(a)  Every person who cuts out the tongue or otherwise dismembers any animal maliciously; or maliciously kills or wounds any animal; or maliciously administers poison to or exposes any poisonous substance with intent that the poison shall be taken or swallowed by any animal; or who maliciously exposes poisoned meat with intent that the poison meat is taken or swallowed by any wild animal, shall be imprisoned not exceeding five (5) years or be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), and shall, in the case of any animal of another, be liable to the owner of this animal for triple damages, to be recovered by civil action. In addition, any person convicted under this section is required to serve fifty (50) hours of community restitution. The community restitution penalty shall not be suspended or deferred and is mandatory.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 4-1-5

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.

(b)  This section shall not apply to licensed hunters during hunting season or a licensed business killing animals for human consumption.

History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 22; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 22; P.L. 1913, ch. 919, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 22; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 22; G.L. 1956, § 4-1-5; P.L. 1979, ch. 238, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 316, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 656, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 456, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 457, § 1.