Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes increased fines for owners or keepers of dogs who allow their animals to roam at large, and providing additional legal remedies for animal control officers to enforce the law.

Highlights:

• Prohibits owners or keepers of any dog or livestock from allowing such dog or livestock to roam at large upon the land of another and not under the control of the owner or keeper, nor allow such dog or livestock to roam at large on any portion of any public highway and not attended or under control of such owners or keeper (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit or prohibit the use of hunting dogs during the open hunting or training season (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the animal control officer of any city or town in which any such dog or livestock is found roaming at large may, in addition to any other remedies provided by law, seek an order enforcing the provisions of this section (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that any owner or keeper of any dog who violates this section shall be fined not more than $350 for a first violation and not more than $500 for a second violation. Any subsequent violation by an owner or keeper of any dog shall be a class C misdemeanor (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that any owner or keeper of any dog who knowing of the vicious propensities of such dog and having violated this section within the preceding year, intentionally or recklessly shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, if such dog, while roaming at large, causes physical injury to another person and such other person was not teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text