Summary: The following statutes comprise the state's relevant assistance/service animal laws.
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 4. Animals and Animal Husbandry. Chapter 13. Dogs
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 39. Public Utilities and Carriers. Chapter 2. Duties of Utilities and Carriers
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 4. Animals and Animal Husbandry. Chapter 13. Dogs
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 31. Motor and Other Vehicles. Chapter 18. Pedestrians.
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 34. Property. Chapter 37. Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act.
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated Currentness. Title 40. Human Services. Chapter 9.1. Equal Rights of Blind and Deaf Persons to Public Facilities
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 42. State Affairs and Government. Chapter 87. Civil Rights of People with Disabilities.
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 4. Animals and Animal Husbandry. Chapter 13. Dogs
4-13-16.1. Injury to seeing-eye dogs or persons who are visually impaired-- Damages. --If any dog kills, wounds, or worries, or assists in killing, wounding, or worrying, any seeing-eye dog certified for use as a guide-dog for a person who is blind or visually impaired, belonging to or in the possession of any person who is blind or visually impaired and under harness or engaged in the act of guiding its owner, or if any dog assaults, bites, or otherwise injures any person who is blind or visually impaired while traveling the highway or out of the enclosure of the owner or keeper of that dog, the owner or keeper of the dog shall be liable to the person who is blind or visually impaired aggrieved for double all damages sustained, to be recovered in a civil action, with costs of suit. If afterwards this damage is done by that dog, the owner or keeper of the dog shall pay to the party aggrieved treble damages, to be recovered in the same manner, and an order shall be made by the court before whom the second recovery is made, for killing the dog. The order shall be executed by the officer charged with the execution of the order and it shall not be necessary, in order to sustain this action, to prove that the owner or keeper of this dog knew that the dog was accustomed to causing these damages.
P.L. 1979, ch. 374, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 1.
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 39. Public Utilities and Carriers. Chapter 2. Duties of Utilities and Carriers
Any blind or deaf person, who uses the services of a seeing-eye guide dog, or personal assistance animal or a hearing-ear signal dog, clearly identified as such by a yellow harness and trained by a recognized training agency or school, may enter any public facility of any public utility or common carrier in this state, and when riding on any bus or other public utility or common carrier, engaged in the transportation of passengers or when riding in any elevator in this state where a landlord has the elevator operated for the use of his tenants and their visitors, or while in any building in this state open to the public, may keep the animal in his or her immediate custody; and the person shall not be required to pay any charge or fare, for or on account of the transportation thereon of him or herself and any dog so accompanying him or her, in addition to the charge of fare lawfully chargeable for his or her own transportation; provided, however, the provisions of this section shall not apply to railroad sleeping, parlor, club, buffet, or lounge cars.
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 1938, ch. 2595, § 1; P.L. 1969, ch. 240, § 3; P.L. 1979, ch. 159, § 3; P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 3.
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 4. Animals and Animal Husbandry. Chapter 13. Dogs
(a)(1) Every owner or keeper of a dog shall annually, in April, obtain a license effective May 1 through the office of the city or town clerk of the city or town in which the owner or keeper resides.
(2) The fees for the license shall be five dollars ($5.00).
(3) No city or town shall issue any license under this section unless the dog has been inoculated against rabies for the period of time which the license would be valid.
(4) All licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be valid in every city or town during the then-current year.
(5) Any person who becomes the owner or keeper of a dog shall obtain a license within thirty (30) days after he or she becomes the owner or keeper.
(6)(i) The Cumberland town clerk may issue a license renewable every two (2) years for a licensing fee of six dollars ($6.00).
(ii) Glocester town council may provide for an annual licensing fee of fourteen dollars ($14.00) for all dogs, except spayed or neutered females and males, and for an annual licensing fee of seven dollars ($7.00) for spayed or neutered female and male dogs.
(iii) Jamestown town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for neutered dogs, and not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for unneutered dogs.
(iv) Newport city council may, however, provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of not more than ten dollars ($10.00) for all spayed and neutered dogs, and for an annual licensing fee of not more than fifteen dollars ($15.00) for unspayed females and unneutered males.
(v) North Smithfield town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of five dollars ($5.00) for all dogs.
(vi)(A) South Kingstown town council may provide for an annual licensing fee of twelve dollars ($12.00) for all dogs, except spayed or neutered female and male dogs, and for an annual licensing fee of seven dollars ($7.00) for spayed or neutered female and male dogs.
(B) The South Kingstown town council may assess an impound fee.
