1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 959 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 943
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
William C. Galvin
_________________
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 dogs brought into the Commonwealth by animal rescue organizations.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:William C. Galvin6th Norfolk1/14/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 959 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 943
By Representative Galvin of Canton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 943) of
William C. Galvin relative to dogs brought into the Commonwealth by animal rescue
organizations. Environment and Natural Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 801 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to dogs brought into the Commonwealth by animal rescue organizations.
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 39B. (a) As used in this section the following terms shall, unless the context
4clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
5 “Animal rescue organization”, an entity that is not otherwise required to be licensed
6pursuant to sections 39, 39A or 45, or section 152A of chapter 94, and whose primary activity is
7the placement of abandoned, displaced, unwanted, neglected or abused domestic animals,
8including dogs; provided, that an animal rescue organization shall not obtain dogs from a breeder
9or broker for payment or compensation; and provided, further that an animal rescue organization 2 of 2
10shall be exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code or
11equivalent nonprofit designation under said Code.
12 “Dog”, a mammal of the species Canis familiaris
13 “Quarantine”, the confinement of a dog, for the purposes of: (1) observing if the dog
14displays signs of contagious or infectious illness and (2) minimizing the risk of the dog spreading
15such contagious or infectious illness to humans and other animals.
16 (b) A dog brought into the commonwealth by an animal rescue organization from another
17state for the purpose of permanent physical placement shall quarantine for not less than 48 hours
18upon entry to the commonwealth. The quarantine may occur in the: (1) residence of the
19permanent or temporary placement of the dog or (2) in a quarantine facility licensed by the
20director. After quarantine, a veterinarian shall examine the dog and issue a certificate of health if
21the dog does not display signs of contagious or infectious illness.
22 This subsection shall not apply to the voluntary, permanent surrender of a dog to an
23animal rescue organization in the commonwealth by an individual owner if the owner resides in
24Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island or Vermont and the owner
25provides transportation of the dog into the commonwealth.
26 (c) Any dog brought into the commonwealth shall be vaccinated for rabies, distemper,
27parvovirus and leptospirosis. The director may require additional vaccination before a dog is
28brought into the commonwealth.
29 (d) The director shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.