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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1144 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 747
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bruce J. Ayers
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the sale of dogs and cats in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bruce J. Ayers1st Norfolk1/18/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1144 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 747
By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 747) of Bruce J.
Ayers relative to the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet shops. Environment and Natural
Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 306 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to the sale of dogs and cats in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 129 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 39A the
2following section:
3 Section 39A½. A pet shop operator shall not sell a live dog, cat or rabbit in a pet shop
4unless the dog, cat or rabbit was obtained from a publicly owned animal pound, public animal
5control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society
6shelter or rescue group that is in a cooperative agreement with at least 1 private or public
7shelter.Each pet shop shall maintain records sufficient to document the source of each dog, cat or
8rabbit that the pet shop sells or provides space for, for at least 1 year. Each pet shop shall post, in
9a conspicuous location on the cage or enclosure of each animal, a sign listing the name of the
10publicly owned animal pound, public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention 2 of 2
11of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group from which each dog, cat
12or rabbit was obtained. Publicly owned animal pound and public animal control agencies or
13shelters may periodically require pet shops engaged in the sale of dogs, cats or rabbits to provide
14access to said records.
15 A pet shop operator who violates this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of $500.
16Each animal offered for sale in violation of this section shall constitute a separate violation.