CHAPTER 435
DOGS AND OTHER COMPANION ANIMALS.
KENNELS AND PET SHOPS

      Sec. 22-329b. Reporting of neglected or cruelly treated animals. (a) Any animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a who (1) has reasonable cause to suspect that an animal observed in the course of the officer's employment is being or has been harmed, neglected or treated cruelly in violation of section 53-247, and (2) files a verified petition with the Superior Court pursuant to section 22-329a shall make a written report to the Commissioner of Agriculture in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

      (b) The report shall be made by the officer as soon as practicable, but not later than forty-eight hours after the officer has filed the verified petition. Each report shall contain, if known: (1) The address where the animal was observed and the name and address of the owner or other person responsible for care of the animal; (2) the name and a description of the animal; (3) the nature and extent of the harm, neglect or cruelty to the animal; (4) the approximate date and time such harm, neglect or cruelty occurred; (5) any information concerning any previous harm to, neglect of or cruelty toward the animal; (6) the circumstances under which such harm, neglect or cruelty came to be known by the officer; and (7) the name and address of every person the officer reasonably suspects to be responsible for such harm, neglect or cruelty.

      (c) Not later than November 1, 2011, and monthly thereafter, the Commissioner of Agriculture shall send a report to the Commissioner of Children and Families containing all of the information received pursuant to subsection (b) of this section during the preceding month.

      (P.A. 11-194, S. 1.)

      Sec. 22-332. Impoundment and disposition of roaming, injured or mistreated animals. Authority to spay or neuter unclaimed dog. Liability for provision of veterinary care to injured, sick or diseased impounded animal. (a) The Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer or any municipal animal control officer shall be responsible for the enforcement of this chapter and shall make diligent search and inquiry for any violation of any of its provisions. Any such officer may take into custody (1) any dog found roaming in violation of the provisions of section 22-364, (2) any dog not having a tag or plate on a collar about its neck or on a harness on its body as provided by law or which is not confined or controlled in accordance with the provisions of any order or regulation relating to rabies issued by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or (3) any dog found injured on any highway, neglected, abandoned or cruelly treated. The officer shall impound such dog at the pound serving the town where the dog is taken unless, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian, the dog is so injured or diseased that it should be destroyed immediately, in which case the municipal animal control officer of such town may cause the dog to be mercifully killed by a licensed veterinarian or disposed of as the State Veterinarian may direct. The municipal animal control officer shall immediately notify the owner or keeper of any dog so taken, if known, of its impoundment. Such officer shall immediately notify the owner or keeper of any other animal which is taken into custody, if such owner or keeper is known. If the owner or keeper of any such dog or other animal is unknown, the officer shall immediately tag or employ such other suitable means of identification of the dog or other animal as may be approved by the Chief Animal Control Officer and shall promptly cause (A) a description of such dog or other animal to be published once in the lost and found column of a newspaper having a circulation in such town or that has a state-wide circulation, and (B) a photograph or description of such animal and the date on which such animal is no longer legally required to be impounded to be posted on a national pet adoption Internet web site or an Internet web site that is maintained or accessed by the animal control officer and that is accessible to the public through an Internet search, except such posting shall not be required if: (i) The animal is held pending the resolution of civil or criminal litigation involving such animal, (ii) the officer has a good-faith belief that the animal would be adopted by or transferred to a public or private nonprofit rescue organization for the purpose of placing such animal in an adoptive home even in the absence of such posting, (iii) the animal's safety will be placed at risk, or (iv) such animal control officer determines that such animal is feral and not adoptable. If any animal control officer does not have the technological resources to post such information on an Internet web site as required by subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, such officer may contact a public or private animal rescue organization and request that such organization post such information, at such organization's expense, on a web site that is accessible to the public through an Internet search. To the extent practicable, any such posting by an animal control officer or a public or private animal rescue organization shall remain posted for the duration of such animal's impoundment in the municipal or regional dog pound.

