SENATE DOCKET, NO. 210        FILED ON: 1/25/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1341

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John F. Keenan

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act protecting animal welfare in cities and towns.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

 

Kris Macdonald

 

 

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

1/28/2021


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 210        FILED ON: 1/25/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1341

By Mr. Keenan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1341) of John F. Keenan, Kris Macdonald and Colleen M. Garry for legislation to protect animal welfare in cities and towns.  Municipalities and Regional Government.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act protecting animal welfare in cities and towns.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 272 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 77C the following section 77D:- 

(a) A person who by willful, wanton, reckless, or negligent act causes the unnecessary or unjustified death of a cat or dog shall be liable in damages for the fair monetary value of the deceased animal to the owner of the animal, including, but not limited to, damages for the loss of comfort, protection, companionship, other special damages, services of the deceased animal to its owner; reasonable afterlife expenses of the deceased animal; court costs and attorney's fees; and other reasonable damages resulting from the willful, wanton, reckless, or negligent act. Non-economic damages shall have a cap value of $30,000.00.

(b) Damages under this section for unnecessary or unjustified death sustained by an animal shall be recovered in an action of tort by the aggrieved, commenced within three years from the date of death or from the date when the aggrieved knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have known, of the factual basis for a claim of relief.