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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6504
January Session, 2021
AN ACT CONCERNING AN IMAL WELFARE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subdivision (10) of section 22-327 of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 2
passage): 3
(10) "Poultry" [means all domestic fowl and any pheasants or other 4
game birds securely confined and lawfully owned and possessed by any 5
person under the provisions of section 26-40] has the same meaning as 6
provided in section 22-326s; 7
Sec. 2. Section 22-327 of the general statutes is amended by adding 8
subdivision (13) as follows (Effective from passage): 9
(NEW) (13) "Service animal" has the same meaning as provided in 28 10
CFR 35.104 and includes any animal in training to become a service 11
animal. 12
Sec. 3. Section 22-329 of the general statutes is repealed and the 13
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 14
[The commissioner, the Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal 15
control officer, any municipal] Any animal control officer or regional 16 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331, as 17
amended by this act, or 22-331a, as amended by this act, as applicable, 18
or any law enforcement officer may interfere to prevent any act of 19
cruelty upon any dog or other animal, and any person who interferes 20
with or obstructs or resists [the commissioner or] any such officer in the 21
discharge of such duty shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor. 22
Sec. 4. Section 22-329a of the general statutes is repealed and the 23
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 24
(a) [The Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer or 25
any municipal or regional animal control officer] Any animal control 26
officer or regional animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 27
22-328, 22-331, as amended by this act, or 22-331a, as amended by this 28
act, as applicable, may take physical custody of any animal when such 29
animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe that such animal 30
is in imminent harm and is neglected or is cruelly treated in violation of 31
section 22-366, 22-415, 53-247, 53-248, 53-249, 53-249a, 53-250, 53-251 or 32
53-252, and, not later than ninety-six hours after taking physical 33
custody, shall proceed as provided in subsection (c) of this section, 34
except that if, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian or the State 35
Veterinarian, at any time after physical custody of such animal is taken, 36
such animal is so injured or diseased that it should be [destroyed] 37
euthanized immediately, such officer may [humanely destroy or cause 38
such animal to be humanely destroyed] have such animal humanely 39
euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. 40
(b) [The Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer or 41
any municipal or regional animal control officer] Any animal control 42
officer or regional animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 43
22-328, 22-331, as amended by this act, or 22-331a, as amended by this 44
act, as applicable, may take physical custody of any animal upon 45
issuance of a warrant finding probable cause that such animal is 46
neglected or is cruelly treated in violation of section 22-366, 22-415, 53-47
247, 53-248, 53-249, 53-249a, 53-250, 53-251 or 53-252, and shall 48
thereupon proceed as provided in subsection (c) of this section except 49 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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that if, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian or the State Veterinarian, 50
at any time after physical custody of such animal is taken, such animal 51
is so injured or diseased that it should be [destroyed] euthanized 52
immediately, such officer may [humanely destroy or cause such animal 53
to be humanely destroyed] have such animal humanely euthanized by 54
a licensed veterinarian. 55
(c) Such officer shall file with the superior court which has venue over 56
such matter or with the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford 57
at Hartford a verified petition plainly stating such facts of neglect or 58
cruel treatment as to bring such animal within the jurisdiction of the 59
court and praying for appropriate action by the court in accordance with 60
the provisions of this section. Upon the filing of such petition, the court 61
shall cause a summons to be issued requiring the owner or owners or 62
person having responsibility for the care of the animal, if known, to 63
appear in court at the time and place named. 64
(d) If physical custody of an animal has been taken pursuant to 65
subsection (a) or (b) of this section and it appears from the allegations of 66
the petition filed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and other 67
affirmations of fact accompanying the petition, or provided subsequent 68
thereto, that there is reasonable cause to find that the animal's condition 69
or the circumstances surrounding its care require that temporary care 70
and custody be immediately assumed to safeguard its welfare, the court 71
shall either (1) issue an order to show cause why the court should not 72
