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§22-332d. Impoundment and disposition of certain
cats. Authority to spay or neuter unclaimed cat.
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(a) Any animal control officer for a municipality which has
adopted an ordinance under subsection (b) of section 22-339d may
take into custody any cat found to be damaging property other
than property of its owner or keeper or causing an unsanitary,
dangerous or unreasonably offensive condition unless such cat
can be identified as under the care of its owner or a registered
keeper of feral cats. The officer shall impound such cat at the
pound serving the town where the cat is taken unless, in the
opinion of a licensed veterinarian, the cat is so injured or
diseased that it should be destroyed immediately, in which case
the municipal animal control officer of such town may cause the
cat to be mercifully killed by a licensed veterinarian or
disposed of as the State Veterinarian may direct. The municipal
animal control officer shall immediately notify the owner or
keeper of any cat so taken, if known, of its impoundment. If the
owner or keeper of any such cat is unknown, the officer shall
immediately tag or employ such other suitable means of
identification of the cat as may be approved by the Chief Animal
Control Officer and shall promptly cause a description of such
cat to be published once in the lost and found column of a
newspaper having a circulation in such town.
(b) If such cat is not claimed by and released to the owner
within seven days after the date of publication, the municipal
animal control officer, upon finding such cat to be in
satisfactory health, may have a licensed veterinarian spay or
neuter any such cat and sell such cat to any person who
satisfies such officer that he is purchasing it as a pet and
that he can give it a good home and proper care. The municipal
animal control officer may retain possession of such cat for
such additional period of time as he may deem advisable in order
to place such cat as a pet and may have a licensed veterinarian
spay or neuter such cat. If, within such period, any cat is not
claimed by and released to the owner or keeper or purchased as a
pet, the officer shall cause such cat to be mercifully killed by
a licensed veterinarian or disposed of as the State Veterinarian
may direct. No person who so destroys a cat shall be held
criminally or civilly liable therefor nor shall any licensed
veterinarian who spays or neuters a cat pursuant to this section
be held civilly liable, including, but not limited to, liability
for reconstructive neutical implantation surgery.
(c) Any cat captured or impounded under the provisions of
subsection (a) of this section shall be redeemed by the owner or
keeper thereof, or the agent of such owner or keeper, upon
proper identification, and presentation to the municipal animal
control officer of a license, tag or other means of
identification for such cat, and upon the payment by such owner
or keeper or his agent of (1) the redemption fee established by
the municipality, which shall not exceed fifteen dollars, and
(2) the cost of advertising incurred under the provisions of
subsection (a) of this section. When the owner or keeper of any
such impounded cat fails to redeem such cat within twenty-four
hours after receiving notification to do so, or, where the owner
was unknown, within twenty-four hours after notification was
effected by means of publication in a newspaper, such owner or
keeper shall pay, in addition to such redemption fee and the
cost of advertising, the amount determined by the municipality
to be the full cost of detention and care of such impounded cat.
In addition, any owner or keeper of any such impounded cat who
fails to redeem such cat within one hundred twenty hours after
receiving notification to do so shall have committed an
infraction. The legislative body of the municipality shall set
any fees imposed by the municipality under this section.
