Attention Dog Owners!
Please familiarize yourself with the following laws:

CT State Law

Any owner or keeper of a dog or cat of the age of three months or older shall have such dog or cat vaccinated against rabies. Any animal vaccinated prior to one year of age or receiving a primary rabies vaccine at any age shall be considered protected for only one year and shall be given a booster vaccination one year after the initial vaccination and shall be vaccinated at least every three years thereafter. Those animals revaccinated after one year of age shall be given booster vaccinations at least every three years thereafter. Proof of vaccination shall be a certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with subsection (a) of section 22-339c. Any violation of this section shall be an infraction.

NUISANCE

State Statute 22-363 is a $75 fine.

No person shall own or harbor a dog or dogs which is or arE a nuisance by reason of vicious disposition or Excessive barking or other disturbance, or, by such barking or other disturbance, is or are a source of annoyance to any sick person residing in the immediate vicinity. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction for the first offense and such person shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or both for each subsequent offense and the court or judge may make such order concerning the restraint or disposal of such dog or dogs as may be deemed necessary.   (363) holds the severest penalty for dogs. For repeated offenses of 363 (or 362 or others), a court or judge may Order that the dog be put to death, thus paying with its life for its owner's negligence in training and control of the dog. Obedience training is advisable for good behavior and to make each dog "a good pet neighbor."

FAILURE TO LICENSE

~ DOGS OVER 6 MONTHS OF AGE MUST BE LICENSED AND DOGS OVER OVER 3 MONTHS OF AGE MUST BE UP TO DATE ON RABIES VACCINATIONS.FAILURE TO LICENSE, STATE STAUTE 22-349 IS A $75 fine. FAILURE TO RABIES VACCINATE, IS A $136 fine.

WEARING A LICENSE TAG

~ DOGS MUST BE WEARING A LICENSE TAG OR PLATE ATTACHED TO A COLLAR OR HARNESS AT ALL TIMES.FAILURE TO WEAR A TAG, STATE STATUTE 22-341 IS A $75 fine.

                                                    TETHERING

~ Tethering or confining a dog for an unreasonable period of time shall not be permitted. Tethering or confining a dog for an unreasonable period of time, State Statute 22-350(a)  is a Misdemeanor Summons that requires you to appear in court and pay a fine.

(a) No person shall tether a dog to a stationary object or to a mobile device, including, but not limited to, a trolley or pulley by means of a: (1) Tether that does not allow such dog to walk at least eight feet, excluding the length of such dog as measured from the tip of such dog's nose to the base of such dog's tail, in any one direction, (2) tether that does not have swivels on both ends to prevent twisting and tangling, unless the owner or keeper of such dog is in the presence of such dog, (3) coat hanger, choke collar, prong-type collar, head halter or any other collar, halter or device that is not specifically designed or properly fitted for the restraint of such dog, (4) tether that has weights attached or that contains metal chain links more than one-quarter of an inch thick, or (5) tether that allows such dog to reach an object, including, but not limited to, a window sill, edge of a pool, fence, porch or terrace railing that poses a substantial risk of injury or strangulation to such dog if such dog jumps over such object, unless the owner or keeper of such dog is on the premises. 

 Damage to person or property.

 Sec. 22-357

If any dog does any damage to either thebody or property of any person, the owner or keeper, or. if the owner or keeper is a minor,the parent or guardian of such minor, shall be liable for such damage, except when such damage has been occasioned to the body or property of a person who. at the time such damage was sustained. was committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog. If a minor, on whose behalf an action under this section is brought, was under seven years of age at the time the damage was done, it shall be presumed that such minor was not committing a trespass or other tort. or teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog, and the burden of proof thereof shall be upon the defendant in such action.

 Annoyance by dogs on highway

 Sec. 22-362.

. Any person owning or having the custody of any dog accustomed to go out on any highway and growl. snap, bite or otherwise annoy any person or domestic animal lawfully using such highway or chase or interfere with any motor vehicle so using such highway, shall be fined not less than twenty-rive nor more than fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days for the first offense or both and for each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than fifty or more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than sixty days or both.

Dogs roaming at large

Sec. 22-364.  

No owner or keeper of any dog shall allow such dog to roam at large upon the land of another and not under control of the owner or keeper or the agent of the owner or keeper, nor allow such dog to roam at large on any portion of any public highway and not attended or under control of such owner or keeper or his agent, provided nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or prohibit the use of hunting dogs during the open hunting or training season. The unauthorized presence of any dog on the land of any person other than the owner or keeper of such dog or on any portion of a public highway when such dog is not attended by or under the control of such owner or keeper, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of the provisions of this section. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. The biggest source of annoyance and concern to non-dog owners is "roaming." Free to run?? Free to be hit on highways, shot, stolen, trapped, poisoned, infected, mutilated, or lost!! Failure to license, State Statute 22-349 is a $75 fine. Failure to rabies vaccinate, is a $136 fine.

 drivers who injure or kill a dog

Chap. 248,

Sec. 14-226 states that drivers who injure or kill a dog Must stop at once, render assistance, and report the injury to the owner, or if unable to find him, to the police, giving name, address, oper. lic.#, location and description of dog, etc. Violation of this law is an infraction.

 dogs to be personal property and subject to larceny.