(vii)(A) Westerly town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual license fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for unspayed female dogs and unneutered male dogs;
(B) May provide for a fee of one dollar ($1.00) for the replacement of lost dog tags;
(C) May provide that no fee be charged to license guide dogs used by persons with disabilities;
(D) May provide for the number of licenced dogs which may be kept at any single-family residence, other than a breeding kennel; and
(E) May provide for pecuniary penalties not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for violations.
(viii) Woonsocket city council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of five dollars ($5.00) for all dogs.
(ix)(A) West Warwick town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual license fee of seven dollars ($7.00) for each neutered male or spayed female and fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each unneutered male and unspayed female.
(B) May provide, by ordinance, for a payment of a two dollars ($2.00) fee for duplicate or for replacement tags.
(x)(A) Pawtucket city council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for spayed or neutered dogs, and not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for unspayed or unneutered dogs.
(B) May provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee for dogs owned by residents age 65 or older not to exceed five dollars ($5.00) for spayed or neutered dogs, and not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) for unspayed or unneutered dogs.
(xi) Scituate town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual license fee not to exceed twenty ($20.00) dollars for all dogs.
(xii) Burrillville town council may:
(A) Provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of not more than ten dollars ($10.00) for all dogs; and
(B) Provide for pecuniary penalties not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for violations.
(xiii) The Middletown town council may:
(A) Provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per dog.
(xiv) Foster town council may:
(A) Provide, by ordinance, for an annual or biennial licensing fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for all dogs; and
(B) Provide for pecuniary damages not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for violations.
(b) Every person, owning or keeping a dog not licensed and/or collared according to the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined ten dollars ($10.00) to be applied to the support of the city or town, and that fine shall be in addition to all other lawful fees.
(c) Any city or town may waive the fee to be charged to license guide dogs used by persons with disabilities.
(d) In the city of Woonsocket, every person owning or keeping a dog not licensed and/or collared according to the provisions of this chapter shall be fined fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense; one hundred dollars ($100) for the second offense; and one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for the third and subsequent offenses.
Credits
G.L. 1896, ch. 111, § 8; G.L. 1909, ch. 135, § 8; G.L. 1923, ch. 136, § 8; G.L. 1938, ch. 639, § 8; P.L. 1970, ch. 196, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 162, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 157, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 112, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 445, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 4, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 43, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 124, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 125, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 70, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 307, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 35, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 220, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 281, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 242, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 35, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 144, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 401, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 418, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 72, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 372, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 257, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 292, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 196, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 216, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 268, § 1, eff. July 8, 2008; P.L. 2008, ch. 358, § 1, eff. July 5, 2008; P.L. 2010, ch. 197, § 1, eff. June 25, 2010; P.L. 2010, ch. 225, § 1, eff. June 25, 2010; P.L. 2011, ch. 30, § 1, eff. May 31, 2011; P.L. 2011, ch. 35, § 1, eff. May 31, 2011; P.L. 2016, ch. 297, § 1, eff. July 2, 2016; P.L. 2016, ch. 310, § 1, eff. July 2, 2016.
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 31. Motor and Other Vehicles. Chapter 18. Pedestrians.
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 1949, ch. 2255, § 2; P.L. 1979, ch. 159, § 1.
Nothing contained in §§ 31-18-13 -- 31-18-16 shall be construed to deprive any person who is blind, visually impaired, or deaf, but not carrying a cane or walking stick, or not being guided by a dog, of the rights and privileges conferred by law upon pedestrians crossing streets or highways. In no case shall the failure of the person who is blind, visually impaired or deaf to carry a cane or walking stick, or to be guided by a guide or signal dog upon the streets, highways, or sidewalks of this state, be held to constitute nor be evidence of contributory negligence.
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 1949, ch. 2255, § 3; P.L. 1979, ch. 159, § 2; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 70; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 70.
Any person who shall violate the provisions of § 31-13-6(3)(i) at an intersection where a pedestrian is crossing or attempting to cross a public street or highway guided by a seeing-eye dog or a hearing-ear signal dog, clearly identified by a yellow harness, which has been trained and educated to guide and assist the pedestrian in traveling upon the public streets, or carrying in a raised or extended position a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white tipped with red, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 1985, ch. 78, § 1.
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 34. Property. Chapter 37. Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act.