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§22-333. Redemption of impounded dog, cat or other
animal. |
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Any dog, cat or other animal captured or impounded under the
provisions of this chapter shall be redeemed by the owner or
keeper thereof, or the agent of such owner or keeper, upon
proper identification, and, if the animal in question is a dog,
upon presentation to the municipal animal control officer of a
license and tag for such dog, and upon the payment by such owner
or keeper or his agent of (1) the redemption fee established by
the municipality, which shall not exceed fifteen dollars, and
(2) the cost of advertising incurred under the provisions of
section 22-332; provided no dog, cat or other animal seized for
doing damage under the provisions of section 22-355 shall be
released except upon written order of the commissioner, the
Chief Animal Control Officer or an animal control officer. When
the owner or keeper of any such impounded dog, cat or other
animal fails to redeem such dog, cat or other animal within
twenty-four hours after receiving notification to do so, or,
where the owner was unknown, within twenty-four hours after
notification was effected by means of publication in a
newspaper, such owner or keeper shall pay, in addition to such
redemption fee and the cost of advertising, the amount
determined by the municipality to be the full cost of detention
and care of such impounded dog, cat or other animal. The owner
or keeper of any dog, cat or other animal impounded for the
purposes of quarantine, as set forth in sections 22-358 and
22-359, shall pay the amount determined by the municipality to
be the full cost of detention and care of such quarantined
animal. In addition, any owner or keeper of any such impounded
dog, cat or other animal who fails to redeem such dog, cat or
other animal within one hundred twenty hours after receiving
notification to do so shall have committed an infraction. The
legislative body of the municipality shall set any fees imposed
by the municipality under this section.
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§22-339. Licensing of dogs which are six months of
age or older by new owners. Fees. |
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Any person upon becoming the owner or keeper of any unlicensed
dog of the age of six months or older shall cause such dog to be
licensed within thirty days thereof until the thirtieth day of
the ensuing June in the manner and subject to the terms and
conditions provided in section 22-338. If the new owner has
written proof of purchase or transfer and the license is
obtained within thirty days, he shall not be required to pay any
penalties as provided by said section for failure to secure a
license for a dog over six months of age. Any person becoming
the owner of a licensed dog shall present the license and tag of
such dog to the town clerk of the town in which he resides and,
for a fee of one dollar, such town clerk shall issue, in lieu
thereof, a new license and tag, which shall be recorded in the
name of the new owner. Such town clerk shall retain the old
license and tag in his possession.
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§22-339b. Rabies vaccination required for dogs and
cats. Booster vaccination required. Proof of
vaccination. |
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Any owner or keeper of a dog or cat of the age of three months
or older shall have such dog or cat vaccinated against rabies.
Any animal vaccinated prior to one year of age or receiving a
primary rabies vaccine at any age shall be considered protected
for only one year and shall be given a booster vaccination one
year after the initial vaccination and shall be vaccinated at
least every three years thereafter. Those animals revaccinated
after one year of age shall be given booster vaccinations at
least every three years thereafter. Proof of vaccination shall
be a certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in accordance
with subsection (a) of section 22-339c. Any violation of this
section shall be an infraction.
(a) A municipality may adopt an ordinance requiring the
registration, within one year of the adoption of such ordinance,
of keepers of feral cats in residential or commercial areas.
Such ordinance shall require that any such keeper shall register
with the animal control officer for such municipality who shall
provide information to the registrant regarding the proper care
and management of feral cats. For purposes of this section,
"feral cat" means a free-roaming domestic cat which is not owned
and "keeper" means any person or organization, harboring,
regularly feeding or having in his or its possession any feral
cat. Refusal to permit any animal control officer to impound a
feral cat shall be deemed evidence of keeping. Such ordinance
shall require that such keepers shall provide for the
vaccination of such cats against rabies and the sterilization of
such cats. Such keeper shall be considered an eligible owner for
purposes of the animal population control program established
under sections 22-380e to 22-380m, inclusive, provided such cats
are adopted from a municipal pound.
(b) A municipality may adopt an ordinance providing that no
person owning or keeping any cat shall permit such animal to (1)
substantially damage property other than the property of the
owner or keeper or (2) cause an unsanitary, dangerous or
unreasonably offensive condition. Violation of such provision
shall be an infraction.
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§22-341. Tag or plate to be attached to dog collar or
harness. Cost. |
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(a) Each owner or keeper of a licensed dog shall keep around its
neck or body a collar or harness of leather or other suitable
material, to which shall be securely attached a tag or plate
issued to such person by the town clerk. If any such tag or
plate is lost, the owner or keeper of such dog shall forthwith
secure a substitute tag or plate from the town clerk, at a cost
of fifty cents.
