(a)  The rabies control board of Rhode Island is empowered to issue any rules and regulations not contrary to law that may be necessary in setting the terms and conditions of each type of quarantine or to quarantine any area or areas within the state that the board may from time to time deem necessary for the purpose of prevention, controlling, or suppressing rabies. The rabies control board is authorized to quarantine any animal suspected of harboring rabies and/or to delegate the authority to quarantine dogs, cats, and ferrets suspected of harboring rabies to local animal control officers (ACO) or other representatives authorized by the municipality. The board or its agents are authorized to seek a warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction for entry to any premises, public or private, where probable cause exists that a violation of this section and/or § 4-13-31 is occurring within or about the premises. Notification shall be given immediately to the board or any of its members by any person or persons, including but not limited to veterinarians, licensed to practice in this state, and city or town health officials, upon the detection by them of an animal suspected to be affected with rabies.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 4-13-29

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9

(b)  Any appeal from an order of quarantine shall be to the superior court of Providence County or in the county in which the cause of action arose.

History of Section.
G.L. 1938, ch. 136, § 33; P.L. 1930, ch. 1597, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 639, § 34; G.L. 1956, § 4-13-29; P.L. 1992, ch. 353, § 2; P.L. 1995, ch. 388, § 1.