Rhode Island General Laws Title 4. Animals and Animal Husbandry § 4-1-26.1. Reports of abandoned, neglected or abused animals

(a) Any Rhode Island licensed veterinarian, veterinarian technician, animal shelter, animal kennel, or other person entrusted with the care or custody of an animal shall report to any police department (local or state), animal control officials, or officers of private organizations devoted to the humane treatment of animals, the condition of any animal that the parties entrusted with care or custody of an animal knows, or reasonably believes, to be abandoned, as defined in § 4-1-26, neglected, or abused, and shall be immune from suit pursuant to the provisions of § 4-1-37. Any party who fails to report pursuant to this section shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose a duty to further investigate observed or reasonably suspected animal abandonment, cruel neglect, or abuse.