The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
John P. Fresolo
Stephen R. Canessa
Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera
Thomas P. Kennedy
Denis E. Guyer
Kay Khan
Robert A. Antonioni
Denise Provost
Jennifer M. Callahan
Bradford Hill
William N. Brownsberger
Karyn E. Polito
Cynthia S. Creem
James B. Eldridge
Lida E. Harkins
Michael F. Rush
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In the Year Two Thousand and Eight.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 80H the following section:-
Section 80 I. No person shall engage in the business of leasing or renting dogs and cats. Any dogs or cats held for such leasing or renting may be seized or impounded by an organization or authorized agent thereof that is empowered to seize or impound under the General Laws. For the purpose of this section, leasing or renting a dog or cat shall mean the intentional practice and advertising of renting a dog or a cat for a fee or a cost which knowingly will result in a temporary ownership of the animal by another party. A violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars and not more than five hundred dollars. This section is not intended to prohibit service animal businesses or organizations, pet adoption and foster care services, and working animals for the following purposes but not limited too farming and agriculture, entertainment and shows which are already acceptable under the General Laws, sporting and hunting, racing and for breeding purposes so long it is not contrary to the General Laws. Further, this section will not prohibit a pet store or kennel or pet adoption service or other entity allowed to sell pets under the General Laws for a fee or a cost from taking back a pet they may have sold if the owner cannot keep or handle the pet they had acquired.