay or set up a plan within 30 days, they can sue you, and the demand must warn that nonpayment can lead to forfeiture. Charges must be reasonable and reflect typical in‑state vet, sheltering, feeding, and boarding costs.

Court path to get pets back

You can ask the district court to return your animal within 60 days after you are notified of the seizure. The court must serve a summons at least 14 days before the hearing and will consider the animal’s condition and your ability to provide safe, adequate care. The court can return the animal with reasonable limits while any criminal case is pending. If the court orders the animal returned, you do not have to pay pre‑hearing care costs unless you are later convicted or plead guilty or nolo. If you do not petition within 60 days, or you do not pay within 60 days of a written demand, the shelter or Society can ask the court to transfer ownership, and it transfers if you do not respond.

When animal control can take pets

Animal control, local shelters, and the Rhode Island SPCA can take animals that are abandoned, neglected, hazardously accumulated, or cruelly treated. They can also act if an animal is aged, sick, injured, disabled, or unfit for labor. They must give the animal proper care while in custody and notify the owner or guardian if known. This limits an owner’s control when these conditions are present, but ensures the animal gets care.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Lori Urso
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

Peter A. Appollonio, Jr.
Democratic • Senate
Samuel W. Bell
Democratic • Senate
Andrew R. Dimitri
Democratic • Senate
Dawn Euer
Democratic • Senate
Victoria Gu
Democratic • Senate
Matthew L. LaMountain
Democratic • Senate
Todd M. Patalano
Democratic • Senate
Brian J. Thompson
Democratic • Senate
David P. Tikoian
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 135 • No: 0

House vote • 6/4/2026

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE

Yes: 63 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/28/2026

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS Passage

Yes: 36 • No: 0