P.R. Laws tit. 21, § 1094d

2019-02-20 00:00:00+00
§ 1094d. Commonwealth Animal Control Office—Powers

In order to fulfill the purposes of this chapter, and without its effects being understood as a limitation, the CACO may exercise the following powers:

(1) To appoint, contract, train and supervise the required qualified personnel, including professional services such as duly licensed veterinary doctors and an administrator for each one of the shelters. The administrators must be suitable persons who have taken courses on animal handling and behavior and should show that they have the needed skills and/or experience required for the position. The rest of the personnel must be adequately trained for the work they will do and should demonstrate the needed ability, nature, and motivation to treat animals properly.

(2) To contract and acquire through any legal means all kinds of goods or services necessary for compliance with this chapter, including land, buildings, blueprints and designs. Any other expenses necessary for the effective execution and administration of this chapter may also be incurred.

(3) To draw up and adopt, by consulting with the Department of Health, the standards and regulations needed for the adequate and effective implementation of this chapter. Said regulations must establish in general terms, how the regional shelters are to be constructed, developed and administrated, including the requirements for the selection of personnel. They shall also provide for the terms and conditions under which the animals sent to the shelters may be recovered by their owners, or adopted. Provided, however, That every animal given in adoption or recovered from the shelter must be duly identified, sterilized and vaccinated against the common diseases that affect dogs and cats and in this manner protect the citizens from contracting zoonotic diseases.

(4) To apply for and obtain any funds, donations or aid from the United States Government, the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including its agencies, instrumentalities and public corporations, as well as from private persons and private entities or enterprises, to comply with the objectives provided in this chapter.

(5) It shall have the obligation to draft the regulations that shall govern each regional shelter and to present the same for approval by the Board of Directors of the shelter.

(6) To collaborate in the establishment and implementation of an adequate animal identification system through the registry of dogs, cats, horses and other pets in Puerto Rico.

(7) To exercise any other incidental powers and prerogatives that may be necessary and convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

History —May 30, 1984, No. 36, p. 95, § 5, renumbered as § 6 and amended on Aug. 30, 2000, No. 242, § 5.