vest in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private agency 73
or person the animal's temporary care and custody pending a hearing 74
on the petition, or (2) issue an order vesting in some suitable state, 75
municipal or other public or private agency or person the animal's 76
temporary care and custody pending a hearing on the petition. A 77
hearing on the order issued by the court pursuant to subdivision (1) or 78
(2) of this subsection shall be held not later than fourteen days after the 79
issuance of such order. The service of such order may be made by any 80
officer authorized by law to serve process, state police officer or 81
indifferent person and shall be served not less than forty-eight hours 82 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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prior to the date and time of such hearing. If the owner or owners or 83
person having responsibility for the care of the animal is not known, 84
notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by publication 85
in a newspaper having a circulation in the town in which such officer 86
took physical custody of such animal not less than forty-eight hours 87
prior to the date and time of such hearing. 88
(e) If physical custody of an animal has not been taken pursuant to 89
subsection (a) or (b) of this section, and [the Chief Animal Control 90
Officer, any animal control officer or any municipal or regional animal 91
control] such officer has reasonable cause to believe that an animal is 92
neglected or is cruelly treated in violation of section 22-366, 22-415, 53-93
247, 53-248, 53-249, 53-249a, 53-250, 53-251 or 53-252, such [animal 94
control] officer may file a petition with the superior court which has 95
venue over such matter or with the superior court for the judicial district 96
of Hartford at Hartford, plainly stating such facts of neglect or cruel 97
treatment as to bring the animal within the jurisdiction of the court and 98
praying for appropriate action by the court to ensure the welfare of the 99
animal including, but not limited to, physical removal and temporary 100
care and custody of the animal, authorization of an animal control 101
officer or regional animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 102
22-328, 22-331, as amended by this act, or 22-331a, as amended by this 103
act, as applicable, or a licensed veterinarian to provide care for the 104
animal on site, vesting of ownership of the animal, the posting of a bond 105
in accordance with subsection (f) of this section and the assessment of 106
costs in accordance with subsection (h) of this section. Upon the filing of 107
such petition, the court shall cause a summons for an order to show 108
cause to be issued requiring the owner or owners or person having 109
responsibility for the care of the animal, if known, to appear in court at 110
the time and place named. If the owner or owners or person having 111
responsibility for the care of the animal is not known, notice of the time 112
and place of the hearing shall be given by publication in a newspaper 113
having a circulation in the town where the animal is located not less than 114
forty-eight hours prior to the date and time of the hearing. If it appears 115
from the allegations of the petition filed pursuant to this subsection and 116 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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other affirmations of fact accompanying the petition, or provided 117
subsequent thereto, that there is reasonable cause to find that the 118
animal's condition or the circumstances surrounding its care require the 119
immediate removal of the animal from the owner or owners or person 120
having responsibility for the care of the animal to safeguard its welfare, 121
the court shall issue an order vesting in some suitable state, municipal 122
or other public or private agency or person the animal's temporary care 123
and custody pending a hearing on the petition which hearing shall be 124
held not later than ten days after the issuance of such order for such 125
temporary care and custody. The service of such order may be made by 126
any officer authorized by law to serve process, state police officer or 127
indifferent person and shall be served not less than forty-eight hours 128
prior to the date and time of such hearing. 129
(f) If the court issues an order vesting the animal's temporary care 130
and custody in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private 131
agency or person, the owner or owners shall either relinquish 132
ownership of the animal or post a surety bond or cash bond with the 133
agency or person in whom the animal's temporary care and custody was 134
vested. The surety bond or cash bond shall be in the amount of five 135
hundred dollars for each animal placed in the temporary care or custody 136
of such agency or person and shall secure payment for the reasonable 137
expenses of the agency or person having temporary care and custody of 138
the animal in caring and providing for such animal until the court makes 139
a finding as to the animal's disposition under subsection (g) of this 140
section. The requirement that a bond be posted may be waived if such 141
