R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-29.1

Each city and town is required to provide for the control of rabies in cats, dogs, and ferrets within its boundaries. The municipality may elect to adopt into ordinance provisions at least as stringent as this chapter and the regulations adopted by the board or it may choose to accept delegation of the authority of the board as provided in § 4-13-29. The rabies control board has the authority to institute a civil action to enforce the provisions of this section.