Sec. 22-350

Sec. 22-!329, 22-351, and 53-247 spell out various penalties for neglect, theft, cruelty, injury, or killing of dogs, some as high as $1,000 and/or 6 mo.-3 years imprisonment. Criminal. and civil suits are allowed.

City of Bridgeport ordinance:

6.04.010 Keeping of certain animals prohibited.

 No person shall keep any swine within one hundred (100) feet of any house, schoolhouse, church, street or park. No person shall keep or maintain live swine, or any live pigeons, ducks, geese, hens, chickens, roosters, game birds of any kind, or domestic fowl of any kind within the limits of the city without a written permit therefore from the board of health; and any permit granted for such purpose may be revoked by such board at any time. Nothing in this section shall be construed as to be inconsistent with Section 19-343 of the General Statutes.

6.04.030 Dogs at large-Violation-Penalty. A. No person shall permit any dog to be at large in the city at any time. A dog is at large when the animal is:

 (1) in any public street, alley, park or other public grounds or when off the premises of the owner or person who has custody of said dog, and not constrained by a leash, or (2) outdoors on any private property and not contained by a fence adequate to prevent the dog from leaving the yard or constrained by a leash or dog run adequate for the same purpose. B. Any person violating the terms of this section shall be fined one hundred dollars ($150.00) for each offense.

~ Allowing pet to defecate on public property unlawful #6.04.040 .

Dog owners are required to remove fecal matter from any public property. Violation of the Bridgeport City Ordinance is a $150.00 fine.

 12.28.090 Animals prohibited from parks. 

 12.28.100 Disturbing animals in parks restricted. 

 No person shall disturb any bird, bird’s nest or bird’s eggs, or any squirrel or other animal within any of the city parks, except by permission of the board of park commissioners. No person shall feed any bird, squirrel or other animal within any of such parks, except by permission of the board of park commissioners. (Prior code § 22-11)

CT EXOTIC PET LAWS 

Connecticut state law (Section 26-40a of the General Statutes) prohibits possession of potentially dangerous animals. This ban includes animals belonging to the:Felidae species, such as lions, leopards, jaguar,Canidae species, such as wolf and coyote, Ursidae species, such as black, brown and grizzly bears 

Connecticut state law (Section 26-55 of the General Statutes ) also prohibits the possession of certain animals without a permit – including various fish, wild birds, wild mammals, primates, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

 Legislation is pending before the General Assembly to expand the list of potentially dangerous animals that are banned in Connecticut.

 The bill would expand the list of prohibited wild animals for private ownership and strengthen the criminal and civil penalties for illegal possession.

 The bill makes violations of the law, currently an infraction, a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and a $2,000 fine. It also increases the civil penalty from $1,000 to $2,000 a day.

Anyone who has questions concerning this program can contact the Department of Environmental Conservation Police at (860)424-3012 or at DEP.EnConPolice@ct.gov.

 ANIMAL SPECIES CONSIDERED POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS

The law prohibits anyone from owning a potentially dangerous animal, which includes certain wild species of cat, dog, and bear. The bill greatly expands the number of species considered potentially dangerous. By law, people cannot possess the following wildlife, or any hybrid of:

1. members of the cat family, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, ocelots, jaguarundis, pumas (mountain lions), lynxes, and bobcats;

2. members of the dog family, including wolves and coyotes; and

3. members of the bear family, including the black bear, grizzly bear, and brown bear.

The bill also bans the possession of tigers, servals, caracals, jungle cats, and

Savannah

cats in the cat family; and foxes in the dog family. It adds to the species of animals considered potentially dangerous, and thus illegal to possess, the:

1. hominidae, including gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans;

2. hylobatidae, including gibbons and lesser apes;

3. cercopithecidae, including baboons and macaques;

4. macropodidae, including kangaroos and wallabies;

5. mustelidae, including wolverines;

6. hyaenidae, including hyenas;

7. elephantidae, (elephants);

8. hippopotamidae, (the hippopotamus);

9. rhinocerotidae, (the rhinoceros);

10. suidae, including warthogs;

11. alligatoridae, including alligators and caimans;

12. crocodylidae, including crocodiles;

13. gavialidae, including gavials;

14. elapidae, including cobras, coral snakes, and mambas;

15. viperidae, including copperheads, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and all other adders and vipers;

16. rear-fanged members of the colubridae in the genera lothornis boiga, thelotornis, thabdophis, enhydris, dispholidus, clelia, rhabdophis, hydrodynastes, philodryas, and malpolon;

17. Burmese/Indian, African rock, amethystine, and reticulated pythons of the pythonidae;

18. the green, yellow, and dark spotted anacondas of the boidae;

19. the helodermatidae, including Gila monsters and beaded lizards; and

20. the

Nile monitor, water monitor, black-throat monitor, white-throat monitor, crocodile monitor and komodo dragon

of the varanidae.

