A Vicious Dog
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13.1-4 — a locked enclosure, and a muzzle and a short leash whenever the dog is out
A dog declared vicious is confined in an enclosure, and no owner or keeper may keep one on premises without a locked enclosure.
Out only when necessary. It may leave the home or enclosure only for veterinary care or the dog officer's directions, and then securely muzzled, on a leash or chain of at least three hundred pounds' strength and no longer than three feet, under the owner's direct control.
Whether a dog is vicious is decided under the chapter's own procedure. A particular dog is a question for animal control or a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13.1-4 — Control of vicious dogs
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Rhode Island attorney.