      (b) If such dog or other animal is not claimed by and released to the owner within seven days after the date of publication, the municipal animal control officer, upon finding such dog or other animal to be in satisfactory health, may have a licensed veterinarian spay or neuter such dog and sell such dog or other animal to any person who satisfies such officer that he is purchasing it as a pet and that he can give it a good home and proper care. The municipal animal control officer may retain possession of such dog or other animal for such additional period of time as he may deem advisable in order to place such dog or other animal as a pet and may have a licensed veterinarian spay or neuter such dog. If, within such period, any dog or other animal is not claimed by and released to the owner or keeper or purchased as a pet, the officer shall cause such dog or other animal to be mercifully killed by a licensed veterinarian or disposed of as the State Veterinarian may direct. Any veterinarian who so destroys a dog shall be paid from the dog fund account. No person who so destroys a dog or other animal shall be held criminally or civilly liable therefor nor shall any licensed veterinarian who spays or neuters a dog pursuant to this section be held civilly liable, including, but not limited to, liability for reconstructive neutical implantation surgery.

      (c) The town treasurer or other fiscal officer shall pay from the dog fund account the advertising expense incurred under the provisions of this section upon receipt of an itemized statement together with a copy of the advertisement as published. Any person who purchases a dog as a pet shall pay a fee of five dollars and procure a license and tag for such dog from the town clerk, in accordance with the provisions of section 22-338.

      (d) No regional or municipal dog pound facility, municipality, regional or municipal animal control officer or public or private nonprofit animal rescue organization that arranges for the provision of treatment by a licensed veterinarian to an injured, sick or diseased animal pursuant to a contract described in section 22-332e shall be held civilly liable for such actions unless such actions are performed in a wanton, reckless or malicious manner. No licensed veterinarian who provides treatment free of charge or for a reduced fee, to an injured, sick or diseased animal as a direct result of a contract described in section 22-332e shall be held civilly liable for the provision of such treatment unless such actions are performed in a wilful, wanton or reckless manner.

      (1949 Rev., S. 3379; 1951, S. 710b; 1953, 1955, S. 1817d; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 21; 1963, P.A. 14, S. 3; 613, S. 35; 1969, P.A. 81, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 76; P.A. 74-183, S. 246, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 212, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 80-315, S. 1; P.A. 86-45, S. 1; P.A. 91-59, S. 6; P.A. 93-435, S. 34, 95; P.A. 96-243, S. 15, 16; P.A. 98-12, S. 8, 22; P.A. 03-137, S. 1; P.A. 11-111, S. 2.)

      History: 1961 act substituted "prosecuting attorney for the circuit court of the circuit within which the dog is found" for "local prosecuting attorney"; 1963 acts divided section into Subsecs., allowed immediate destruction of animal if necessary, deleted requirement that dog be kept for 120 hours, required notification of state warden if dog unclaimed after three days from published notice, revised and clarified provisions re disposition of dog if unclaimed after seven days, replaced "dog license fund" with "dog fund account", specified that hospitals, laboratories, etc. purchasing unclaimed dogs need not procure dog license and raised purchase fee for pets from $4 to $5; 1969 act replaced references to wardens with references to canine control officers as appropriate; 1971 act deleted requirement in Subsec. (b) requiring warden to notify chief canine control officer of dog's capture and dog's description; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas and "circuit" with "county or judicial district" in Subsec. (a); P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and "prosecuting attorney" with "office of the state's attorney", effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties; P.A. 80-315 deleted provisions in Subsecs. (b) and (c) which had allowed hospitals, laboratories, etc. to purchase unclaimed dogs, but see Sec. 22-332a; P.A. 86-45 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re reporting of violations to the state's attorney; P.A. 91-59 replaced references to "local dog warden" with references to "municipal animal control officer"; P.A. 93-435 made certain technical and grammatical revisions, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 96-243 included "other animals" within the coverage of this section, effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 98-12 changed "canine control officer" to "animal control officer" in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 03-137 amended Subsec. (b) to add provisions re authority to neuter or spay and re civil liability therefor; P.A. 11-111 amended Subsec. (a) by adding authority to publish description of animal in a newspaper with a state-wide circulation, adding requirement that a photograph or description of animal no longer required to be impounded be posted on a national pet adoption Internet web site or other Internet web site maintained or accessed by the animal control officer and adding exceptions to such requirement for animals held pending the resolution of litigation, animals that will otherwise be adopted, animals that will be placed at a safety risk by such a posting and animals that are not adoptable, and added Subsec. (d) re liability of dog pound facilities, municipalities, animal control officers, animal rescue organizations and veterinarians who arrange or provide veterinary treatment to an injured, sick or diseased animal pursuant to Sec. 22-332e.