owner provides satisfactory evidence that such owner is indigent and 142
unable to pay for such bond. 143
(g) (1) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is neglected or 144
cruelly treated, it shall vest ownership of the animal in any state, 145
municipal or other public or private agency which is permitted by law 146
to care for neglected or cruelly treated animals or with any person found 147
to be suitable or worthy of such responsibility by the court. 148
(2) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is so injured or 149 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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diseased that it should be [destroyed] humanely euthanized, the court 150
may order that such animal be humanely [destroyed] euthanized by a 151
licensed veterinarian. 152
(3) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is not neglected or 153
cruelly treated, it may cause the animal to be returned to its owner or 154
owners or person having responsibility for its care or, if such owner or 155
owners or person is unknown or unwilling to resume caring for such 156
animal, it may vest ownership of the animal in any state, municipal or 157
other public or private agency or person found to be suitable or worthy 158
of such responsibility. 159
(4) If the court makes a finding under subdivision (1) or (2) of this 160
subsection less than thirty days after the issuance of an order of 161
temporary care and custody and the owner of the animal has posted a 162
bond, the agency or person with whom the bond was posted shall return 163
the balance of such bond, if any, to the owner. The amount of the bond 164
to be returned to the owner shall be calculated at the rate of fifteen 165
dollars per day per animal or twenty-five dollars per day per animal if 166
the animal is a horse or other large livestock for the number of days less 167
than thirty that such agency or person has not had temporary care and 168
custody of the animal less any veterinary costs and expenses incurred 169
for the welfare of the animal. 170
(5) If the court makes a finding under subdivision (3) of this 171
subsection after the issuance of an order of temporary care and custody 172
and the owner of the animal has posted a bond, the agency or person 173
with whom the bond was posted shall return such bond to such owner. 174
(h) If the court finds that the animal is neglected or cruelly treated, 175
the expenses incurred by the state or a municipality in providing proper 176
food, shelter and care to an animal it has taken custody of under 177
subsection (a) or (b) of this section and the expenses incurred by any 178
state, municipal or other public or private agency or person in providing 179
temporary care and custody pursuant to an order vesting temporary 180
care and custody, calculated at the rate of fifteen dollars per day per 181 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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animal or twenty-five dollars per day per animal if the animal is a horse 182
or other large livestock until the date ownership is vested pursuant to 183
subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of this section shall be paid by the 184
owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the 185
animal. In addition, all veterinary costs and expenses incurred for the 186
welfare of the animal that are not covered by the per diem rate shall be 187
paid by the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the 188
animal. 189
(i) If the court vests ownership of the animal in the Commissioner of 190
Agriculture or a municipality, the commissioner or the municipality 191
may conduct or participate in a public auction of the animal under such 192
conditions the commissioner or the municipality deems necessary or the 193
commissioner or the municipality may consign the animal to an auction 194
or sell the animal through an open advertised bid process whereby bid 195
price and demonstration of sufficient knowledge and ability to care for 196
such animal are factors for the commissioner's or municipality's 197
consideration. All moneys collected from the sale of animals sold by the 198
Commissioner of Agriculture through such open advertised bid process 199
shall be deposited in the animal abuse cost recovery account established 200
in subsection (j) of this section. All moneys collected from the sale of 201
animals sold by a municipality through such open advertised bid 202
process shall be deposited by the town treasurer or other fiscal officer in 203
the town's general fund. The commissioner or the municipality may also 204
vest ownership of any such animal in an individual or a public or private 205
nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization. 206
(j) There is established a separate, nonlapsing account within the 207
General Fund, to be known as the "animal abuse cost recovery account". 208
All moneys collected from sales at public auction of animals seized by 209
the Department of Agriculture pursuant to this section shall be 210
deposited into the account. Deposits of moneys may be made into the 211
account from public or private sources, including, but not limited to, the 212
