SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1395        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 550

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Patrick M. O'Connor

_________________

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 banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Patrick M. O'Connor

First Plymouth and Norfolk

 

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

12th Hampden

2/6/2023

Steven S. Howitt

4th Bristol

2/13/2023

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

2/14/2023

Adam Gomez

Hampden

2/21/2023

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

3/3/2023

Walter F. Timilty

Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol

3/14/2023

John C. Velis

Hampden and Hampshire

6/12/2023

Nick Collins

First Suffolk

1/19/2024

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

1/25/2024

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/7/2024

Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.

28th Middlesex

5/30/2024


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1395        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 550

By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 550) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Steven S. Howitt, John F. Keenan and other members of the General Court for legislation banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops.  Environment and Natural Resources.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops.

 

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

SECTION 1. Section 39A of Chapter 129 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting before the word “Every”, in line 1, the letter:-(a)

SECTION 2. Section 39A of Chapter 129 of the General Law is hereby further amended by striking out the word “section”, in line 13, and inserting in place thereof the following word:-subsection

SECTION 3. Section 39A of Chapter 129 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsections:-

(b) No person engaged in the business of operating a pet shop for which a license must be obtained pursuant to subsection (a); and are regulated under 330 CMR 12.00 shall sell or offer for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit.

(c) Subsection (b) shall not be construed to prohibit a pet shop from offering space to an animal rescue or shelter organization to showcase dogs, cats, or rabbits for adoption so long as the pet shop does not have an ownership interest in the animals offered for adoption.

(d) Nothing in subsections (b) or (c) shall affect the authority of any town, city, or other locality to regulate or prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits.

SECTION 4. This act shall go into effect 90 days after its passage.