SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2908
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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SENATE, July 29, 2024.
The committee on Senate Rules to whom was referred the Senate Bill relative to the
humane protection of animals (Senate, No. 2757) reports, that the matter be placed in the Orders
of the Day for the next session with an amendment substituting a new draft entitled "An Act
relative to the humane protection of animals" (Senate, No. 2908).
For the committee,
Joan B. Lovely 1 of 2
FILED ON: 7/29/2024
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2908
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act providing for the humane protection of animals.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 140 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 141B the following 2 sections:-
3 Section 141C. (a) No person shall sell, offer to sell, exchange, trade, barter, lease or
4transfer for permanent physical placement a dog or cat that is less than 8 weeks of age.
5 (b) A violation of this subsection shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100. Each
6dog or cat sold, exchanged, traded, bartered, leased or transferred for permanent physical
7placement in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense.
8 (c) A city or town shall enforce this section through its animal control officers or police
9officers in a manner consistent with the disposition provisions in section 21D of chapter 40.
10 Section 141D. (a) No person shall sell, offer to sell, exchange, trade, barter, lease or
11transfer any dog or cat on any roadside, public right-of-way, parkway, median, park or other
12recreation area, flea market or other outdoor market or commercial or retail parking lot. 2 of 2
13 (b) This section shall not apply to the: (1) transfer, regardless of payment or
14compensation, of a dog or cat by, or to, a shelter or animal rescue organization licensed under
15section 39A of chapter 129 or a municipal animal control facility; or (2) display of a dog or cat
16as part of a state or county fair exhibition, a 4-H program or similar exhibition or educational
17program.
18 (c) A violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $50 for a first
19offense, a fine of not more than $100 for a second offense and a fine of not more than $300 for
20each subsequent offense. Each dog or cat sold, offered to be sold, exchanged, traded, bartered,
21leased or transferred in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense.
22 (d) A city or town shall enforce this section through its animal control officers or police
23officers in a manner consistent with the disposition provisions in section 21D of chapter 40.