East Providence Seeks To Crack Down On Animal Cruelty

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — East Providence is cracking down on how dogs are restrained and how they are housed in an effort to curb concerns about animal cruelty. The new city ordinances place restrictions on how — and how long — dogs can be tethered, and requires kennel licenses for those keeping dogs that do not belong to the property owner.

WRPI-TV reported the new ordinances state owners are not allowed to tether their dogs using choke, head or prong collars, or in extreme temperatures. Dogs cannot be tethered for more than 10 hours during a 24-hour period, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and cannot be confined in an enclosure for more than 14 hours in a 24-hour period. Permanent tethers must allow more than a 6-foot radius area of movement.

The new kennel licenses apply to anyone housing animals not owned by the property owner. Licenses will expire on Dec. 1 and will require yearly inspects from the East Providence Animal Control Office, with additional inspections in the case of a complaint.