      Sec. 22-332e. Regional or municipal dog pound contract with animal rescue organization for veterinary treatment of injured, sick or diseased animal. Contract requirements. Department of Agriculture complaint. Maintenance of list of animal rescue organizations. (a) Any regional or municipal dog pound facility may enter into a contract with one or more public or private nonprofit animal rescue organizations for the payment by such animal rescue organization of the costs for providing treatment by a licensed veterinarian to an injured, sick or diseased animal that is impounded at such regional or municipal dog pound facility. Such contract shall provide that: (1) No costs associated with the provision of such treatment shall accrue to the municipality as a result of such contract, (2) the selection of the licensed veterinarian to provide such treatment shall be made by the public or private nonprofit animal rescue organization that will be responsible for the remittance of payment to such licensed veterinarian who provides such treatment, (3) the determination of whether an animal is injured, sick or diseased and in need of veterinary treatment shall be made by a regional or municipal animal control officer who has custody of such animal, provided if any employee or volunteer of such regional or municipal dog pound facility notifies such animal control officer that an animal is injured, sick or diseased and in need of such veterinary treatment such animal control officer shall contact such public or private nonprofit animal rescue organization to arrange for the treatment of such animal by a licensed veterinarian, and (4) not later than twenty-four hours after receipt of a request from such municipal or regional dog pound facility that such public or private nonprofit animal rescue organization arrange for the provision of such treatment to an injured, sick or diseased animal impounded at such facility, such animal rescue organization shall select a licensed veterinarian to provide such treatment and take custody or control of such animal, as applicable, for the purpose of having such licensed veterinarian provide immediate treatment to such injured, sick or diseased animal. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any protection provided to any animal pursuant to any statute, regulation or ordinance.

      (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, if any person observes or reasonably believes that a municipal or regional animal control officer failed to provide any animal that is under the custody and control of such animal control officer with proper care, including, but not limited to, veterinary care, such person may file a complaint with the Department of Agriculture's State Animal Control Division. Not later than twenty-four hours after receipt of any such complaint, such division shall take action as the division deems necessary to secure proper care for such animal, except if such complaint is received on a Saturday or Sunday, such action shall be taken on the next business day.

      (c) Each municipal and regional dog pound facility shall maintain a list of any public or private nonprofit animal rescue organization that notifies such dog pound facility of such animal rescue organization's interest in entering into a contract described in subsection (a) of this section.

      (P.A. 11-111, S. 1.)

      Sec. 22-344. Licensing of commercial kennel, pet shop, training facility, grooming facility or animal importer. Fees. Inspection. Conformance to zoning regulations. (a) No person shall maintain a commercial kennel until he has obtained from the commissioner a license to maintain such kennel under such regulations as the commissioner provides as to sanitation, disease and humane treatment of dogs or cats and the protection of the public safety. Upon written application and the payment of a fee of two hundred dollars, the commissioner shall issue such license to be effective until the ensuing December thirty-first provided the commissioner finds (1) that such regulations have been complied with, and (2) in the case of each initial application for such license, that the zoning enforcement official of the municipality wherein such kennel is to be maintained has certified that the kennel conforms to the municipal zoning regulations. Such license shall be renewed annually, not later than December thirty-first, in accordance with the provisions of this section, and may be transferred by the licensee to another premises upon approval of the commissioner.

      (b) No person shall maintain a pet shop until he has obtained from the commissioner a license to maintain such pet shop under such regulations as the commissioner provides as to sanitation, disease and humane treatment of animals and the protection of the public safety. Upon written application and the payment of a fee of two hundred dollars, the commissioner shall issue such license to be effective until the ensuing December thirty-first provided the commissioner finds (1) that such regulations have been complied with, and (2) in the case of each initial application for such license, that the zoning enforcement official of the municipality wherein such pet shop is to be maintained has certified that the pet shop conforms to the municipal zoning regulations. Such pet shop license may be transferred by the licensee to another premises upon the approval of the commissioner. The commissioner, after consultation with the Commissioners of Public Health and Energy and Environmental Protection, shall establish and maintain, pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54, a list of animals which are deemed to be injurious to the health and safety of the public or whose maintenance in captivity is detrimental to the health and safety of the animal. The sale or offer of sale of any animal which is on said list is prohibited and any person who violates this provision shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.

      (c) No person shall engage in the business of grooming or maintaining a grooming facility until such person has obtained from the commissioner a license to maintain such facility under such regulations as the commissioner provides as to sanitation, disease and humane treatment of such animals and the protection of the public safety. Upon written application and the payment of a fee of one hundred dollars, the commissioner shall issue such license to be effective until the ensuing December thirty-first provided the commissioner finds (1) that such regulations have been complied with, and (2) in the case of each initial application for such license, that the zoning enforcement official of the municipality wherein such grooming is to be maintained has certified that the facility conforms to the municipal zoning regulations. Such license shall be renewed annually, not later than December thirty-first, in accordance with the provisions of this section, and may be transferred by the licensee to other premises upon approval of the commissioner.