(b) The town clerk of each town shall order a sufficient number
of such tags or plates from the commissioner, who shall furnish
the same at a cost of five cents each, which cost shall be paid
by the town on the approval of the town clerk. Any balance of
the moneys received by the commissioner after deducting the cost
of the tags, the expenses incidental to their distribution to
the town clerks and the expenses incidental to the enforcement
of the provisions of this chapter, shall be accounted for by the
commissioner to the Comptroller. The design and the shape of
such tags or plates shall be changed each year, and such tags or
plates for each year shall be of uniform design and material
throughout the state. Any dog found roaming at large upon any
public highway or common or upon the premises of any person
other than its owner, without a tag as provided in this section,
shall be presumed to be an unlicensed dog.
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§22-349. Unlicensed dogs. Regulations. Impoundment.
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The town clerk of each town shall, annually, on or before July
first, provide the municipal animal control officer or regional
animal control officer with a copy of each dog license issued by
such clerk. Such municipal animal control officer or regional
animal control officer shall thereupon make diligent search for
any unlicensed dog required to be licensed by section 22-338.
The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with the
provisions of chapter 54 establishing procedures for such
search. If the owner of any such unlicensed dog is not known,
the municipal animal control officer or regional animal control
officer shall impound such dog. The owning or keeping of an
unlicensed or impounded dog and the failure to purchase a
license and pay the advertising and redemption fee within one
hundred and twenty hours from the time the dog was impounded
shall be an infraction.
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§22-358. Killing of dogs doing damage. Quarantine of
biting dogs, cats or other animals. Notice. Seizure.
Euthanasia and examination of potentially rabid animals.
Regulations re expedited appeal and hearing process re
restraint or disposal of dogs. |
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(a) Any owner or the agent of any owner of any domestic animal
or poultry, or the Chief Animal Control Officer or any animal
control officer or any municipal animal control officer,
regional animal control officer or any police officer or state
policeman, may kill any dog which he observes pursuing or
worrying any such domestic animal or poultry.
(b) Any person who is bitten, or who shows visible evidence of
attack by a dog, cat or other animal when such person is not
upon the premises of the owner or keeper of such dog, cat or
other animal may kill such dog, cat or other animal during such
attack. Such person shall make complaint concerning the
circumstances of the attack to the Chief Animal Control Officer,
any animal control officer or the municipal animal control
officer or regional animal control officer of the town wherein
such dog, cat or other animal is owned or kept. Any such officer
to whom such complaint is made shall immediately make an
investigation of such complaint.
(c) If such officer finds that the complainant has been bitten
or attacked by such dog, cat or other animal when the
complainant was not upon the premises of the owner or keeper of
such dog, cat or other animal the officer shall quarantine such
dog, cat or other animal in a public pound or order the owner or
keeper to quarantine it in a veterinary hospital, kennel or
other building or enclosure approved by the commissioner for
such purpose. When any dog, cat or other animal has bitten a
person on the premises of the owner or keeper of such dog, cat
or other animal, the Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal
control officer, any municipal animal control officer or
regional animal control officer may quarantine such dog, cat or
other animal on the premises of the owner or keeper of such dog,
cat or other animal. The commissioner, the Chief Animal Control
Officer, any animal control officer, any municipal animal
control officer or any regional animal control officer may make
any order concerning the restraint or disposal of any biting
dog, cat or other animal as the commissioner or such officer
deems necessary. Notice of any such order shall be given to the
person bitten by such dog, cat or other animal within
twenty-four hours. The owner of such animal shall pay all fees
as set forth in section 22-333. On the fourteenth day of such
quarantine the dog, cat or other animal shall be examined by the
commissioner or someone designated by the commissioner to
determine whether such quarantine shall be continued or removed.