federal government or municipal governments. 213
(k) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any 214 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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moneys received by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to 215
subsection (j) of this section shall be deposited in the General Fund and 216
credited to the animal abuse cost recovery account. The account shall be 217
available to the Commissioner of Agriculture for the purpose of the 218
housing, care and welfare of any animal seized by the department, until 219
final disposition of such animal. Additionally, the account may be used 220
for the purpose of providing reimbursement to any municipality for the 221
costs of providing temporary care to such animal if such temporary care 222
exceeded thirty days in duration and such costs exceeded the amount of 223
any surety bond or cash bond posted pursuant to subsection (f) of this 224
section provided the total annual reimbursement to municipalities from 225
said account for such purpose shall not exceed twenty-five thousand 226
dollars. Nothing in this section shall prevent the commissioner from 227
obtaining or using funds from sources other than the account for the 228
housing, care and welfare of any animal seized by the department 229
pursuant to this section. 230
Sec. 5. Section 22-331 of the general statutes is repealed and the 231
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 232
(a) In each municipality of the state having a population of more than 233
twenty-five thousand which has adopted the provisions of chapter 113, 234
or otherwise provided for a merit system for its employees, the chief of 235
police, or such other appointing authority as the charter may designate, 236
shall, appoint a full-time municipal animal control officer and such 237
assistants as are deemed necessary, subject to the provisions of said 238
chapter 113 or other merit system, to administer and enforce the laws 239
relating to dogs or other domestic animals. Any person so appointed 240
may be or become a member of the police department and for such 241
purpose the legislative body of such municipality may waive any 242
requirements as to age, sex, physical condition, education and training 243
applicable to other members of the police department. Any person so 244
appointed as a member of the police department shall be fully eligible 245
to participate in the retirement system of such department. 246
(b) Except as provided in section 22-331a, as amended by this act, the 247 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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chief or superintendent of police in each other city or town having a 248
police department and the selectmen or chief executive officer in each 249
town which has no police department, or such other appointing 250
authority as the charter of such town may designate, in their respective 251
jurisdictions, shall appoint a municipal animal control officer and such 252
assistants as are deemed necessary to administer and enforce the laws 253
relating to dogs and other domestic animals. Such officer and assistants 254
shall have such qualifications as the commissioner may prescribe and 255
shall serve for a term of at least one year. 256
(c) Each appointment made under the provisions of this section shall 257
be reported promptly to the commissioner. Each person appointed 258
under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall, and any 259
person appointed under the provisions of subsection (b) of this section 260
may, be paid a salary and expenses in lieu of the fees provided in section 261
22-334 and the amount thereof shall be transferred from the dog fund 262
account to the appropriation of the proper department. 263
(d) The municipal animal control officer so appointed in any [city] 264
municipality the limits of which are not coterminous with those of the 265
[town] municipality in which it is located shall have authority as such 266
municipal animal control officer throughout such town, and the town 267
treasurer or other fiscal officer shall annually reimburse the [city] 268
municipality, from the dog fund account, for the salaries and expenses 269
of such officer or his or her assistants. The municipal animal control 270
officer so appointed in any town having a borough within its limits shall 271
have authority as such municipal animal control officer throughout the 272
limits of such town. If, in any [city or town] municipality, the officer or 273
officers charged with such duty fail to report such appointment, the 274
commissioner shall notify such officer or officers to make and report 275
such appointment within ten days of receipt of such notification, and, if 276
such appointment is not made within such time, the commissioner shall 277
appoint a municipal animal control officer for such [city or town] 278
municipality. 279
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any 280 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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special act, municipal charter or ordinance, any chief elected official of 281
any municipality or a regional animal control facility may appoint, on a 282