      (d) No person shall maintain a training facility until such person has obtained from the commissioner a license to maintain such facility under such regulations as the commissioner provides as to sanitation, disease and humane treatment of such animals and the protection of public safety. Upon written application and the payment of a fee of one hundred dollars, the commissioner shall issue such license to be effective until the ensuing December thirty-first provided the commissioner finds (1) that such regulations have been complied with, and (2) in the case of each initial application for such license, that the zoning enforcement official of the municipality wherein such training facility is to be maintained has certified that the facility conforms to the municipal zoning regulations. Such license shall be renewed annually upon the terms required for the original license and may be transferred by the licensee to another premises upon approval of the commissioner.

      (e) (1) No animal importer shall import any dog or cat into this state until such person registers as an animal importer with the commissioner. Such registration shall be on a form as prescribed by the commissioner. Such registration shall require the submission of the following information: (A) The name, mailing address, business address, telephone number and Internet address of such registrant, (B) if such registrant is domiciled out-of-state, the name, Connecticut address and phone number of a Connecticut-based agent for service of process, and (C) the number of animals brought into the state during the prior year by such animal importer and the state or country of origin for each such animal. Such registration shall be accompanied by payment of a fee of one hundred dollars and shall be valid until the December thirty-first following such registration. Such registration shall be renewed annually, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, provided the commissioner determines that such registrant complies with any requirements provided by the commissioner as to the health, safety and humane treatment of animals that is applicable to animal importers. Such registration shall not be required for any employee or volunteer of a registered animal importer or other person who is required to be licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, provided such employee, volunteer or other person is not otherwise an animal importer. Any person who violates the provisions of this subdivision shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.

      (2) Any animal importer who intends to offer for sale, adoption or transfer any dog or cat at a venue or location that is open to the public or at an outdoor location, including, but not limited to, a parking lot or shopping center, shall provide notice to the Department of Agriculture and the municipal zoning enforcement officer of the town where any such sale, adoption or transfer will occur, not later than ten days prior to such event. Such notice shall state the date for such sale, adoption or transfer event, the exact location of such event and the anticipated number of animals for sale, adoption or transfer at such event. Any person who fails to provide notice as required pursuant to this subdivision shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars per animal that is offered for sale, adoption or transfer at such event.

      (3) For the purpose of this subsection, "animal importer" means a person who brings any dog or cat into this state from any other sovereign entity for the purpose of offering such dog or cat to any person for sale, adoption or transfer in exchange for any fee, sale, voluntary contribution, service or any other consideration. "Animal importer" includes any commercial or nonprofit animal rescue or adoption, humane relocation or delivery organization that is not otherwise required to be licensed under the provisions of this chapter.

      (4) The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to apply to any animal importer who offers a dog or cat for sale to a pet shop that is licensed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, provided such animal is delivered directly to a pet shop.

      (5) The Commissioner of Agriculture may inspect any animal imported by an animal importer or any record required to be kept by such animal importer, provided such inspection shall not authorize the entry of the commissioner into the residence of such animal importer.

      (f) The commissioner may, at any time, inspect or cause to be inspected by the commissioner's agents any such commercial kennel, pet shop, grooming facility or training facility, and if, (1) in the commissioner's judgment such kennel, pet shop, grooming facility or training facility is not being maintained in a sanitary and humane manner or in a manner that protects the public safety, (2) the commissioner finds that contagious, infectious or communicable disease or other unsatisfactory conditions exist, or (3) in the case of a pet shop, the commissioner finds any violation of the provisions of section 22a-381d, the commissioner may issue such orders as the commissioner deems necessary for the correction of such conditions and may quarantine the premises and animals. If the owner or keeper of such kennel, pet shop, grooming facility or training facility fails to comply with the regulations or orders of the commissioner, or fails to comply with any provision of the statutes or regulations relating to dogs or other animals, the commissioner may revoke or suspend such license. Any person aggrieved by any order issued under the provisions of this section may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183. Any person maintaining any commercial kennel, pet shop, grooming facility or training facility without having obtained a license for the same or after any such license has been revoked or suspended as provided herein shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars. The provisions of this section shall not apply to veterinary hospitals, except those boarding or grooming dogs for nonmedical purposes, and other establishments where all the dogs or animals were born and raised on the premises where they are kept for sale.

