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Mass. General Laws c.140 §§ 136A-174F

Laws pertaining to dogs
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§ 136A Definitions 

Amended by St.2018, c. 219, § 9, effective November 7, 2018

§ 137 Registration and licensing of dogs 
§ 137A Kennel licenses 

Amended by St.2018, c. 219, § 10, effective November 7, 2018

§ 137B Kennel shall give temporary license to buyer of dog 
§ 137C Inspection of kennels 

Amended by St.2018, c. 219, § 11, effective November 7, 2018

§ 137D Surrender of license or tag for offenses against animals 
§ 138 Change of owner of licensed dog; bringing a licensed dog from another state 
§ 139 License fees 
§ 139A Dog or cat from shelter must be spayed or neutered, or the new owner must agree to do so 
§ 141 Penalties for violations 

Amended by St.2018, c. 219, § 12, effective November 7, 2018

Application of law 
Licensed pet shops exempted from some provisions 
§ 145 Symptoms of rabies printed on license 
§ 145A Rabies vaccine and treatment for people exposed 
§ 145B Dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies 
§ 146 Dog license is valid throughout the state 
§ 147 Issuance of licenses; disposition of fees; action on official bond 
§ 149 Accounts of treasurers 
§ 150 Lists of dogs; refusal to answer person listing dogs; false answers 
§ 151 Animal control officers 
§ 151A Animal control officer duties 
§ 151B Payment to veterinarians for emergency treatment of dogs or cats injured on roads 
§ 151C Training for animal control officers 
§ 152 Reports by police and animal control officers about activities involving dogs and cats 
§ 153 Form of direction to officers 
§ 155 Liability for damage caused by dog 
§ 155A Indemnification of law enforcement officers; damages caused by dogs used in performance of official duties 
§ 156 Killing dogs is permitted under certain conditions 
§ 157 Nuisance or dangerous dogs; orders for remedial action; appeal; violation of order 
§ 157A Non-compliance of dog owner or keeper with order; transferring ownership or selling of dangerous dog 
§ 158 Euthanizing dogs threatening public safety or dogs in wild state 
§ 159 Triple damages for injuries by dogs that were ordered to be restrained 
§ 160 Euthanizing dogs that have worried or killed stock or fowl; bond 
§ 161 Damages caused by dogs and paid by city or town; compensation for appraisers  
§ 161A Damages caused by dogs that are not reimbursable 
§ 163 Notice to restrain or euthanize a dog that has caused damage 
§ 164 Penalty for failure to restrain or euthanize dog after notice 
§ 165 Investigation of damages caused by dogs; settlement; action against owner or keeper; payments over to city or town treasurer 
§ 166 Election of remedy by person whose livestock or fowl were damaged 
§ 167 Ordering dogs to be restrained; euthanizing unrestrained dogs 
§ 168 Service of order to muzzle or restrain dogs; penalty 
§ 169 Penalty on officer; report of refusal or neglect of officer to perform duties 
§ 171 Liability to city or town of owner or keeper of dog 
§ 173 Ordinances and by-laws related to animals 

Amended by St.2018, c. 219, § 13, effective November 7, 2018

§ 173A Violation of dog control laws; non-criminal disposition 

Amended by St.2018, c. 219, § 14, effective November 7, 2018

§ 174 Recovery of penalties 
§ 174A Euthanizing of dogs or cats by barbiturates 
§ 174B Dogs must be leashed in public rest areas 
§ 174D Research institutions; license to use dogs or cats; rules and regulations 
§ 174D 1/2 Research animals; adoption 

Added by St.2022, c. 149, effective November 2, 2022

§ 174E Chaining, tethering or confining dogs 

Amended by St.2018, c. 219, § 15, effective November 7, 2018

§ 174F Confining an animal in a hot or cold vehicle; removing an animal in danger from a vehicle 

Amended by St.2018, c. 219, § 16, effective November 7, 2018

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