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Division of Agriculture
Please find below a summary of the Division of Agriculture, Animal Health Sections proposed promulgation of Animal Care Regulations governing the standards of care in facilities licensed and inspected by the Animal Health Staff. The drafted regulations are available for review and distribution by contacting the DEM or its website. The next scheduled open public workshop is on October 27, 2004 at 3pm in the South Kingstown Town Council Chambers located in the South Kingstown Town Hall at 180 High Street in South Kingstown, RI. Directions are available from the Animal Health Office. At this time, a formal public hearing of the Animal Care Regulations and a date for filing of the regulations has not been scheduled. All licensed facilities and individuals who have requested notification will be provided with copies of the drafted regulations and afforded the opportunity for comment prior to official public hearings and filing of the final regulations.RIDEM PUBLIC WORKSHOP INTRODUCTION OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING ANIMAL CARE October 27, 2004 3-5pm South Kingstown Town Hall High Street, South Kingstown Due to ongoing revisions, numerous comments and recent requests for meetings with stakeholders, the proposed open public meeting for September 29, 2004 has been canceled in order to allow for adequate time to address public input and generate current drafts of the Animal Care Regulations. As of September 23, 2004, the DEM website is still posting draft #3 dated 6-7-2003 for comment. The fourth draft of the regulations is expected to be posted in early October and available for distribution and review prior to the next open public meeting. Please contact the Animal Health Office for information on current drafts of the regulations. In 1999 the Rhode Island Legislators appropriated funds to hire a second State Veterinarian to address animal welfare and regulations concerning animal care. In January 2000, Dr. Peter Belinsky was selected to research welfare issues, develop standards and address the need for laws and regulations, including euthanasia, carbon monoxide chambers, reporting of abuse and animal care. Since 2000, under legislative direction, and as allowed by statute (Rhode Island General Law Title 4, Chapter 19, entitled Animal Care) Dr. Belinsky and the Animal Health Staff have been developing regulations governing the standards of care and housing for animals. The purpose of the regulations is to establish standards of care that insure the health, welfare and safety of animals and humans, while maintaining compliance with the existing laws and regulations concerning different species of animals and contagious diseases, such as rabies. These standards will be applied to animal facilities licensed and inspected by the state, including animal shelters, municipal pounds, pet shops, kennels, dealers, animal rescues, petting zoos and animal exhibitions. The regulations will address feeding, shelter, housing, husbandry, veterinary care, disease control, record keeping, emergencies, definitions, protocols, welfare and other topics. Currently the standards enforced by Animal Health are accepted guidelines and established protocols that apply the basic requirements for facilities to have adequate food, shelter and housing for the number and types of animals housed, and that the materials and construction allow for cleaning, disinfection, ventilation, lighting, storage and safety. These accepted guidelines are being expanded upon to address the needs of the many different species of animals being housed in a wide variety of facilities around the state. Due to the broad scope of the regulations, the content of the rules will reflect standards that can be applied to all facilities, as well as sections concerning specific activities and species, such as communal living of dogs and cats. In compliance with Title 4 of Rhode Island General Law, and the purpose of the chapters addressing animal disease and licensed facilities, the Division of Agriculture has addressed the need to apply a uniform standard to the housing and communal living of animals in a variety of different facilities with different goals and functions. The State Veterinarians have researched extensively the large volume of literature on the topic. Recent outbreaks of disease in pet shops and shelters have demonstrated the need for certain basic requirements. One of those basic requirements is that adequate primary and secondary enclosures must be provided for the number of animals in a building or facility. In the event of disease outbreaks, sanitization requirements, overcrowding, trauma, illness, building problems, emergencies or circumstances when animals must be contained, facilities need cage space available for each animal. References and experience indicate that communal living must reflect this and that common rooms are designed and constructed with the same standards as other animal housing. For more information and to obtain copies of the applicable existing regulations, state laws and references, please contact the Division of Agriculture at the address provided, or visit the RIDEM website at www.dem.ri.gov and the links to Rhode Island General Laws. Any person wanting to obtain copy of the draft regulations and be notified of meetings or hearings can contact the Animal Health Section at 401-222-2781. All written comments and recommendations can be submitted directly to Animal Health for review and response. Thank you, C. H. Hannafin, DVM RI State Public Health Veterinarian RI Division of Agriculture Room 375 235 Promenade Street Providence, RI 02908 401-222-2781 401-222-6047 fax |
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rev. 10/18/04