      (g) The provisions of subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of this section requiring certification by the zoning enforcement official that every commercial kennel, pet shop, grooming facility and training facility conforms to the zoning regulations of the municipality wherein such kennel, pet shop, grooming facility or training facility is maintained shall not apply to any person who is licensed under said subsections and maintained any such kennel, pet shop or grooming facility prior to October 1, 1977, provided such person does not relocate such kennel, pet shop, grooming facility or training facility in a zone in which such kennel, pet shop, grooming facility or training facility is not a permitted use. In addition, the provisions of said subsections requiring certification by the zoning enforcement official that every commercial kennel, pet shop, grooming facility and training facility conforms to the zoning regulations of the municipality wherein such kennel, pet shop, grooming facility or training facility is maintained shall not apply when a zone in which such kennel, pet shop, grooming facility or training facility is maintained is changed to a use which does not permit such kennel, pet shop, grooming facility or training facility in such zone.

      (1949 Rev., S. 3327; 1953, S. 1828d; 1959, P.A. 447, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 613, S. 15; February, 1965, P.A. 22, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 81, S. 4; 423, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 70; 1972, P.A. 180, S. 2; P.A. 74-89; P.A. 76-436, S. 458, 681; P.A. 77-314, S. 2; 77-505; 77-603, S. 100, 125; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 82-91, S. 15, 16, 38; P.A. 83-382, S. 2, 3; P.A. 88-364, S. 30, 123; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 49, 117; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 48, 95; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 01-62, S. 3; P.A. 09-52, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 298; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; 11-187, S. 1.)

      History: 1959 act raised license fee from $1 to $10; 1963 act made previous provisions Subsecs. (a) and (c), revising Subsec. (a) to apply only to commercial kennels and inserting new Subsec. (b) with separate provisions applicable to pet shops; 1965 act allowed revocation or suspension of license for failure to comply with statutes or regulations re dogs; 1969 acts inserted new Subsec. (c) containing provisions applicable to grooming businesses, relettering former Subsec. (c) accordingly, replaced references to dog wardens with references to canine control officers where necessary and including references to grooming facilities; 1971 act deleted proviso re prorated license fees for pet shops starting after January thirty-first in Subsec. (b); 1972 act replaced references to inspections by canine control officers and veterinarians with references to inspections by commissioner's agents and allowed suspension or revocation of license for violations of statutes and regulations re other animals as well as dogs in Subsec. (d); P.A. 74-89 included provisions in Subsec. (b) re list of animals not to be maintained in captivity or injurious to public health and safety; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court in Subsec. (d), effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-314 inserted new Subsec. (d) containing provisions applicable to training facilities, relettering former Subsec. (d) accordingly and including references to training facilities; P.A. 77-505 required that facilities conform to zoning regulations as condition of licensure and added Subsec. (e) clarifying what constitutes conformity to zoning regulations; P.A. 77-603 replaced previous appeal provision with statement requiring that appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of health services for commissioner of health in Subsec. (b), effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 82-91 increased commercial kennel license fee from $10 to $25 and amended Subsec. (e) to extend the application of the provisions of the section to veterinary hospitals boarding or grooming dogs for nonmedical purposes; P.A. 83-382 amended Subsecs. (a), (b), (c) and (d) to authorize the commissioner to adopt regulations that protect the public safety, amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) to raise the license fee for training facilities from $20 to $25 and amended Subsec. (d) to require the zoning enforcement officer to certify that a training facility conform to local zoning; P.A. 88-364 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b), (e) and (f); May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 amended Subsecs. (a), (c) and (d) to increase the license fee from $25 to $100 and amended Subsec. (b) and (e) to increase the license fee from $50 to $200; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-435 made certain technical and grammatical revisions, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 01-62 amended Subsec. (c) to make a technical change and to require licenses to be renewed annually not later than December thirty-first; P.A. 09-52 amended Subsec. (e) to make technical changes, insert Subdiv. designators (1) and (2) and add Subdiv. (3) re violation of Sec. 22a-381d, effective July 1, 2009; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fee from $100 to $200 and to make a technical change; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, "Commissioner of Environmental Protection" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection" in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-187 added new Subsec. (e) re registration of animal importer with Commissioner of Agriculture prior to the importation of any dog or cat into the state by such animal importer, requirements for such registration, notice requirements prior to the offer for sale, transfer or adoption of any cat or dog by an animal importer at a venue open to the public, definition of "animal importer", exceptions to such requirements and inspection authority of Commissioner of Agriculture re any animal or record of an animal importer, and redesignated existing Subsecs. (e) and (f) as Subsecs. (f) and (g).

