If you want a puppy now, check with rescues. You almost certainly won’t find a bred dog on short notice and the municipal animal control sites around RI typically don’t have puppies. Note that most of the pups from rescues will probably be transports from down south. Make sure you do your homework on the different rescues because some will continue to support you and answer questions down the road and others won’t give you the time of day after you take the pup off their hands.

Whatever you do, make sure the pup gets well socialized outside the family. I highly recommend the Potter League for puppy play time and puppy obedience classes, though there are certainly other options.