Rhode Island Senate weighs damages for negligently injured pets

A bill before the Rhode Island Senate could change what a pet’s injury or death is worth in court, and for dog owners that means the fight would no longer stop at the vet bill. Senate Bill 2610, taken up by the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 14, would let owners seek noneconomic damages, up to $7,500, when a pet is seriously injured or killed through unlawful or negligent conduct.

For people who live with high-energy dogs that spend time at training fields, boarding kennels, daycare, or the veterinarian, the practical stakes are immediate. Under the bill, an owner whose dog was badly hurt on the owner’s property or while under the owner’s supervision could pursue money not just for treatment, but for loss of the pet’s reasonably expected society, companionship, love and affection. The measure sets minimum noneconomic awards at $500 for a seriously injured pet and $750 for an animal that dies or is fatally injured.

That is a major shift from the usual treatment of pets as property. The American Kennel Club opposed the bill and urged Rhode Islanders to contact committee members before the hearing window closed, arguing that animals are considered property under the law and that economic damages such as veterinary bills already provide a remedy. The group said Rhode Island law already uses civil and criminal penalties to deter abuse and preserve predictable standards for animal care, while expanding noneconomic damages could invite uncertain litigation over ordinary accidents and disputes.

The bill was introduced on February 13 and referred the same day to the Senate Judiciary Committee. A companion measure, House Bill 7545, was introduced on February 6 and sent to the House Judiciary Committee, which scheduled it for hearing on February 11. In both chambers, the proposal has kept moving after a similar bill in 2025, House Bill 5926, was introduced on February 28 and held for further study on March 4.

Supporters have framed the issue in deeply personal terms. Testimony submitted to the House Judiciary Committee called it the “Princess Freckles” bill. Jason and Pam Bileau wrote, “We’re writing in support of the ‘Princess Freckles’ bill. We’ve always seen our pets as family members.” Other supporters told lawmakers the measure would give families a reasonable framework for recovering damages when a companion animal is harmed or killed by negligence.

The bill also exempts nonprofit entities and government agencies acting on behalf of public health or animal welfare. A broader legal overview from Michigan State University’s Animal Legal & Historical Center says most states still follow fair-market-value rules for pet loss claims, which is why Rhode Island’s debate matters beyond Providence. If the bill advances, the next fight is not just about pets as property or family. It is about whether the law should recognize grief, companionship and loss when a dog is hurt in the very places owners trust most.