(a) No owner having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a housing accommodation as defined in § 34-37-3(11), or an agent of any of these, shall, directly or indirectly, make, or cause to be made, any written or oral inquiry concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin or disability, age, familial status nor make any written or oral inquiry concerning whether a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or has been, or is threatened with being the victim of domestic abuse, or whether a tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of any prospective purchaser, occupant, or tenant of the housing accommodation; directly or indirectly, refuse to sell, rent, lease, let, or otherwise deny to or withhold from any individual the housing accommodation because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, or familial status of the individual or the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin or disability, age, or familial status of any person with whom the individual is or may wish to be associated; or shall, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant, or a member of the household, is or has been, or is threatened with being, the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse. Nor shall an owner having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a housing accommodation as defined in § 34-37-3(11), or an agent of any of these, directly or indirectly, issue any advertisement relating to the sale, rental, or lease of the housing accommodation that indicates any preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or has been, or is threatened with being the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, or shall, directly or indirectly, discriminate against any individual because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or has been, or is threatened with being the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale, rental, or lease of any housing accommodation or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection with it. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit any oral or written inquiry as to whether the prospective purchaser or tenant is over the age of eighteen (18).
P.L. 1965, ch. 27, § 1; P.L. 1970, ch. 25, § 2; P.L. 1974, ch. 141, § 1; P.L. 1977, ch. 214, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 144, § 3; P.L. 1985, ch. 415, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 452, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 455, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 664, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 398, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 32, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 8; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 81; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 81; P.L. 2001, ch. 340, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 118, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 224, § 2; P.L. 2015, ch. 161, § 1, eff. July 9, 2015; P.L. 2015, ch. 180, § 1, eff. July 9, 2015.
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 40. Human Services. Chapter 9.1. Equal Rights of Blind and Deaf Persons to Public Facilities
It is the policy of this state that:
(a) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing and otherwise disabled have the same rights as the able-bodied to the full and free use of the streets, highways, walkways, public buildings, public facilities and other public places.
(b) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing and otherwise disabled are entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges on any public conveyance operated on land or water or in the air, or any stations and terminals thereof, not limited to taxis, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, street cars, boats and in any educational institution, not limited to any kindergarten, primary and secondary school, trade or business school, high school, academy, college and university, and in places of public resort, accommodation, assemblage or amusement, not limited to hotels, lodging places, restaurants, theater and in all other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons.
(c) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing and otherwise disabled persons shall be entitled to rent, lease or purchase, as other members of the general public, any housing accommodations offered for rent, lease or other compensation in this state, subject to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons.
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 1975, ch. 55, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 159, § 6; P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 1.
(b) “Hearing dog” means a dog that has been or is being specially trained to aid a particular deaf or hard-of-hearing person.
(c) “Housing accommodations” means any real property or portion thereof that is used or occupied, or intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied, as the home, residence or sleeping place of one or more human beings, but does not include any single-family residence the occupants of which rent, lease or furnish for compensation to more than one room therein.
(d) “Personal assistance animal” means a dog that has been or is being trained as a guide dog, hearing dog or service dog.
(e) “Service dog” means a dog that has been or is being specially trained to aid a particular disabled person with a disability other than sight or hearing.
(f) “Disabled” means a disability as defined in § 42-87-1.
(g) “Closed-captioning” means a transcript or dialog of the audio portion of a television program that is displayed on a television receiver screen when the user activates the feature.
(h) “Public area” means a part of a place of public accommodation that is open to the general public.
(i) “Regular hours” means the hours of any day in which a place of public accommodation is open to members of the general public.
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 216, § 22, eff. July 3, 2006; P.L. 2009, ch. 96, § 5, eff. July 9, 2009; P.L. 2009, ch. 97, § 5, eff. July 9, 2009; P.L. 2012, ch. 90, § 1, eff. May 22, 2012; P.L. 2012, ch. 100, § 1, eff. May 25, 2012.
§ 40-9.1-2. Personal assistance animals in public places
Every disabled person has the right to be accompanied by a personal assistance animal, specially trained for that person in any housing accommodation or in any places listed in § 40-9.1-1(b) and (c) without being required to pay an extra charge for the personal assistance animal. Each disabled person using a personal assistance animal is solely liable for any damage done to persons, premises or facilities by the personal assistance animal.
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 1975, ch. 55, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 159, § 7; P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 1.
Every trainer or puppy raiser of a personal assistance animal shall have the same rights and privileges as stated in § 40-9.1-2 for every person with a disability. Each trainer or puppy raiser during the training of a personal assistance animal is liable for any damage done to persons, premises or facilities by that personal assistance animal.
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 2.
(a) It is unlawful for any person, corporation or the agent of any corporation to:
(c) It is unlawful for the owner of a dog to allow that dog to injure a personal assistance animal because the owner failed to control or leash the dog. The owner shall also be liable for the injuries to the personal assistance dog and if necessary the replacement and compensation for the loss of the personal assistance animal.