temporary basis not to exceed ninety days, any animal control officer or 283
regional animal control officer appointed pursuant to this section or 284
section 22-331a, as amended by this act, as applicable, to act as an animal 285
control officer in such municipality or region. Any animal control officer 286
or regional animal control officer who provides services pursuant to an 287
appointment made in accordance with this subsection shall have all the 288
powers and authority granted to such animal control officer in the 289
municipality or region in which such officer is appointed. Any such 290
appointment made pursuant to this subsection shall be made in writing 291
and be approved by each of the chief elected officials of the 292
municipalities affected by such appointment and by each regional 293
animal control facility that is affected by such appointment. Such 294
written appointment shall include, at a minimum, information 295
concerning the compensation to be paid to such officer, insurance 296
provided to such officer and the use of equipment, if any, for such 297
officer. The Commissioner of Agriculture shall be notified, in writing, of 298
any such appointment made pursuant to this subsection not later than 299
five days following such appointment. 300
Sec. 6. Section 22-331a of the general statutes is repealed and the 301
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 302
Any two or more towns each of which has a population of less than 303
fifty thousand, and which have or will provide a dog pound facility 304
within their region, by action of their [legislative bodies] board of 305
selectmen, town council or other governing body, may agree to be 306
served by a regional animal control officer. Upon certification of such 307
agreement to the commissioner with assurances from the towns so 308
certifying that they will provide and continue to provide adequate 309
facilities and compensation for such officer, the commissioner may, after 310
giving due regard to the regional aspects of the proposed facilities and 311
whether the proposed region would be in the best interests of the towns 312
so certifying, establish such region. Each person so appointed shall have 313 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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the same powers and duties within the region to which he is assigned 314
as a municipal animal control officer in each town therein. All costs of 315
maintaining and operating such pounds and administering and 316
enforcing the laws relating to dogs within such regions shall be paid in 317
accordance with the provisions of the agreement certified to the 318
commissioner under this section. Any pound facility operated pursuant 319
to this section shall meet the construction, maintenance and sanitation 320
standards established pursuant to section 22-336 and any regulations 321
adopted pursuant to said section, including, but not limited to, 322
standards for the handling and transportation of dogs and other 323
domestic animals. 324
Sec. 7. Section 22-332 of the general statutes is repealed and the 325
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 326
(a) [The Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer or 327
any municipal animal control officer] Any animal control officer or 328
regional animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-329
331, as amended by this act, or 22-331a, as amended by this act, as 330
applicable, shall be responsible for the enforcement of this chapter and 331
shall make diligent search and inquiry for any violation of any of its 332
provisions. Any such officer may take into custody (1) any dog found 333
roaming in violation of the provisions of section 22-364, (2) any dog not 334
having a tag or plate on a collar about its neck or on a harness on its 335
body as provided by law or which is not confined or controlled in 336
accordance with the provisions of any order or regulation relating to 337
rabies issued by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of 338
this chapter, or (3) any dog or other domestic animal found injured on 339
any highway, neglected, abandoned or cruelly treated. The officer shall 340
impound such dog or other domestic animal at the pound serving the 341
town where the dog or other domestic animal is taken unless, in the 342
opinion of a licensed veterinarian, the dog or other domestic animal is 343
so injured or diseased that it should be [destroyed] euthanized 344
immediately, in which case the municipal animal control officer of such 345
town may [cause the dog or other domestic animal to be mercifully 346 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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killed] have such dog or other animal humanely euthanized by a 347
licensed veterinarian or disposed of as the State Veterinarian may direct. 348
The [municipal animal control] officer shall immediately notify the 349
owner or keeper of any dog or other [domestic] animal so taken, if 350
known, of its impoundment. [Such officer shall immediately notify the 351
owner or keeper of any other domestic animal which is taken into 352
custody, if such owner or keeper is known.] If the owner or keeper of 353