Whenever any quarantine is ordered under the provisions of this
section, notice thereof shall be given to the commissioner and
to the person bitten or attacked by such dog, cat or other
animal within twenty-four hours. Any owner or keeper of such
dog, cat or other animal who fails to comply with such order
shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars or
imprisoned not more than thirty days or both. If an owner or
keeper fails to comply with a quarantine or restraining order
made pursuant to this subsection, the Chief Animal Control
Officer, any animal control officer, any municipal animal
control officer or regional animal control officer may seize the
dog, cat or other animal to insure such compliance and the owner
or keeper shall be responsible for any expenses resulting from
such seizure. Any person aggrieved by an order of any municipal
animal control officer, the Chief Animal Control Officer, any
animal control officer or any regional animal control officer
may request a hearing before the commissioner within fourteen
days of the issuance of such order. After such hearing, the
commissioner may affirm, modify or revoke such order as the
commissioner deems proper. Any dog owned by a police agency of
the state or any of its political subdivisions is exempt from
the provisions of this subsection when such dog is under the
direct supervision, care and control of an assigned police
officer, has been vaccinated annually and is subject to routine
veterinary care.
(d) Any dog, while actually worrying or pursuing deer, may be
killed by the Chief Animal Control Officer or an animal control
officer or by a conservation officer or special conservation
officer appointed by the Commissioner of Environmental
Protection, or by any police officer or state policeman. The
owner or keeper of any dog found worrying or pursuing a deer
shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than
two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than sixty days or
both.
(e) Any person who kills any dog, cat or other animal in
accordance with the provisions of this section shall not be held
criminally or civilly liable therefor.
(f) The owner of any dog, cat or other animal which has bitten
or attacked a person and has been quarantined pursuant to
subsection (c) of this section may authorize the humane
euthanization of such dog, cat or other animal by a licensed
veterinarian at any time before the end of the fourteenth day of
such quarantine. Any such dog, cat or other animal so euthanized
before the end of the fourteenth day of quarantine shall be
examined for rabies by the Connecticut Department of Public
Health virology laboratory or any other laboratory authorized by
the Department of Public Health to perform rabies examinations.
The veterinarian performing the euthanasia shall be responsible
for ensuring that the head of the euthanized animal is delivered
by him or his designated agent within forty-eight hours to an
appropriate laboratory designated by said department for rabies
examination.
(g) Not later than January 1, 2005, the Commissioner of
Agriculture shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the
provisions of chapter 54, to provide for an expedited appeal and
hearing process regarding the restraint or disposal of dogs
pursuant to this section. Such regulations shall provide for a
final determination by the commissioner not later than sixty
days after the filing of such appeals.
No person shall own or harbor a dog or dogs which is or are a
nuisance by reason of vicious disposition or excessive barking
or other disturbance, or, by such barking or other disturbance,
is or are a source of annoyance to any sick person residing in
the immediate vicinity. Violation of any provision of this
section shall be an infraction for the first offense and such
person shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or
imprisoned not more than thirty days or both for each subsequent
offense and the court or judge may make such order concerning
the restraint or disposal of such dog or dogs as may be deemed
necessary.
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§22-364. Dogs roaming at large. Intentional or
reckless subsequent violation. |
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(a) No owner or keeper of any dog shall allow such dog to roam
at large upon the land of another and not under control of the
owner or keeper or the agent of the owner or keeper, nor allow
such dog to roam at large on any portion of any public highway
and not attended or under control of such owner or keeper or his
agent, provided nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
limit or prohibit the use of hunting dogs during the open
hunting or training season. The unauthorized presence of any dog
on the land of any person other than the owner or keeper of such
dog or on any portion of a public highway when such dog is not
attended by or under the control of such owner or keeper, shall
be prima facie evidence of a violation of the provisions of this
subsection. Violation of any provision of this subsection shall
be an infraction.
(b) Any owner or keeper of any dog who, knowing of the vicious
propensities of such dog and having violated the provisions of
subsection (a) of this section within the preceding year,
intentionally or recklessly violates the provisions of
subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not more than one
thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six 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.
