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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1530 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 967
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Higgins and Kimberly N. Ferguson
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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 new pet shops.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/15/2025Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/15/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/21/2025Brian W. Murray10th Worcester1/31/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/4/2025Steven Owens29th Middlesex2/4/2025Christopher Hendricks11th Bristol2/4/2025Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk2/5/2025Brian M. Ashe2nd Hampden2/5/2025Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex2/6/2025Mike Connolly26th Middlesex2/7/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester2/7/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/8/2025Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester2/8/2025Tara T. Hong18th Middlesex2/8/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex2/10/2025Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex2/11/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/14/2025 2 of 2
Jennifer Balinsky Armini8th Essex2/14/2025Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex2/18/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/18/2025Carole A. Fiola6th Bristol2/19/2025David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester2/27/2025William C. Galvin6th Norfolk2/27/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/27/2025Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.28th Middlesex2/27/2025Kathleen R. LaNatra12th Plymouth3/4/2025William F. MacGregor10th Suffolk3/4/2025Dennis C. Gallagher8th Plymouth3/4/2025Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth3/4/2025Homar Gómez2nd Hampshire3/4/2025Adam J. Scanlon14th Bristol3/4/2025Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol3/4/2025Leigh Davis3rd Berkshire3/4/2025Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex3/4/2025Michael J. Finn6th Hampden3/5/2025Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex3/5/2025Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex3/5/2025Paul K. Frost7th Worcester3/5/2025Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable3/5/2025David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth3/5/2025Hadley Luddy4th Barnstable3/5/2025Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk3/5/2025Sean Reid11th Essex3/6/2025Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin3/6/2025Adrianne Pusateri Ramos14th Essex3/7/2025Jay D. Livingstone8th Suffolk3/7/2025John J. Marsi6th Worcester3/7/2025Kevin G. Honan17th Suffolk3/7/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1530 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 967
By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Ferguson of Holden, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 967) of Natalie M. Higgins, Kimberly N. Ferguson and others for legislation to
further regulate to sale of certain domestic animals. Environment and Natural Resources.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new 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 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 1, before the word “Every”, the
3following letter:- (a)
4 SECTION 2. Said section 39A is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 13, the
5word “section”, and inserting in place thereof the following word:- subsection
6 SECTION 3. Said section 39A is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (a)
7the following 4 subsections:-
8 (b) No person engaged in the business of operating a pet shop regulated under 330 CMR
912.00 for which a license must be obtained pursuant to subsection (a) shall sell or offer for sale a
10dog, cat, or rabbit. 2 of 2
11 (c) Subsection (b) shall not be construed to prohibit a pet shop regulated under 330 CMR
1212.00 from offering space to an animal rescue or shelter organization to showcase dogs, cats, or
13rabbits for adoption so long as the pet shop does not have an ownership interest in the animals
14offered for adoption.
15 (d) Subsection (b) shall not apply to a pet shop lawfully selling or offering for sale dogs,
16cats, or rabbits in the Commonwealth on or before the effective date of this act, provided that: (i)
17the pet shop maintains a valid license to operate and engage in such sales; (ii) the pet shop
18remains in the same ownership as existed on the effective date of this act; (iii) the pet shop sells
19or offers for sale dogs, cats, or rabbits only from the location listed on the applicable license; and
20(iv) the specific type of animal sold by the pet shop, whether dog, cat, or rabbit, is an animal that
21the pet shop is documented to have engaged in selling or offering for sale for at least one year
22prior to the effective date of this act.
23 (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 43 of this chapter, a person who violates
24subsection (b) of this section shall be: (i) assessed a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for the
25first offense, not more than $2,500 for the second offense, and not more than $5,000 for third and
26subsequent offenses; and (ii) subject to suspension or revocation of the pet shop license. Each
27advertisement or offer for sale or actual sale of an animal in violation of subsection (b) shall
28constitute a separate violation.
29 SECTION 4. Nothing in section 39A of chapter 129 of the General Laws shall affect the
30authority of any town, city, or other locality to regulate or prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, or
31rabbits.
32 SECTION 5. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.