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See Sec, 22-358
for "Dogs pursuing domestic animals or poultry" and for quarantine
of dogs that have bitten.
§22-358.
Killing of dogs doing damage. Quarantine of biting dogs. Notice.
Seizure. Euthanasia and examination of potentially rabid dogs.
(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 shall pay five dollars per day for the board of
any such dog, cat or other animal while it is quarantined in a public pound in
addition to any other legal fees that may be due. 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 deem 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. (Eff. I 0/1/00,P.A. 00-88.L 2000)
(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 therefore.
(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.
Sec. 22-359, 359a, b,
&c deal with
control of -rabies. A veterinarian administering a rabies vaccination must
issue a tag and certificate(s) showing duration of the immunity. (Copies of
certificates may be given canine control officers to aid in search for
unlicensed dogs.) Dogs must wear rabies tag on collar or harness.
As of April, 1991,
Sec.22-339 has been amended to require AN OWNER OR KEEPER OF ANY DOG OR CAT 3
MONTHS or over TO HAVE SUCH DOG OR CAT VACCINATED AGAINST RABIES. Any animal
vaccinated prior to I year of age or receiving a first rabies shot at any age,
shall be considered Protected for only 1 year, and shall be given a booster
vaccination I year later, then every 3 years.
Any person who has been
bitten or whose dog has bitten a person or other animal, is advised to consult
canine control, veterinarian, or physician for guidance.
Sec. 22-362.
Annoyance by dogs on highway. Any person owning or having the custody
of any dog accustomed to go out on any highway and growl. snap, bite or
otherwise annoy any person or domestic animal lawfully using such highway or
chase or interfere with any motor vehicle so using such highway, shall be
fined not less than twenty-rive nor more than fifty dollars or imprisoned not
more than thirty days for the first offense or both and for each subsequent
offense shall be fined not less than fifty or more than one hundred dollars or
imprisoned not more than sixty days or both.
Sec. 22-363.
Nuisance. No person shall own or harbor a dog or dogs which is or arc 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.
(363) holds the severest
penalty for dogs. For repeated offenses of 363 (or 362 or others), a court or
judge may Order that the dog be put to death, thus paying with its life for
its owner's negligence in training and control of the dog. Obedience training
is advisable for good behavior and to make each dog "a good pet neighbor."
Sec. 22-364. Dogs
roaming at large.
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 section 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 section. Violation of any
provision of this section shall be an infraction.
The biggest source of
annoyance and concern to non-dog owners is "roaming." Free to run?? Free to be
hit on highways, shot, stolen, trapped, poisoned, infected, mutilated, or
lost!!
Sec. 22-354
states, in effect, that dogs brought into the state must be accompanied by
a health certificate; pups may not be sold under 8 weeks of age (not by
pet shops or anyone else), nor imported or exported for sale without their
dam, under 8 weeks of age.
Chap. 248,
Sec. 14-226 states that
drivers who injure or kill a dog must stop at once, render assistance, and
report the injury to the owner, or if unable to find him, to the police,
giving name, address, oper. lic.#, location and description of dog, etc.
Violation of this law is an infraction.
Sec. 22-350
declares dogs to be
personal property and subject to larceny. Sec. 22-!329, 22-351, and 53-247
spell out various penalties for neglect, theft, cruelty, injury, or killing of
dogs, some as high as $1,000 and/or 6 mo.-3 years imprisonment. Criminal. and
civil suits are allowed.
GOOD CANINE CONTROL
LAWS REGULATE OWNERS, NOT DOGS!
SEC. 53-247 CRUELTY
TO ANIMALS
INTENTIONAL KILLING
OF POLICE ANIMAL
(Nine situations)
Situations One through
Six: fine of not more than $1,000 and/or not more than one year imprisonment.
Situations Seven through Nine: fine of not more than $5,000 and/or not more
than five years imprisonment.
1996 BY J. & B. Gould
printed in the U.S.A.
Situation One
1.The actor overdrives,
drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, deprives of necessary sustenance,
mutilates, or cruelly beats or kills or unjustifiably injures any animal.
Situation Two
1. The actor impounds or
confines any animal, AND
2. he fails:
(a) to give such animal
proper care, OR
(b) to cage or restrain
such animal from doing injury to itself, OR
(c) to another animal, OR
(d) to supply such
animal with wholesome air, food and water.
Situation Three
1. The actor
unjustifiably administers any poisonous or noxious drug or substance to any
domestic animal.
Situation Four
1. The actor
unjustifiably exposes or causes to be exposed any poisonous or noxious drug or
substance,
2. with intent that the
same shall betaken by an animal.
Situation Five
1. The actor has charge
or custody of any animal, AND
2. he inflicts cruelty
upon it, or he fails to provide it with proper food, drink or protection from
the weather, or he abandons it, or he carries or causes it to be carried in a
cruel manner.
Situation Six
1. The actor fights with
or baits, harasses, or worries any animal,
2. for the purpose of
making it perform for amusement, diversion, or exhibition.
Situation Seven
1. The actor maliciously
and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, wounds or kills an animal. (This
does not apply to licensed veterinarians following approved standards of
practice, persons following approved slaughterhouse methods, employees or
students per forming medical research following generally accepted
agricultural practices or while lawfully taking wildlife.)
Situation Eight
1. The actor knowingly:
(a) owns, possesses,
keeps or trains an animal engaged in an exhibition of fighting for amusement
or gain,
(b) possesses, keeps or
trains an animal with the intent that it be engaged in an exhibition of
fighting for amusement or gain,
(c) permits an act
described above to take place on premises under his control,
(d) acts as a judge or
spectator at an exhibition of animal fighting for amusement or gain, OR
(e) bets or wagers on
the outcome of an exhibition of animal fighting for amusement or gain.
Situation Nine
1. 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 §53a-3.
Amended by P.A. 96-243, §8, eff. 616196. |
