Title 10 — Health and Safety

For purposes of this Article: (a) “Euthanasia” means putting an animal to death by drug in a manner provided by regulation of the Department of Agriculture (the Department). (b) “Impoundment” means strict confinement under restraint by leash, cage or paddock upon premises specifi…

No person shall own a pet unless it is licensed and wearing a license tag as provided by this Article. This shall not apply to pets under the age of three (3) months, pets in quarantine or pets brought into Guam for a temporary term not to exceed one (1) month for the exclusive p…

(a) Each pet shall be licensed by its owner. (b) The license shall be valid for three (3) years from the date of issue if the pet has received a three (3) year rabies vaccination at the time of issuance. Otherwise, the license shall be valid for the time remaining on the rabies c…

A blind or deaf person owning a dog trained to aid the blind or deaf, commonly called a seeing-eye or hearing-aid dog, shall be exempted from payment of any license fee. SOURCE: Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993).

All licenses for pets shall be issued by the Department upon payment of the fee. The license shall be in such form as the Director shall approve and shall include the following (a) The name and address of the owner; (b) The expiration date of the license; (c) The date of payment;…

A tag in such form and design as prescribed by the Director, stating the serial number of the tag and the license year, shall be issued with each license. The tag shall be attached to a collar around the neck of, or to a harness worn by the pet for which the license tag was issue…

If any license tag is lost, mutilated or stolen, the pet owner to whom such tag was issued shall be entitled to receive a replacement by presenting to the Department satisfactory proof that such tag was lost, mutilated or stolen. A substitute tag shall be issued upon payment of a…

A pet license shall be issued only upon presentation of a valid certificate of vaccination against rabies providing immunity during the period of licensure and signed by a licensed veterinarian. The type and quantity of rabies vaccine utilized to vaccinate pets within Guam and ac…

Any pet which, while running at large, has bitten a person or persons two (2) or more times may be declared to be a vicious pet and ordered confined or destroyed by the Director. SOURCE: Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993).

It shall be lawful for any officer, if there are no other readily available means of bringing the pet under control, to kill any pet that constitutes an immediate menace to any person. The officer shall turn the carcass of the pet over to the Department as soon as possible for ex…

Any person who is attacked by a pet or animal, or any person witnessing any such attack, may kill such pet or animal in self-defense or defense of others; provided, that it is done in accordance with the provisions in §§ 70.10 through 70.10.15 of Article 1, Chapter 70, Title 9, G…

[Repealed, reserved, or text not separately stated.]

[Repealed, reserved, or text not separately stated.]

If a pet shall injure any person or damage any person or property, the pet owner shall be liable to the extent that his negligence was the proximate cause of such injury or damage. SOURCE: Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993).

The Department shall maintain a Pet Control Unit. The Pet Control Unit shall maintain a pound, provide and carry out a territory-wide plan to collect and place under observation biting pets, reduce the number of pets running at large and, upon request, collect and dispose of huma…

Period, Sterilization and Adoption. (a) It shall be unlawful for any dog owner to negligently allow a dog owned by him to run at large. (b) Any pet over three (3) months old that is not licensed as required by § 34102 of this Article or any dog that is not wearing a current tag i…

The Director may impound and hold at the facility any pet that is the subject of a violation of this Article, any pet that requires protective custody and care because of mistreatment or neglect by its owner, or a pet that the Superior Court orders him to impound. The Director ma…

(a) The Director shall operate, maintain or provide for an adequate facility to receive, care for and safely confine pets delivered to the Director’s custody under provisions of this Article and such facility shall be reasonably accessible to the public. (b) The Director may cont…

The Director shall prescribe the minimum standards for humane pet care set forth in this Article. SOURCE: Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993). § 34120. [Repealed.] SOURCE: Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993). Repealed by P.L. 35-144:7 (Jan. 22,…

[Repealed, reserved, or text not separately stated.]

(a) All officers shall have authority as peace officer to the extent necessary to enable them to discharge all duties assigned to them by law. (b) Any officer is authorized to enter upon any private premises, and is authorized to remove any pet from public or private property, if…

Any person resisting or obstructing an officer in the exercise of his duties as provided in this Article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as prescribed in § 34124 of this Article. SOURCE: Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993).

There is hereby established a restricted fund account called the ‘Stray Dog Revolving Fund’, which shall be used by the Department to purchase equipment and supplies for the effective implementation and enforcement of Articles 1 and 2 of this Chapter. All fees and revenues collec…

(a) Violation of § 34122 of this Article shall be punishable by imprisonment not to exceed one (1) year or by a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) or both. (b) Violation of any other provision of this Article which provides that certain conduct shall be unlawful sha…

Notwithstanding the penalties created by § 34124, violations of Articles 1 and 2 of this Chapter shall be punished by a fine to be imposed on the pet owner of not less than $25 for the first offense, $50 for a second offense, and $100 for a third and subsequent offense. The pet o…

Notices of Violation for Crimes Involving Animal Abuse. (a) Peace officers, and others authorized by law to issue summons, notices to appear, citations, and notices of violation for violations of 9 GCA §§ 70.10 through 70.20 may use the “Guam Uniform Complaint and Citation” form …

for Crimes Involving Animal Abuse. If there is probable cause to believe that any animal is being subjected to treatment in violation of 9 GCA §§ 70.10 through 70.20, a peace officer or volunteer, under exigent circumstances, may enter the premises to impound the animal. Notice o…

For purposes of this Article: (a) “Animal” means any live non-human vertebrate creature, domestic or wild; (b) “Animal shelter” means any facility operated by a humane society, the government of Guam or their authorized agents for the purpose of caring for animals held under the …

(a) No individual, partnership or corporation, or any other group or combination acting in concert shall operate a zoo, pet shop, kennel, animal shelter, veterinary hospital or other commercial animal establishment, or which imports, exports, exhibits, sells, boards or otherwise …

(a) The permitting authority may revoke any permit if the person holding the permit refuses or fails to comply with this Article, the regulations promulgated by the permitting authority or any law governing the protection and keeping of animals. (b) Any person whose permit is rev…

(a) Every female dog or cat in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come in contact with another animal except for planned breeding. (b) Every vicious animal, as determined by the Department, shall be confine…

[Repealed.] SOURCE: Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993). Subsection (d) added by P.L. 29-096:2 (July 22, 2008) . Renumbered to subsection (f) by the Compiler as subsections (d) and (e) already exist. Subsection (a) amended by P.L. 31-005:2 (Mar. 9, 2011). Repeal…

(a) No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises any wild or vicious animal for display or for exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee. This section shall not be construed to apply for zoological parks, performing animal exhibitions or circuses. (b) No…

(a) No performing animal exhibition or circus shall be permitted in which animals are induced or encouraged to perform through the use of chemical, mechanical, electrical or manual devices in a manner which will cause or is likely to cause physical injury or suffering. (b) All eq…

The owner of every animal shall be responsible for the removal of any excreta deposited by his animal(s) on public walks, recreation areas or private properties. SOURCE: Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993).

(a) Any peace officer may issue a citation of violation as provided in Title 8 GCA §§ 25.10 through 25.50. (b) The Director may impound any pet or wild animal that is the subject of a violation of this Article, any pet or wild animal that requires protective custody and care beca…

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, any person violating any provision of this Article shall be deemed guilty of a violation and shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500). If any violation be continuing, each d…

For purposes of this Article: (a) Carrier means any individual, partnership, corporation or any other group or combination acting in concert which shall transport any animal into, through or upon Guam. (b) Designated inspection area means an area designated by the Director of the…

(a) Quarantine Unit. The Department of Agriculture shall maintain a dog or cat quarantine unit, provide and carry out a quarantine program to receive incoming dogs or cats upon arrival on the island, ensure that such dogs or cats are examined within twenty-four (24) hours upon ar…

Any dog or cat which, in the opinion of an officer, exhibits signs suggestive of rabies or any dog or cat which has bitten a person shall be examined by a licensed veterinarian or, if no veterinarian is available, by a qualified person authorized by the Director and shall be plac…

Cats for Rabies. Any impounded or quarantined dog or cat which dies or develops clinical signs suggestive of rabies during the required observation period shall be examined for rabies in accordance with regulations specified by the Director. SOURCE: Added by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7,…

(a) Report to the Governor. Should a case of rabies occur in Guam, the Director shall make or cause to be made, a thorough investigation as to the prevalence of the disease, the probable number of persons and animals exposed, the areas found to be involved and the means by which …

(a) Violations. (1) It shall be unlawful to release a dog or cat from quarantine unless authorized by the Director. (2) It shall be unlawful for a pet owner to bring into Guam a dog or cat without a valid Entry Permit. (3) It shall be unlawful for a carrier to board a dog or cat …

There is created a special fund called the “Rabies Prevention Fund,” which shall be exclusively used to support the implementation of this Act and to maintain, enhance and secure the prevention of rabies on Guam. All money collected under the provisions of this Chapter shall be d…

For the purpose of this Article and any promulgation of organizational rules, policies and processes, the following definitions of terms shall apply: (a) Animal assistance is defined as assistance given to human endeavors by dogs. It is a dog that has been individually trained to…

Agencies. (a) Department of Agriculture (DOAg); Lead Oversight Agency. The Director of Agriculture, working through the Territorial Veterinarian, shall assist government of Guam agencies in the promulgation of rules and regulations and processes pursuant to the Administrative Adj…

(a) Under U.S. federal law there are no standards or procedures for certifying a service animal. Certification is not required as a condition of using an animal as a service animal. However, the person using the animal must meet the legal definition of “disability” (42 U.S.C. § 1…

(a) Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all bu…

Duly qualified members of the animal assistance community, as defined pursuant to § 34401(a)(2), desiring recognition in the community should follow established processes to become a non-governmental organization, a not-for- profit, or private business entity, and be recognized a…

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides that the owners or operators of a place of public accommodation cannot deny access to the facility to a disabled person with a service animal or service animal trainee, except under very specific circumstances. (a) Violators of the ADA…