      Sec. 22-344f. Veterinarian examination of cat or dog imported into state by animal importer. Records of veterinary services rendered to imported cat or dog. Fines. (a) Any animal importer, as defined in section 22-344, shall, not later than forty-eight hours after importing any dog or cat into this state and prior to the sale, adoption or transfer of such dog or cat to any person, provide for the examination of such dog or cat by a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384. Thereafter, such animal importer shall provide for the examination of such dog or cat by a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384 every ninety days until such dog or cat is sold, adopted or transferred, provided no such dog or cat shall be sold, adopted or transferred to another person by an animal importer unless (1) such dog or cat was examined by a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384 not more than fifteen days prior to the sale, adoption or transfer of such dog or cat, and (2) such veterinarian provides such animal importer with a written certificate stating that such dog or cat is free of any symptoms of any illness, infectious, contagious or communicable disease. Such certificate shall list the name, address and contact information of such animal importer. Any animal importer who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars for each animal that is the subject of such violation.

      (b) Each animal importer shall maintain a record of the veterinary services rendered to each dog or cat imported into this state by such animal importer. Such record shall be maintained by such animal importer for a period of three years. Any animal importer who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be fined five hundred dollars.

      (P.A. 11-187, S. 2.)

      Sec. 22-354. Imported dogs and cats. Certificates of health. Importation from rabies quarantine area. Sale of young puppies and kittens. Sale of dogs by pet shop licensees. Certificate of origin required. Purchase of dog or cat from outside of state. Penalties. (a) Any dog or cat imported into this state shall be accompanied by a certificate of health issued no earlier than thirty days prior to the date of importation by a licensed, graduate veterinarian stating that such dog or cat is free from symptoms of any infectious, contagious or communicable disease, and that such dog or cat, if three months of age or older, is currently vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian. A copy of such health certificate shall be forwarded promptly to the commissioner from the livestock sanitary official of the state of origin. Any dog or cat originating from a rabies quarantine area shall have permission of the State Veterinarian prior to importation into this state. No person, firm or corporation shall import or export for the purposes of sale, adoption or transfer or offering for sale, adoption or transfer any dog or cat under the age of eight weeks unless such dog or cat is transported with its dam and no person, firm or corporation shall sell or offer for adoption or transfer within the state any dog or cat under the age of eight weeks. Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this subsection or bringing any dog or cat into this state from an area under quarantine for rabies shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

      (b) Any dog sold or offered for sale by a pet shop licensee in this state shall be accompanied by a certificate of origin identifying the name and address of the person, firm or corporation that bred such dog and of any person, firm or corporation that sold such dog to such pet shop licensee. Such certificate shall be in a form as prescribed by the Commissioner of Agriculture. Such information contained in the certificate of origin shall be posted on the sign described in section 22-344d and such information shall be visible to customers. A copy of such certificate shall be provided to the purchaser of such dog at the time of sale and shall be filed by such licensee with the Department of Agriculture not later than seven days after such sale. No pet shop licensee shall purchase a dog or cat for resale from a breeder or other person, firm or corporation located outside of this state that is not in possession of a current license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture and any applicable state agency. Any pet shop licensee violating the provisions of this subsection shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both, for each violation. Each day a pet shop licensee is in violation of this subsection shall constitute a separate offense.

      (1951, S. 713b; 1953, S. 1837d; 1957, P.A. 74, S. 2; 1963, P.A. 613, S. 25; P.A. 74-22; P.A. 91-46, S. 5, 12; P.A. 96-243, S. 14, 16; P.A. 04-145, S. 2; P.A. 09-228, S. 3; P.A. 10-100, S. 2; P.A. 11-187, S. 3.)