any such dog or other domestic animal is unknown, the officer shall 354
immediately tag or employ [such] other suitable means of official 355
identification of the dog or other domestic animal [as may be approved 356
by the Chief Animal Control Officer] and shall promptly cause (A) a 357
description of such dog or other domestic animal to be published once 358
in the lost and found column of a newspaper having a circulation in such 359
town or that has a state-wide circulation, and (B) a photograph or 360
description of such dog or other domestic animal and the date on which 361
such dog or other domestic animal is no longer legally required to be 362
impounded to be posted on a national pet adoption Internet web site or 363
an Internet web site that is maintained or accessed by the animal control 364
officer and that is accessible to the public through an Internet search, 365
except such posting shall not be required if: (i) The dog or other 366
domestic animal is held pending the resolution of civil or criminal 367
litigation involving such dog or other domestic animal, (ii) the officer 368
has a good faith belief that the dog or other domestic animal would be 369
adopted by or transferred to a public or private nonprofit rescue 370
organization for the purpose of placing such dog or other domestic 371
animal in an adoptive home even in the absence of such posting, (iii) the 372
dog or other domestic animal's safety will be placed at risk, or (iv) such 373
animal control officer determines that such dog or other domestic 374
animal is feral and not adoptable. If any animal control officer does not 375
have the technological resources to post such information on an Internet 376
web site as required by subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, such 377
officer may contact a public or private animal rescue organization and 378
request that such organization post such information, at such 379
organization's expense, on an Internet web site that is accessible to the 380
public through an Internet search. To the extent practicable, any such 381 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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posting by an animal control officer or a public or private animal rescue 382
organization shall remain posted for the duration of such dog's or other 383
domestic animal's impoundment in the municipal or regional dog 384
pound. 385
(b) If such dog or other domestic animal is not claimed by and 386
released to the owner within seven days after the date of publication, 387
[the municipal animal control] such officer, upon finding such dog or 388
other domestic animal to be in satisfactory health, may have a licensed 389
veterinarian spay or neuter such dog and sell such dog or other 390
domestic animal to any person who satisfies such officer that such 391
person is purchasing such dog or other domestic animal as a pet and 392
that such person can give it a good home and proper care. [The 393
municipal animal control] Such officer may retain possession of such 394
dog or other domestic animal for such additional period of time as such 395
[animal control] officer may deem advisable in order to place such dog 396
or other domestic animal as a pet and may have a licensed veterinarian 397
spay or neuter such dog. If, within such period, any dog or other 398
domestic animal is not claimed by and released to the owner or keeper 399
or purchased as a pet, the officer shall cause such dog or other domestic 400
animal to be [mercifully killed] humanely euthanized by a licensed 401
veterinarian or disposed of as the State Veterinarian may direct. Any 402
veterinarian who so [destroys] euthanizes a dog shall be paid from the 403
dog fund account. No person who [so destroys] euthanizes a dog or 404
other domestic animal shall be held criminally or civilly liable therefor 405
nor shall any licensed veterinarian who spays or neuters a dog pursuant 406
to this section be held civilly liable. [, including, but not limited to, 407
liability for reconstructive neutical implantation surgery.] 408
(c) The town treasurer or other fiscal officer shall pay from the dog 409
fund account the advertising expense incurred under the provisions of 410
this section upon receipt of an itemized statement together with a copy 411
of the advertisement as published. Any person who purchases a dog as 412
a pet shall pay a fee of five dollars and procure a license and tag for such 413
dog from the town clerk, in accordance with the provisions of section 414 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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22-338. In addition to the five-dollar fee, any person who purchases a 415
dog as a pet may be charged the cost the municipality incurred, if any, 416
to spay or neuter and vaccinate the dog, provided such charge shall not 417
exceed one hundred fifty dollars. 418
(d) No regional or municipal dog pound facility, municipality, 419
[regional or municipal animal control officer] animal control officer or 420
regional animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-421
331, as amended by this act, or 22-331a, as amended by this act, as 422
applicable, or public or private nonprofit animal rescue organization 423
