Rhode Island House Approves Bill To Protect Abandoned And Abused Animals

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island House of Representatives approved a bill to protect abandoned and abused animals.

The legislation now heads to the state Senate.

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Rep. Matthew S. Dawson, D-East Providence, sponsored the measure.

The proposed law would allow animal control officers to take charge of and provide care to any animal found abandoned, abused, neglected or hoarded, according to a media release.

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"Currently, only agents of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are lawfully allowed to rescue and care for abandoned or abused animals," the release said.

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“This bill is simple and about two things, common sense and protecting defenseless animals from abandonment, abuse and neglect," Dawson 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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