      History: 1963 act changed maximum amount of time dog may remain in state without health certificate and/or state license from 21 to 30 days; P.A. 74-22 added provisions re import or export of dogs less than 8 weeks old; P.A. 91-46 added cats to coverage under this section, added requirement that any importation of dogs or cats from a rabies quarantine area be approved by the state veterinarian, deleting provision which had allowed certificate issued by livestock sanitary official of state of origin as proof of animals' health, changed maximum time lapse since vaccination from 6 to 12 months and deleted provision excepting show animals not kept in-state for more than 30 days from provisions of section; P.A. 96-243 modified the vaccination requirement for importation of dogs and cats, deleting former provisions re exposure to rabies and vaccination within certain timeframe, effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 04-145 added 30-day certificate of health issuance restriction, effective May 21, 2004; P.A. 09-228 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and made technical changes therein, and added Subsec. (b) re certificates of origin for dogs sold or offered for sale by pet shop licensees and purchase by pet shop licensees of dogs and cats from outside of state, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 10-100 amended Subsec. (b) by adding requirement that certificate be in form prescribed by commissioner, by replacing requirement that information be posted in conspicuous manner not more than 10 feet from location where dog is displayed for sale with requirement that information be posted on sign described in Sec. 22-344d and be visible to customers and by changing requirement for filing of certificate with department from not later than 2 days after sale to not later than 7 days after sale; P.A. 11-187 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re sale or offer for adoption or transfer and increasing fine from $100 to $500.

      Sec. 22-358. Killing of dogs doing damage. Quarantine of biting dogs, cats or other animals. Notice. Seizure. Euthanasia and examination of potentially rabid animals. Complaints by persons sustaining damage by dog to poultry, ratite, domestic rabbit, companion animal or livestock. Orders. Appeals. (a) Any owner or the agent of any owner of any domestic animal or poultry, or the Chief Animal Control Officer or any animal control officer or any municipal animal control officer, regional animal control officer or any police officer or state policeman, may kill any dog which he observes pursuing or worrying any such domestic animal or poultry.

      (b) Any person who is bitten, or who shows visible evidence of attack by a dog, cat or other animal when such person is not upon the premises of the owner or keeper of such dog, cat or other animal may kill such dog, cat or other animal during such attack. Such person shall make complaint concerning the circumstances of the attack to the Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer or the municipal animal control officer or regional animal control officer of the town wherein such dog, cat or other animal is owned or kept. Any such officer to whom such complaint is made shall immediately make an investigation of such complaint.

      (c) 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. Any owner or keeper of such dog, cat or other animal who fails to comply with such order 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.

      (d) Any dog, while actually worrying or pursuing deer, may be killed by the Chief Animal Control Officer or an animal control officer or by a conservation officer or special conservation officer appointed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or by any police officer or state policeman. The owner or keeper of any dog found worrying or pursuing a deer shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars or more than two hundred dollars or be imprisoned not more than sixty days, or both.

      (e) Any person who kills any dog, cat or other animal in accordance with the provisions of this section shall not be held criminally or civilly liable therefor.

      (f) The owner of any dog, cat or other animal which has bitten or attacked a person and has been quarantined pursuant to subsection (c) of this section may authorize the humane euthanization of such dog, cat or other animal by a licensed veterinarian at any time before the end of the fourteenth day of such quarantine. Any such dog, cat or other animal so euthanized before the end of the fourteenth day of quarantine shall be examined for rabies by the Connecticut Department of Public Health virology laboratory or any other laboratory authorized by the Department of Public Health to perform rabies examinations. The veterinarian performing the euthanasia shall be responsible for ensuring that the head of the euthanized animal is delivered by him or his designated agent within forty-eight hours to an appropriate laboratory designated by said department for rabies examination.

      (g) Repealed by P.A. 05-175, S. 24.

      (h) A person who sustains damage by a dog to such person's poultry, ratite, domestic rabbit, companion animal or livestock as defined in section 22-278 shall make complaint concerning circumstances of the attack by such dog on any such animal or livestock to the Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer or the municipal animal control officer or regional animal control officer of the town in which such dog is owned or kept. An officer to whom such complaint is made shall immediately investigate such complaint. If such officer finds that the complainant's animal has been bitten or attacked by a dog when the attacked animal was not on the premises of the owner or keeper of the attacking dog and provided the complainant's animal was under the control of the complainant or on the complainant's property, such officer, the commissioner, the Chief Animal Control Officer or any animal control officer may make any order concerning the restraint or disposal of such attacking dog as the commissioner or such officer deems necessary. An owner or keeper of such dog who fails to comply with such order shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. If the owner or keeper of such dog fails to comply with an order made pursuant to this subsection, the Chief Animal Control Officer or any animal control officer, municipal animal control officer or regional animal control officer may seize the dog to ensure such compliance, and the owner or keeper of such dog shall be responsible for any expenses resulting from such seizure. A person aggrieved by an order of the Chief Animal Control Officer or any animal control officer, municipal animal control officer or regional animal control officer made pursuant to this subsection may request a hearing before the commissioner not later than fourteen days after the issuance of such order. After such hearing, the commissioner may affirm, modify or revoke such order as the commissioner deems proper. A dog owned by a police agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions is exempt from the provisions of this section when such dog is under the direct supervision, care and control of an assigned police officer, has been vaccinated annually and is subject to routine veterinary care.