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A DANGEROUS ANIMAL

By law, anyone who possesses a potentially dangerous animal faces a maximum $ 1,000 fine, and the DEP commissioner must bill the owner for the costs of seizing, caring for, maintaining, and disposing of the animal. The commissioner may ask the attorney general to bring an action in Superior Court to recover the penalty and any amounts owed.

The bill (1) increases the maximum fine to $ 2,000, (2) allows the commissioner to bill the owner for the costs of relocating the animal, and (3) allows her to ask the attorney general to ask the court for appropriate equitable and injunctive relief. As under current law, each violation is a separate and distinct offense, and in the case of a continuing violation, each day is considered a separate and distinct offense.

The bill makes it a class A misdemeanor for anyone to willfully violate the law banning the possession of a potentially dangerous animal. A class A misdemeanor is punishable by a maximum fine of $ 2,000, up to one year in prison, or both.

EXEMPTIONS

The current prohibition against owning potentially dangerous animals does not apply to municipal parks, zoos, nature centers, museums, and laboratories and research facilities maintained by scientific and education institutions, among others. The bill requires that municipal parks and zoos must be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums or the Zoological Association of America to be exempt. It exempts public, nonprofit aquariums, and requires that, to be exempt, the laboratories and research facilities maintained by scientific and educational institutions be registered with the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

The bill eliminates an exemption from the ban for people who legally possessed a potentially dangerous animal before May 23, 1983.

ILLEGALLY IMPORTING WILDLIFE INTO THE STATE

The law requires anyone importing, introducing, possessing or liberating in the state, any live fish, wild bird, wild mammal, reptile, amphibian, or invertebrate to have a DEP permit. It exempts from the requirement the importation or possession of a primate species weighing up to 50 pounds at maturity, if the animal was imported or possessed before October 1, 2003. The bill eliminates the exemption for these primates.

The bill prohibits anyone, including otherwise exempt institutions, from importing or possessing any of the following species under any circumstances:

1. a primate in the families cheirogaleidae, lemuridae, lepilemuridae, indriidae, lorisdae, loris, daubentoniidae, galagidae, galago, tarsiidae, callitrichidae, pitheciidae, atelidae, or cebidae (except for certain capuchin monkeys, see below);

2. the sciuridae, including the prairie dog;

3. the viverridae, including the civet and genet;

4. any venomous species in the family arachnidea, including tarantulas and scorpions; and

5. any poisonous species in the family dendrobatidea, including poison arrow frogs.

Service Monkey Exemption to Import Ban

The bill allows the commissioner to issue a permit for a service primate for a permanently disabled person with a severe mobility impairment, if the person submits written documentation or certification to the commissioner:

1. from a licensed medical doctor attesting to the disability, mobility impairment, and need for a service primate to provide an essential function that the disabled person cannot perform;

2. that such service primate was legally obtained, is of the genus Cebus (capuchin monkey), and is trained by an accredited service primate training organization; and

3. that the organization providing the service primate is a nonprofit organization complying with all applicable federal and state animal welfare laws.

Other Exemptions

Current law allows the commissioner to exempt, by regulation, institutions such as zoos, research laboratories, colleges or universities, public nonprofit aquariums, and nature centers from the permit requirement. The bill also allows her to exempt, by regulation, municipal parks and museums. It eliminates the blanket exemption for colleges and universities, authorizing her instead to exempt laboratories and research facilities maintained by scientific or educational institutions.

Seizure and Disposal of Illegally Imported Animals

By law, DEP must seize and dispose of an illegally imported or owned animal. The bill allows, rather than requires, DEP to seize and dispose of the animal. It also allows her to relocate it. It authorizes the commissioner to bill the owner or person illegally possessing (but not importing, introducing, or liberating) the animal for the costs of seizing, caring for, maintaining, relocating, or disposing of it.

By law, a violation of the import ban is an infraction (see BACKGROUND). The bill instead sets a maximum penalty for violators of a $ 1,000 fine, to be set by a court, for each offense. Each violation is a separate and distinct offense, and, in the event of a continuing violation, each day's continuance is deemed a separate and distinct offense. The commissioner may ask the attorney general to bring an action in Superior Court to recover the civil penalty and any amounts owed for seizing, caring for, maintaining, relocating, or disposing of the animal, and for an order providing equitable and injunctive relief.

The bill makes it a crime for anyone to willfully violate the law or any regulation banning illegal importation. Anyone convicted of willfully violating the law or regulations is guilty of a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $ 500, up to three months in prison, or both.

BACKGROUND

Infractions

Infractions are punishable by fines, usually set by a Superior Court judge, of between $ 35 and $ 90, plus a $ 20 or $ 35 surcharge and an additional fee based on the amount of the fine.

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