Connecticut General Statutes 22-344c – Licensure of breeding facilities by towns. Standard of care for breeders of cats or dogs
(a) If a town requires the licensure of persons keeping ten or more unneutered or unspayed dogs capable of breeding, such persons shall apply to the clerk of the town in which such dogs are located for a license. Such town clerk, if the zoning enforcement official has certified that the location where such dogs shall be kept conforms to the zoning regulations of the municipality, shall issue to such applicant a license, for a reasonable fee to be determined by the town, on a form prescribed by the town for a period, from the date of such application until the thirtieth day of the ensuing June which license shall specify the name and number of the dogs, the name of the owner and, if applicable, the name of a keeper. Each such license may be renewed from year to year by the town clerk upon application of such owner or keeper.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 22-344c
- Animal: means any brute creature, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, monkeys, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, birds and reptiles. See Connecticut General Statutes 22-327
- 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.
- Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Agriculture. See Connecticut General Statutes 22-327
- Keeper: means any person, other than the owner, harboring or having in his possession any dog. See Connecticut General Statutes 22-327
(b) The Commissioner of Agriculture, the Chief Animal Control Officer or any animal control officer may at any time inspect or cause to be inspected any location, required by a town to be licensed, keeping ten or more unneutered or unspayed dogs capable of breeding, by a registered veterinarian appointed by the commissioner and if, in the judgment of the commissioner: (1) Such location is not being maintained in a sanitary and humane manner, (2) the owner or keeper of such location does not comply with the standard of care applicable to breeders, as described in subsection (e) of this section, or (3) if the commissioner finds that communicable or infectious disease or other unsatisfactory conditions exist, the commissioner may issue such orders as the commissioner deems necessary for the correction of such conditions and may quarantine the premises and animals. If the owner or keeper of such location fails to comply with such orders, the commissioner may recommend the revocation or suspension of such license to the town which issued such license.
(c) Any person aggrieved by any order issued under the provisions of this section may appeal to the Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of § 4-183.
(d) Any person keeping ten or more unneutered or unspayed dogs capable of breeding, in a location required to be licensed, after such license has been revoked or suspended as herein provided shall be fined not less than fifty dollars or more than one hundred dollars.
(e) Not later than December 31, 2014, the Commissioner of Agriculture shall prescribe the standard of care to be provided to dogs or cats, as applicable, by any person who: (1) Keeps ten or more unneutered or unspayed dogs capable of breeding, or (2) owns or operates a breeding cattery. Such standard of care shall be consistent with the standard of care to be provided by an animal importer, as prescribed pursuant to subdivision (6) of subsection (e) of § 22-344.