General Laws

[ Text of section effective until October 31, 2012. For text effective October 31, 2012, see below.]

  Section 164. A person who owns or keeps a dog, and who has received such notice and does not within twenty-four hours kill such dog or thereafter keep it on his premises or under the immediate restraint and control of some person, shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars; and any police officer, constable or dog officer may kill such dog if it is found outside of the enclosure of its owner or keeper and not under his immediate care.

Chapter 140: Section 164. Failure to euthanize, confine or restrain dog after notice

[ Text of section as amended by 2012, 193, Sec. 35 effective October 31, 2012. For text effective until October 31, 2012, see above.]

  Section 164. A person who owns or keeps a dog and who has received such notice under section 163 and does not, within 24 hours, euthanize the dog or thereafter keep it on the owner's or keeper's premises or under the immediate restraint and control of some person, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25 and a police officer, constable or animal control officer may euthanize the dog in a humane manner if it is found outside the enclosure of its owner or keeper and not under the owner or keeper's immediate care.