Any veterinarian licensed in this State who has reasonable cause to believe that an animal has been the subject of animal cruelty in violation of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-360 and who makes a report of animal cruelty, or who participates in any investigation or testifies in any judicial proceeding that arises from a report of animal cruelty, shall be immune from civil liability, criminal liability, and liability from professional disciplinary action and shall not be in breach of any veterinarian-patient confidentiality, unless the veterinarian acted in bad faith or with a malicious purpose. It shall be a rebuttable presumption that the veterinarian acted in good faith. A failure by a veterinarian to make a report of animal cruelty shall not constitute grounds for disciplinary action under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-187.8 (2007-232, s. 1.)