Update — June 23, 2026: VICTORY! Governor McKee signed this bill into law, and this would not have been possible without YOU! Thank you for each action you took to encourage lawmakers to pass this bill and increase access to veterinary telehealth.
Rhode Island lawmakers passed a law to help families access veterinary care for their pets. This new law modernizes state law and allows licensed veterinarians to use telehealth technology, also known as veterinary telemedicine, to safely deliver care to new and existing patients.
Across the country, people rely on telehealth for their own medical care. Now, Rhode Island pet owners and veterinary clinics can benefit from the same advances in technology.
You may know how stressful and helpless it can feel when your pet becomes sick at night, on a weekend, or when your local clinic is closed, and you can’t provide your pet with the care they need. Sometimes, you need advice from a veterinarian, but your work schedule is too restrictive, or you don’t have a car to drive your pets to the clinic. Telemedicine allows families to connect with licensed veterinarians through video and digital platforms and receive guidance, treatment options, routine medications and prompt care when in-person visits aren’t immediately available.
Telemedicine can:
- Help prevent minor issues from becoming emergencies.
- Support routine and preventive care.
- Reduce stress for anxious cats, dogs or other pets who fear travel or clinic visits.
- Provide faster care for large, reactive or hard-to-transport animals.
- Expand access for families in rural or underserved areas.
The veterinary profession is facing a serious workforce shortage, leaving many Rhode Island families struggling to find timely care. Just as in human healthcare, telemedicine helps bridge gaps caused by staffing shortages, access barriers, cost concerns and geographic limitations.
Veterinary telemedicine is not about replacing in-person care — it’s about expanding access, improving outcomes, unlocking every useful tool that veterinarians can use, and meeting families where they are.
What You Can Do
Celebrate this big win! Complete our easy form below one more time to send a message to Governor McKee thanking him for signing this bill into law.