that arranges for the provision of treatment by a licensed veterinarian to 424
an injured, sick or diseased animal pursuant to a contract described in 425
section 22-332e shall be held civilly liable for such actions unless such 426
actions are performed in a wanton, reckless or malicious manner. No 427
licensed veterinarian who provides treatment free of charge or for a 428
reduced fee, to an injured, sick or diseased animal as a direct result of a 429
contract described in section 22-332e shall be held civilly liable for the 430
provision of such treatment unless such actions are performed in a 431
wilful, wanton or reckless manner. 432
Sec. 8. Section 22-344f of the general statutes is repealed and the 433
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 434
(a) Any animal importer and any person who operates or maintains 435
an animal shelter, as defined in section 22-344, shall, not later than forty-436
eight hours after importing any dog or cat into this state and prior to the 437
sale, adoption or transfer of such dog or cat to any person, provide for 438
the examination of such dog or cat by a veterinarian licensed under 439
chapter 384. Thereafter, such animal importer or person who operates 440
or maintains an animal shelter shall provide for the examination of such 441
dog or cat by a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384 every ninety 442
days until such dog or cat is sold, adopted or transferred, provided no 443
such dog or cat shall be sold, adopted or transferred to another person 444
by an animal importer or person who operates or maintains an animal 445
shelter unless (1) such dog or cat was examined by a veterinarian 446
licensed under chapter 384 not more than fifteen days prior to the sale, 447 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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adoption or transfer of such dog or cat, and (2) such veterinarian 448
provides such animal importer or person who operates or maintains an 449
animal shelter with a written certificate stating that such dog or cat is 450
free of any symptoms of any illness, infectious, contagious or 451
communicable disease. Such certificate shall list the name, address and 452
contact information of such animal importer or person who operates or 453
maintains an animal shelter. Any animal importer or person who 454
operates or maintains an animal shelter who violates the provisions of 455
this subsection shall be fined [not more than five hundred dollars for 456
each animal that is the subject of such violation] for a first violation, two 457
hundred fifty dollars for each animal that is the subject of such violation, 458
and for any subsequent violation, five hundred dollars for each animal 459
that is the subject of such violation. 460
(b) Each animal importer and each person who operates or maintains 461
an animal shelter shall maintain a record of the veterinary services 462
rendered to each dog or cat imported into this state by such animal 463
importer or person. Such record shall be maintained by such animal 464
importer or person for a period of three years. Any animal importer or 465
such person who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be fined 466
[five hundred dollars] two hundred fifty dollars for a first violation and 467
five hundred dollars for any subsequent violation. 468
Sec. 9. Section 22-345 of the general statutes is repealed and the 469
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 470
Any [blind, deaf or mobility impaired] person with a disability who 471
is the owner or keeper of a dog [which has been trained and educated 472
to guide and assist such person in traveling upon the public streets or 473
highways or otherwise] that is a service animal shall receive a license 474
and tag for such [dog] service animal from the town clerk of the town 475
where such [dog] service animal is owned or kept. Such license and tag 476
shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of section 22-340, and 477
no fee shall be required of the owner or keeper of any such [dog] service 478
animal. [When any such dog has not been previously licensed by the 479
town clerk to whom application is being made, such town clerk shall not 480 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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license such dog or issue to the owner a license and tag unless written 481
evidence is exhibited to such clerk that the dog is trained and educated 482
and intended in fact to perform such guide service for such applicant.] 483
Any person who has a dog that is a service animal placed with such 484
person temporarily, including for breeding purposes, by a nonprofit 485
organization established for the purpose of training or educating [guide 486
dogs to so assist blind, deaf or mobility impaired persons] service 487
animals shall receive a license and tag for such [dog] service animal from 488
the town clerk of the town where such [dog] service animal is kept. Such 489
license and tag shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of 490
section 22-340, and no fee shall be required for such license and tag, 491
provided such person presents written evidence that such [dog] service 492