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§22-364a. Intentional or reckless release of domestic
animal which causes damage. |
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Any person who intentionally or recklessly releases a domestic
animal that enters upon the real property of another person and
causes damage to such real property in an amount in excess of
one hundred dollars shall have committed an infraction.
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§22-364b. Control of dogs in proximity to guide dogs.
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The owner or keeper of a dog shall restrain and control such dog
on a leash when such dog is not on the property of its owner or
keeper and is in proximity to a blind, deaf or mobility impaired
person accompanied by his guide dog, provided the guide dog is
in the direct custody of such blind, deaf or mobility impaired
person, is wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash and
collar which makes it readily-identifiable as a guide dog and is
licensed in accordance with section 22-345. Any person who
violates the provisions of this section shall have committed an
infraction. If an owner or keeper of a dog violates the
provisions of this section and, as a result of such violation,
such dog attacks and injures the guide dog, such owner or keeper
shall be liable, as provided in section 22-357, for any damage
done to such guide dog, and such liability shall include
liability for any costs incurred by such blind, deaf or
mobility-impaired person for the veterinary care, rehabilitation
or replacement of the injured guide dog and for reasonable
attorney's fees.
Animals engaged in exhibition of fighting. Intentional injury or
killing of police animals or dogs in volunteer canine search and
rescue teams. (a) Any person who overdrives, drives when
overloaded, overworks, tortures, deprives of necessary
sustenance, mutilates or cruelly beats or kills or unjustifiably
injures any animal, or who, having impounded or confined any
animal, fails to give such animal proper care or neglects to
cage or restrain any such animal from doing injury to itself or
to another animal or fails to supply any such animal with
wholesome air, food and water, or unjustifiably administers any
poisonous or noxious drug or substance to any domestic animal or
unjustifiably exposes any such drug or substance, with intent
that the same shall be taken by an animal, or causes it to be
done, or, having charge or custody of any animal, inflicts
cruelty upon it or fails to provide it with proper food, drink
or protection from the weather or abandons it or carries it or
causes it to be carried in a cruel manner, or fights with or
baits, harasses or worries any animal for the purpose of making
it perform for amusement, diversion or exhibition, shall be
fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more
than one year or both.
(b) Any person who maliciously and intentionally maims,
mutilates, tortures, wounds or kills an animal shall be fined
not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than
five years or both. The provisions of this subsection shall not
apply to any licensed veterinarian while following accepted
standards of practice of the profession or to any person while
following approved methods of slaughter under section 22-272a,
while performing medical research as an employee of, student in
or person associated with any hospital, educational institution
or laboratory, while following generally accepted agricultural
practices or while lawfully engaged in the taking of wildlife.
(c) Any person who knowingly (1) owns, possesses, keeps or
trains an animal engaged in an exhibition of fighting for
amusement or gain, (2) possesses, keeps or trains an animal with
the intent that it be engaged in an exhibition of fighting for
amusement or gain, (3) permits an act described in subdivision
(1) or (2) of this subsection to take place on premises under
his control, (4) acts as judge or spectator at an exhibition of
animal fighting for amusement or gain, or (5) bets or wagers on
the outcome of an exhibition of animal fighting for amusement or
gain, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or
imprisoned not more than five years or both.
(d) Any person who intentionally injures any animal while such
animal is in the performance of its duties under the supervision
of a peace officer, as defined in section 53a-3, or
intentionally injures a dog that is a member of a volunteer
canine search and rescue team, as defined in section 5-249,
while such dog is in the performance of its duties under the
supervision of the active individual member of such team, shall
be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not
more than five years or both.
(e) Any person who intentionally kills any animal while such
animal is in the performance of its duties under the supervision
of a peace officer, as defined in section 53a-3, or
intentionally kills a dog that is a member of a volunteer canine
search and rescue team, as defined in section 5-249, while such
dog is in the performance of its duties under the supervision of
the active individual member of such team, shall be fined not
more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ten
years or both.
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