Bill Text: CT HB05323 | 2012 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning Biting Dogs.

Sponsorship: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-02 - Public Hearing 03/07 [HB05323 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2012-HB05323-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 5323
February Session, 2012		LCO No. 1443
		*01443_______ENV*
Referred to Committee on Environment
Introduced by:
(ENV)

AN ACT CONCERNING BITING DOGS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (c) of section 22-358 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2012):

(c) (1) 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 of such animal shall pay all fees as set forth in section 22-333. 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.

(2) A Chief Animal Control Officer, animal control officer, municipal animal control officer or regional animal control officer who finds that the complainant has been bitten or attacked by a dog may, in lieu of a quarantine or an order under subdivision (1) of this subsection, order (A) the dog and owner or keeper to complete a six-week or longer dog obedience school program, (B) the owner or keeper to install a physical barrier around a part of the premises of the owner where the dog can be contained, (C) that the dog be moved to another location approved by the officer, where an attack on a person would be very unlikely due to the rural nature of the other location or fencing on the location, or (D) that the dog be muzzled when not on the premises of the owner or keeper of the dog.

(3) Any owner or keeper of such dog, cat or other animal who fails to comply with [such] an order under this subsection 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 deems 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, is currently vaccinated and is subject to routine veterinary care. Any guide dog owned or in the custody and control of a blind person or a person with a mobility impairment is exempt from the provisions of this subsection when such guide dog is under the direct supervision, care and control of such person, is currently vaccinated and is subject to routine veterinary care.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2012	22-358(c)

Statement of Purpose:

To provide additional options for animal control officers to respond to incidents of attacks or biting by dogs.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]