Warwick, RI Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Warwick's code has no breed-list ban; it targets individual dogs found to be dangerous through conduct. Sec. 4-50(a) applies when two neighborhood residents or employees affirm in writing, or the animal control officer or a police officer independently determines, that a dog acted aggressively without provocation, such as biting, attacking, or approaching a person or animal in an apparent display of attack. In that case the animal control officer or police may issue violations, impound the dog, and serve notice on the owner that the vicious behavior must be abated.

Sec. 4-50(b) makes it unlawful for an aggressive dog's owner to place the dog with anyone not physically capable of maintaining effective control. Penalties escalate under Sec. 00 for a third, each requiring an animal control or police investigation finding the owner negligent. Sec. 4-50(d) shields an owner from a negligence finding if the injury occurred to a trespasser, to an animal that trespassed onto the dog's property, or to a person teasing, provoking, abusing, or assaulting the dog or attempting a crime. Separately, Sec.

4-12(a) requires the owner of "every vicious dog" to adhere to all restrictions the city's vicious dog panel imposes on that specific animal, with a dog found at large under that designation subject to impoundment and non-reclamation absent a court order under Sec. 4-12(c).