Ollie's Law Information

Kennel Laws Changed: On September 20th, 2024, an Act to Increase Kennel Safety (AKA Ollie’s Law) was signed by Governor Maura Healey. This act updated dog kennel licensing laws and created a pathway for future kennel regulations in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Division of Animal Health is responsible for licensing and inspecting shelters/rescues, inspecting municipal animal holding facilities, and for providing training and guidance to animal control officers (ACOs). We want to provide shelters/rescues and ACOs with information on the changes created by the passing of Ollie’s law, how the changes will affect them, and a timeline of when the changes will take effect, so we developed this page.

In 2020, a 7-month-old labradoodle by the name of Ollie was severely mauled by other dogs at an East Longmeadow boarding facility. Ollie spent two months in a veterinary hospital before ultimately succumbing to his injuries. Ollie's death could have been prevented if proper care and safety measures were in place at the boarding facility. Unfortunately, stories like Ollie's are not unique. It was clear to advocates that there were significant gaps in kennel oversight and that legislative changes were necessary to help prevent tragedies like Ollie’s.

On September 20th, 2024, an Act to Increase Kennel Safety (AKA Ollie’s Law) was signed by Governor Maura Healey. The passing of Ollie’s law gives the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) the ability to work with an appointed advisory committee to create standards and enact regulations for commercial boarding and training kennels, including dog daycares. Ollie's Law also clarifies existing kennel license requirements, requires municipalities to report kennel licenses to MDAR, requires kennels to report any injuries that occur to the municipality, and establishes enforcement protocols for the municipality, which allow the state to assist when necessary.

Read Ollie's Law Chapter 213 Acts of 2024 

Advisory Committee Information

The MDAR Commissioner is responsible for appointing the advisory committee that will assist the Department in developing these regulations. Among the members of the committee are an owner of a licensed boarding or training kennel with a capacity of less than 50 dogs; an owner of a licensed boarding or training kennel with a capacity of more than 50 dogs; two animal control officers; a licensing authority representative; a veterinarian; an interested member of the public; a dog owner that uses the service of a licensed boarding or training kennel; a certified animal behaviorist; a person with five years of experience in training people about dog behavior; and a representative from a licensed shelter or rescue. Because each of you are qualified to serve on the committee and may work with others who meet the descriptions above, we are asking for your recommendations for members of the advisory committee.

Ollie's Law Advisory Committee Open Meeting: 6/25/25 9AM-10:30AM  Advisory Committee Past Meeting Minutes 

Ollie's Law Timeline

Dates to Note

Action	Date
Bill signed	September 20, 2024
Law takes effect	December 19, 2024
Committee formed	March 19, 2025
Municipalities must send kennel list to MDAR by	June 1, 2025
MDAR reports to legislature	July1, 2025
Regulations completed by	June 2026
Committee sunsets	December 31, 2026

Ollie's Law Resources

Ollie's Law Guidance for ACOs and Shelters/Rescues  Animal Laws and Regulations in Massachusetts 2024 (Updated with Ollie's Law highlights)  Kennel Injury Reporting Form (to submit to municipality) 

Kennel Reporting for Municipalities

Under MGL Chapter 140 Section 137A all municipal licensing authorities must annually send a list of all kennels and their addresses to the Department of Agricultural Resources for review.

This list must be received by MDAR through this portal no later than June 1^st starting in 2025. 

All kennel Reporting should be done through the Kennel Reporting for Municipalities Portal. There municipalities may manually enter each kennel's information or upload the completed Kennel Reporting Excel Template.

Kennel Reporting for Municipalities Portal  Kennel Reporting Excel Template  Letter to Municipal Clerks on Kennel Reporting  

Ollie's Law Information Zoom Meetings

Meeting Slides and Notes

ACOs, ACO Supervisors, Town Clerks, and Municipal Officials were invited to join MDAR, Mass Animal Fund, MSPCA and ARL representatives on a ZOOM meetings about Ollie's Law Changes.

View the Ollie's Law Meetings Slide Deck and Notes (in editing stay tuned) here. View the Ollie's Law Meetings Slides Only (available).