(d) Any person who violates subsection (a)(1) is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who purposely or negligently violates subsection (a)(2) or (a)(3) is guilty of a misdemeanor. Violations shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months or by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), or by both fine and imprisonment. Any person or corporation who violates subsections (a), (b), or (c) is also liable to the person whose rights under §§ 40-9.1-2 and 40-9.1-2.1 were violated for actual damages for any economic loss and/or punitive damages, to be recovered by a civil action in a court in and for the county in which the infringement of civil rights occurred or in which the defendant lives.
(e) In an action brought under this section, the court shall award costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party.
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 1975, ch. 55, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 179, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 1.
§ 40-9.1-4. Enforcement of anti-discrimination provisions
The Rhode Island commission for human rights is empowered and directed, as hereinafter provided, to prevent any person from violating any of the provisions of this chapter; provided that before instituting a formal hearing it shall attempt by informal methods of conference, persuasion and conciliation, to induce compliance with those sections. Upon the commission's own initiative or whenever an aggrieved individual or an organization chartered for the purpose of combating discrimination or of safeguarding civil liberties or rights of persons with disabilities, such individual or organization being hereinafter referred to as “the complainant”, makes a charge to the commission that any person, agency, bureau, corporation or association, hereinafter referred to as “the respondent”, has violated or is violating any of the provisions of this chapter, the said commission may proceed in the same manner and with the same powers as provided in §§ 28-5-16 - 28-5-27, and the provisions of §§ 28-5-13 and 28-5-16 - 28-5-36, as to the powers, duties and rights of the commission, its members, hearing examiners, the complainant, respondent, interviewer and the court shall apply in any proceedings under this section.
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 100; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 100.
(a) The privileges of access and transportation provided to personal assistance animals in § 40-9.1-2 shall be extended to family therapy pets which are further defined as primary companions which include, but are not limited to, dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, that are working in the provision of pet assisted therapy treatment and education.
(b) The provisions are such that the pet assisted therapy facilitator is working in conjunction with the family therapy pet in a predetermined medical or educational setting, with a selected clientele. The medical interactions are to be individually planned, goal-oriented, and treatment based, and the educational settings are to be classroom based.
(c) Throughout the interactions, the pet assisted therapy facilitator and the family therapy pet will abide by a set code of ethics, and will follow professional guidelines to ensure that the actions and deeds of the pet assisted therapy facilitator reflect advocacy of profession, pets, and clients, and other professions; while simultaneously ensuring that the interaction of the family therapy pet and client remains beneficial and strives to enhance the quality of life through this animal-human bond.
(d) Prior to any interactions, the family therapy pet must first meet the immunization criteria, a current certificate of good health, which shall be issued by a licensed, practicing veterinarian, as well as the temperament criteria, a certificate of good temperament, which shall be issued from a certified or practicing dog trainer or animal behaviorist, and training criteria, in which the pet assisted therapy facilitator and the family therapy pet learn to work as a team learning together to execute safely and effective interaction, which are accepted in the field, specifically other pet assisted animal facilitators, veterinarians, dog trainers, animal behaviorists and the state of Rhode Island.
(e) Access and transportation privileges are only extended while the family therapy pet is on the way to or actively participating in a program.
(f) The animal assisted therapy facilitator, an individual who has successfully completed or is in the process of completing an accepted pet assisted therapy program, shall be responsible for the control and safety of the pet, which is to include cleaning up and elimination of wastes, keeping the pet on a proper leash and collar, carrying a smaller animal in a travel crate, adhering to all standard rules, regulations, and laws within both the facility and the state of Rhode Island, and upholding an active insurance policy that will cover an unforeseen mishap and/or accidental occurrence which may result in causing property damage and/or personal injury while actively participating in a program.
CREDIT(S)
P.L. 2000, ch. 451, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 216, § 22, eff. July 3, 2006.
(a) On request, a place of public accommodation shall keep closed-captioning activated on any closed-captioning television receiver that is in use during regular hours in any public area.
(b) This section does not require a place of public accommodation to make closed-captioning available in a public area at the place of public accommodation if:
(2) The only public television receiver available in the public area is not a closed-captioning television receiver.
P.L. 2012, ch. 90, § 2, eff. May 22, 2012; P.L. 2012, ch. 100, § 2, eff. May 25, 2012.
West's General Laws of Rhode Island Annotated. Title 42. State Affairs and Government. Chapter 87. Civil Rights of People with Disabilities.
The discriminatory acts prohibited by § 42-87-2 include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
P.L. 1983, ch. 271, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 144, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 124, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 18.