(a)  An owner of an animal may donate a drug that is dispensed for the animal, but will not be used by that animal, to a licensed veterinarian or a facility in which veterinary medicine is practiced if the licensed veterinarian or facility chooses to accept the drug.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 4-9.1-2

  • Animal rescue: means an entity, without a physical brick-and-mortar facility, that is owned, operated, or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other nonprofit organization. See Rhode Island General Laws 4-9.1-1
  • VCPR: means a relationship where all of the following conditions have been met:

    (i)  The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making medical judgments regarding the health of the animal or animals and the need for medical treatment, and the client (i. See Rhode Island General Laws 4-9.1-1

  • Veterinary clinic: means any premises to which animals are brought or where they are temporarily kept, solely for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any illness or injury. See Rhode Island General Laws 4-9.1-1

(b)  Except as provided in § 4-9.1-3, a licensed veterinarian may reissue a drug accepted pursuant to this section to fill other prescriptions provided that:

(1)  The veterinarian is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Rhode Island;

(2)  The drug is being dispensed to fill a prescription needed to treat an animal under the care of a Rhode Island registered nonprofit shelter, municipal pound, shelter, veterinary clinic, or animal rescue facility;

(3)  Wildlife rehabilitators licensed by the state of Rhode Island will have access to these medications under the direction of a licensed Rhode Island veterinarian;

(4)  The prescription is authorized by the veterinarian within a valid VCPR;

(5)  The licensed veterinarian determines that the drug is suitable for that purpose; and

(6)  The drug was originally dispensed by a licensed veterinarian, a facility in which veterinary medicine is practiced that is licensed by the state of Rhode Island, a licensed pharmacy, an internet pharmacy that is accredited through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program, or its successor.

History of Section.
P.L. 2021, ch. 149, § 1, effective July 3, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 150, § 1, effective July 3, 2021.