      (1949 Rev., S. 3405; 1953, S. 1843d; 1963, P.A. 613, S. 28; February, 1965, P.A. 23, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 35; 81, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 725; P.A. 73-28; P.A. 79-290, S. 4; P.A. 83-71, S. 1; P.A. 84-546, S. 67, 173; P.A. 85-57, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-161, S. 6, 7; P.A. 91-46, S. 6, 12; 91-59, S. 16; 91-215, S. 2; P.A. 92-77, S. 1, 5; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-12, S. 15, 22; P.A. 00-88, S. 1; P.A. 02-14, S. 2; P.A. 04-145, S. 3; P.A. 05-175, S. 24; P.A. 07-59, S. 1; P.A. 08-124, S. 8; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; 11-182, S. 1.)

      History: 1963 act included references to regional wardens, substituted quarantine in veterinary hospital or kennel for quarantine "in close confinement" in Subsec. (b) and doubled boarding fee and in Subsec. (c) empowered conservation officers to kill dogs worrying or pursuing deer and added provision re penalty to be imposed on the owner or keeper of such a dog; 1965 act revised Subsec. (b) so that quarantine provisions apply to attacks not on dog owner's premises and provisions re commissioner's orders for restraint or disposal of dog apply to attacks on owner's premises, reversing previous applications of provisions; 1969 acts replaced references to dog wardens with references to canine control officers where necessary and in Subsec. (b) allowed quarantine of dog on owner's premises when attack occurred on those premises; 1971 act amended Subsec. (c) to allow resident state policemen to kill dog worrying or pursuing deer; P.A. 73-28 doubled boarding fee in Subsec. (b); P.A. 79-290 required notification of person bitten when order given re restraint, disposal or quarantine of dog and raised boarding fee from $2 to $5 per day; P.A. 83-71 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision specifying criteria for exemption of police dogs from quarantine requirements; P.A. 84-546 made technical changes to section; P.A. 85-57 added Subsecs. (c) and (d) to restore language inadvertently omitted from the 1985 revision; P.A. 89-161 amended Subsec. (b) to add the language concerning the seizure of dogs whose owners fail to comply with quarantine or restraining orders; P.A. 91-46 added Subsec. (e) concerning euthanasia and examination of potentially rabid dogs; P.A. 91-59 replaced references to "warden" and "regional canine control officer" with references to "municipal animal control officer" and "regional animal control officer"; P.A. 91-215 rephrased Subsec. (b) to require that dog attacks be reported and divided Subsec. (b) into Subsecs. (b) and (c) and changed subsequent Subsec. designators accordingly; P.A. 92-77 amended section to apply to cats and other animals, amended Subsecs. (a) and (d) to authorize police officers and state police to kill dogs observed pursuing certain animals and made technical changes; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-12 changed "canine control officer" to "animal control officer", effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-88 amended Subsec. (c) by increasing the fine from $25 to $250 and making technical changes for the purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 02-14 amended Subsec. (c) by requiring owner to pay all fees set forth in Sec. 22-333 rather than $5 per day plus other legal fees due, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 04-145 added Subsec. (g) requiring commissioner to adopt regulations re expedited appeal and hearing process re restraint or disposal of dogs, effective May 21, 2004; P.A. 05-175 repealed Subsec. (g), effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 07-59 added Subsec. (h) re complaint and appeal process for person who sustains damage by dog to poultry, ratite, domestic rabbit, companion animal or livestock; P.A. 08-124 made technical changes in Subsec. (d), effective June 2, 2008; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, "Commissioner of Environmental Protection" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection" in Subsec. (d), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-182 amended Subsec. (c) by changing exemption requirement for dog owned by a police agency from being vaccinated annually to being currently vaccinated and added exemption for guide dog in the custody and control of a blind person or a person with a mobility impairment.