animal was placed with such person by such organization. [As used in 493
this section and section 46a-44, "deaf person" means a person who 494
cannot readily understand spoken language through hearing alone and 495
who may also have a speech defect which renders such person's speech 496
unintelligible to most people with normal hearing.] 497
Sec. 10. Section 22-364b of the general statutes is repealed and the 498
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 499
The owner or keeper of a dog shall restrain and control such dog on 500
a leash when such dog is not on the property of its owner or keeper and 501
is in proximity to a [blind, deaf or mobility impaired] person with a 502
disability who is accompanied by [his guide dog] a service animal, 503
provided the [guide dog] service animal is: [in] (1) In the direct custody 504
of such [blind, deaf or mobility impaired] person, (2) is wearing a 505
harness, vest or [an orange-colored] leash and collar which makes it 506
readily-identifiable as a [guide dog] service animal, and (3) is licensed 507
in accordance with section 22-345, as amended by this act. Any person 508
who violates the provisions of this section shall have committed an 509
infraction. If an owner or keeper of a dog violates the provisions of this 510
section and, as a result of such violation, such dog attacks and injures 511
the [guide dog] service animal, such owner or keeper shall be liable, as 512
provided in section 22-357, for any damage done to such [guide dog] 513 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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service animal, and such liability shall include liability for any costs 514
incurred by such [blind, deaf or mobility-impaired] person with a 515
disability for the veterinary care, rehabilitation or replacement of the 516
injured [guide dog] service animal and for reasonable attorney's fees. 517
Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding any provision 518
of chapter 435 of the general statutes, the Commissioner of Agriculture 519
shall develop a waiver request process and form for the owner, keeper 520
or veterinarian for any animal that was attacked and that may have been 521
exposed to rabies as a result of such attack to request a reduction of the 522
requisite quarantine period for such animal from six months to four 523
months if such owner, keeper or veterinarian submits proof with such 524
waiver request that such animal was vaccinated for rabies not more than 525
ninety-six hours after such attack. Such waiver request process and form 526
shall be: (1) Posted on the Internet web site of the Department of 527
Agriculture, (2) made publicly available and accessible, and (3) made 528
known to veterinarians throughout the state by said department. 529
Sec. 12. Subsection (b) of section 22-380g of the general statutes is 530
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 531
31, 2021): 532
(b) Not more than [ten] twenty per cent of the funds deposited in the 533
animal population control account in accordance with subsection (f) of 534
section 14-21h, subsection (a) of section 22-338, section 22-380f and 535
section 22-380l shall be used for the sterilization and vaccination of feral 536
cats program in accordance with subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this 537
section. 538
Sec. 13. Subsection (a) of section 22-380i of the general statutes is 539
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 540
31, 2021): 541
(a) The program established under section 22-380g, as amended by 542
this act, shall provide for payment to any participating veterinarian of 543
an amount equivalent to the voucher issued pursuant to section 22-380f 544 Substitute Bill No. 6504
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for each animal sterilization and vaccinations, coincident with 545
sterilization, performed by such veterinarian upon a dog or cat owned 546
by an eligible owner. For a sterilization procedure, [such voucher shall 547
be in the amount of one hundred twenty dollars for a female dog, one 548
hundred dollars for a male dog, seventy dollars for a female cat and fifty 549
dollars for a male cat] the Commissioner of Agriculture shall establish a 550
rate of reimbursement that is not more than seventy-five per cent of the 551
market rate or the fee charged by veterinarians in the state as of October 552
31, 2021. In the case of a sterilization fee exceeding the amount of the 553
voucher, the eligible owner shall pay the participating veterinarian the 554
difference between such fee and the amount of the voucher. Such 555
voucher shall be in the amount of [twenty] thirty dollars, in addition to 556
the amount designated for sterilization, for vaccinations coincident with 557
the sterilization of a dog or cat owned by an eligible owner. 558
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage 22-327(10)
Sec. 2 from passage 22-327
Sec. 3 from passage 22-329
Sec. 4 from passage 22-329a
Sec. 5 from passage 22-331
Sec. 6 from passage 22-331a
Sec. 7 from passage 22-332
Sec. 8 from passage 22-344f
Sec. 9 from passage 22-345
Sec. 10 from passage 22-364b
Sec. 11 from passage New section
Sec. 12 October 31, 2021 22-380g(b)
Sec. 13 October 31, 2021 22-380i(a)
ENV Joint Favorable Subst.