(a) If a town requires the licensure of persons keeping ten or more unneutered or unspayed dogs capable of breeding, such persons shall apply to the clerk of the town in which such dogs are located for a license. Such town clerk, if the zoning enforcement official has certified that the location where such dogs shall be kept conforms to the zoning regulations of the municipality, shall issue to such applicant a license, for a reasonable fee to be determined by the town, on a form prescribed by the town for a period, from the date of such application until the thirtieth day of the ensuing June which license shall specify the name and number of the dogs, the name of the owner and, if applicable, the name of a keeper. Each such license may be renewed from year to year by the town clerk upon application of such owner or keeper.

(b) The Commissioner of Agriculture, the Chief Animal Control Officer or any animal control officer may at any time inspect or cause to be inspected any location, required by a town to be licensed, keeping ten or more unneutered or unspayed dogs capable of breeding, by a registered veterinarian appointed by the commissioner and if, in the judgment of the commissioner: (1) Such location is not being maintained in a sanitary and humane manner, (2) the owner or keeper of such location does not comply with the standard of care applicable to breeders, as described in subsection (e) of this section, or (3) if the commissioner finds that communicable or infectious disease or other unsatisfactory conditions exist, 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 location fails to comply with such orders, the commissioner may recommend the revocation or suspension of such license to the town which issued such license.

(c) Any person aggrieved by any order issued under the provisions of this section may appeal to the Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.

(d) Any person keeping ten or more unneutered or unspayed dogs capable of breeding, in a location required to be licensed, after such license has been revoked or suspended as herein provided shall be fined not less than fifty dollars or more than one hundred dollars.

(e) Not later than December 31, 2014, the Commissioner of Agriculture shall prescribe the standard of care to be provided to dogs or cats, as applicable, by any person who: (1) Keeps ten or more unneutered or unspayed dogs capable of breeding, or (2) owns or operates a breeding cattery. Such standard of care shall be consistent with the standard of care to be provided by an animal importer, as prescribed pursuant to subdivision (6) of subsection (e) of section 22-344.

(P.A. 91-379; P.A. 98-12, S. 14, 22; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 07-217, S. 99; P.A. 14-77, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 98-12 changed “canine control officer” to “animal control officer” in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1998; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 07-217 made a technical change in Subsec. (d), effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 14-77 amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provision re location to be maintained in a sanitary and humane manner as Subdiv. (1), adding Subdiv. (2) re compliance by owner or keeper with standard of care applicable to breeders, designating existing provisions re disease or unsatisfactory conditions as Subdiv. (3) and making technical changes, and added Subsec. (e) re Commissioner of Agriculture to prescribe standard of care to be provided to dogs or cats.