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5/30/2025
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Senate approves Dimitri bill to increase penalties for animal abuse and neglect
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STATE HOUSE — The Senate voted Thursday to approve legislation introduced by Sen. Andrew R. Dimitri to increase penalties for animal neglect and abuse.
“Anybody who has pets knows that they are part of the family, which is why during my work as both a defense lawyer and municipal prosecutor, I was shocked that animal abuse cases are treated and prosecuted more leniently than other misdemeanors. Shoving someone could get you up to a year in prison, but abusing your dog can only get you up to 11 months. I take these cases very seriously and at the minimum believe they should be treated the same as every other misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of up to one year, which this bill would achieve,” said Senator Dimitri (D-Dist. 25, Johnston). “This bill also addresses penalties for dog fighting, an especially inexcusable offense. Currently the maximum penalty of two years imprisonment does not increase for subsequent offenses, which I believe is far too lenient a punishment for repeat offenders, given the severity of this crime. I would like to thank my Senate colleagues for their assistance in moving this bill to address both of these deficiencies in our statutes forward.”
The bill (2025-S 0559aa) would increase the maximum imprisonment for animal neglect and abuse from 11 months to 364 days, making this statute consistent with other misdemeanor offenses in Rhode Island.
It would also increase the maximum imprisonment for those involved in dog or other animal fighting to up to five years for second or subsequent offenses, while keeping the maximum penalty for the first offense at two years. It would also add mandatory community service of 20 hours for a first offense and 50 hours of community service for any subsequent offense.
The bill now goes to the House for consideration, where Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) has introduced similar legislation (2025-H 6089).
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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