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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1395 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 550
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patrick M. O'Connor
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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 banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and NorfolkAngelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden2/6/2023Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol2/13/2023John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth2/14/2023Adam GomezHampden2/21/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex3/3/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1395 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 550
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 550) of Patrick M. O'Connor,
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Steven S. Howitt, John F. Keenan and other members of the General
Court for legislation banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops. Environment
and Natural Resources.
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 banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops.
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. Section 39A of Chapter 129 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting before the word “Every”, in line 1, the letter:-(a)
3 SECTION 2. Section 39A of Chapter 129 of the General Law is hereby further amended
4by striking out the word “section”, in line 13, and inserting in place thereof the following word:-
5subsection
6 SECTION 3. Section 39A of Chapter 129 of the General Laws is hereby further amended
7by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsections:-
8 (b) No person engaged in the business of operating a pet shop for which a license must be
9obtained pursuant to subsection (a); and are regulated under 330 CMR 12.00 shall sell or offer
10for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit. 2 of 2
11 (c) Subsection (b) shall not be construed to prohibit a pet shop from offering space to an
12animal rescue or shelter organization to showcase dogs, cats, or rabbits for adoption so long as
13the pet shop does not have an ownership interest in the animals offered for adoption.
14 (d) Nothing in subsections (b) or (c) shall affect the authority of any town, city, or other
15locality to regulate or prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits.
16 SECTION 4. This act shall go into effect 90 days after its passage.