MA H1773

Bill

To protect pets in the Commonwealth

Introduced
01/22/2019

In Committee
05/14/2020

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

191st General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to the care and sale of cats and dogs. Municipalities and Regional Government.

AI Summary

This bill aims to protect pets in the Commonwealth by: 1. Defining a "cattery" as a pack or collection of cats on a single premises, and requiring regular inspections of kennels and catteries by local authorities. 2. Prohibiting the sale or offering for sale of puppies and kittens under 8 weeks of age, and establishing a process for buyers to return or exchange puppies and kittens declared "unfit for sale" by a veterinarian due to certain health conditions. 3. Requiring pet shops to maintain records on the source and health status of dogs and cats they sell, and prohibiting the sale of pets from certain breeders with a history of animal welfare violations. It also bans the roadside sale of pets and mandates microchipping of all dogs and cats sold or adopted through pet shops and animal rescue groups. 4. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2019.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

Sponsors (8)

Ruth Balser (D), Daniel Cullinane (D), Mark Cusack (D), Jim O'Day (D), Angelo Puppolo (D), RoseLee Vincent (D), Tom Walsh (D), Donald Wong (R),

Last Action

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means (on 05/14/2020)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1773

(6 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1773
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1773.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H1444	Changing the legal status of "pets" from personal property to "companion animals"	Accompanied a study order, see H5081	Similar To
H1855	Relating to pet internments in certain cemetery corporations	Accompanied a study order, see H4449	Similar To
H3828	Relative to the sale of dogs and cats in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts	Accompanied a new draft, see S2592	Similar To
S1037	Relative to the ownership of pets by convicted animal abusers	Accompanied a new draft, see S2494	Similar To
S1300	To preserve the eternal bonds between people and their animals	Accompanied a study order, see S2547	Similar To
S1820	Relative to pet fees	Accompanied a study order, see S2569	Similar To

Bill > H1773

MA H1773

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (8)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary