R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-10 (2026)

Possession or training of fighting animals

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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Whoever owns, possesses, keeps or trains any bird, dog, or other animal, with the intent that that bird, dog, or animal engages in an exhibition of fighting, shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) and/or be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years for the first offense, and for any subsequent offense shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years, or both.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 1981–1983 · leading case: State v. Vinagro, 433 A.2d 945 (R.I. 1981).
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State v. Vinagro, 433 A.2d 945 (R.I. 1981). · cites it 2× “The three possession counts violate the provisions of § 4-1-10. 1 The case was tried before a justice of the District Court, who, after a lengthy hearing, found Vinagro guilty of all four counts.”
Aptt v. City of Warwick Bldg. Dep't, 463 A.2d 1377 (R.I. 1983). “General Laws 1956 (1976 Reenactment) § 4-1-10. We did not quickly dispose of that case by stating that there was no common-law crime of possessing or training fighting animals.”
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