HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 155        FILED ON: 1/10/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 801

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

William C. Galvin

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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 relative to dogs brought into the Commonwealth by animal rescue organizations.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 155        FILED ON: 1/10/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 801

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 917 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to dogs brought into the Commonwealth by animal rescue organizations.

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

Chapter 129 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 39A the following section:-

Section 39B. (a) As used in this section the following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Animal rescue organization”, an entity that is not otherwise required to be licensed pursuant to sections 39, 39A or 45, or section 152A of chapter 94, and whose primary activity is the placement of abandoned, displaced, unwanted, neglected or abused domestic animals, including dogs; provided, that an animal rescue organization shall not obtain dogs from a breeder or broker for payment or compensation; and provided, further that an animal rescue organization shall be exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code or equivalent nonprofit designation under said Code.

“Dog”, a mammal of the species Canis familiaris

“Quarantine”, the confinement of a dog, for the purposes of: (1) observing if the dog displays signs of contagious or infectious illness and (2) minimizing the risk of the dog spreading such contagious or infectious illness to humans and other animals.

(b) A dog brought into the commonwealth by an animal rescue organization from another state for the purpose of permanent physical placement shall quarantine for not less than 48 hours upon entry to the commonwealth. The quarantine may occur in the: (1) residence of the permanent or temporary placement of the dog or (2) in a quarantine facility licensed by the director. After quarantine, a veterinarian shall examine the dog and issue a certificate of health if the dog does not display signs of contagious or infectious illness.

This subsection shall not apply to the voluntary, permanent surrender of a dog to an animal rescue organization in the commonwealth by an individual owner if the owner resides in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island or Vermont and the owner provides transportation of the dog into the commonwealth.

(c) Any dog brought into the commonwealth shall be vaccinated for rabies, distemper, parvovirus and leptospirosis. The director may require additional vaccination before a dog is brought into the commonwealth.

(d) The director shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.