§ 4-1-22 Care of neglected animals by society – Forfeiture of owner's rights – Expenses. – (a) An officer or agent of the Rhode Island society for the prevention of cruelty to animals may lawfully take charge of any animal found abandoned or neglected or which in the opinion of that officer or agent is aged, maimed, disabled, lame, sick, diseased, injured, unfit for the labor it is performing, or cruelly treated, and shall give notice to the owner, if known, or his agents, and may provide suitable care.
(b) Every owner or agent, upon conviction of abandonment, neglect, or cruel treatment of any animal taken charge of by the Rhode Island society for the prevention of cruelty to animals under this section, forfeits the rights to ownership or control of that animal to the society for disposition in any manner deemed suitable for that animal.
(c) Whenever any officer or agent of the Rhode Island society for the prevention of cruelty to animals lawfully takes charge of any animal under this section, the expense of suitable care of that animal, upon conviction of the owner of that animal for a violation of any section of this chapter, is charged against the owner or agent of the owner having custody of that animal at the time the officer or agent of the Rhode Island society for the prevention of cruelty to animals took charge of the animal. The Rhode Island society for the prevention of cruelty to animals has the authority to commence a civil action for damages against the owner or his or her agent thirty (30) days after a written demand for payment of the expense of the suitable care of that animal has been sent and no payment received.