Joint committees of the Massachusetts legislature will soon consider legislation about veterans’ service dogs, prohibiting animal cruelty violators from owning animals, establishing an animal cruelty registry, allowing non-economic damages, animal neglect cases, and animal tethering practices. Massachusetts residents are encouraged to review the information below, and contact legislators.
TUESDAY, JULY 22: The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs (JVFA) has scheduled a hybrid public hearing on HB 3850, “Establishing a Massachusetts Veterans Service Dog Program.” The program would assess veterans’ needs, partner with accredited service dog organizations, and match trained service dogs with eligible veterans within one year. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, 2025, from 1PM to 5PM, in Room A-2 of the statehouse in Boston.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly supports the training and use of dogs by humans, whose lives are enriched by dogs’ performing essential services. Service dogs are defined as those that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities by providing a wide variety of valuable services, including handicapped assistance.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Massachusetts residents are encouraged to communicate your support of HB 3850 with the members of JVFA. You can register to testify in person or remotely by completing this form before July 21, 2025, at 12PM. Written testimony can be emailed to kerry.rugenstein@mahouse.gov.
TUESDAY, JULY 29: On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, from 1PM – 5PM, the Massachusetts Joint Judiciary Committee (JJC) will consider multiple dog-related bills. The full agenda with links to bill text can be viewed here. The American Kennel Club (AKC) shares the following recommendations for action, and encourages all concerned Massachusetts residents to contact the JJC members.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE BILLS TO SUPPORT
SB 1207/HB 1914 CONVICTED ANIMAL ABUSERS, OWNERSHIP PROHIBITED – SUPPORT
These bills mandate that the court prohibit any person convicted of animal cruelty from owning animals, in addition to other penalties allowed by law. For a first-time offender, the court would have wide discretion to waive this possession ban under certain circumstances. AKC abhors animal cruelty and supports the humane treatment of animals. Wider court discretion would be appropriate to address cases with defendants who suffer from mental illness.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE BILLS TO OPPOSE
HB 1764 CRUELTY REGISTRY – OPPOSE
HB 1764 would establish an animal abuser registry, which would list all those who reside in Massachusetts and have been convicted of an animal abuse crime. Abuser registration would remain in effect for five years, and those convicted of animal abuse would be required to pay $50 annually to be included. Those failing to fully comply with the registration requirements would be subject to prison terms up to five years and fines up to $5,000. All animal breeders in Massachusetts would be required to check the registry prior to transferring a pet and would be prohibited from transferring an animal to any person listed on the registry. Breeders failing to comply would be subject to fines of not less than $1,000 and imprisonment of up to five years for failure to comply.
AKC remains concerned about the creation and accurate maintenance of animal abuser registries, and that registry requirements could easily be evaded. For example, convicted individuals could evade tracking by providing fake or altered names, or false addresses. Animal sellers performing required check could be fined through no fault of their own. Moreover, no evidence exists showing that registries deter or reduce the occurrence of animal cruelty offenses. AKC believes a better use of the Commonwealth’s resources would focus on and utilize enforcement activities that are proven effective.
SB 1263 PROMOTING PET SAFETY, CREATING NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES – OPPOSE
SB 1263 would hold a person responsible for the death of another’s cat or dog to pay fair monetary value to the owner 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. These non-economic damages would be capped at $30,000.
Our society and AKC holds dogs in exceedingly high esteem. Allowing these types of damages may sound like an innovative idea and a simple reflection of the value people place on their pets. However, doing so will likely have many unintended consequences, and in the long run may actually harm pets. For this reason, AKC believes it is crucial that owners continue to enjoy the protections afforded by the traditional legal treatment of animals as property. For more details on the negative consequences of this type of proposal, review AKC’s Issue Analysis: It’s All About the Dogs! Non-Economic Damages Claims Ultimately Harm General Animal Wellbeing.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE BILLS TO AMEND
SB 1277/HB 1934 HUMANE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS/PREVENTING ANIMAL CRUELTY – AMEND
These bills establish new protections for neglected animals by defining neglect and empowering authorities to act in emergencies. They would allow for animal removal, care petitions, and seizures. A court hearing would be held within 10 days to assess the animal’s condition and the owner’s capacity to care for it. If neglect is confirmed, the court may order forfeiture, euthanasia, or recovery of care costs from the owner. Appeals are limited to new evidence, and other animals may also be forfeited if the owner cannot provide humane care.
AKC takes a strong line on animal neglect and cruelty; and believes that governments must protect constitutional rights and privileges of dog owners under American law, and that owners must be afforded substantive and procedural due process protections. These bills ought to be amended to acknowledge that in animal seizure cases where the owner doesn’t voluntarily give up the animal, “bond for care” or “cost of care” laws must: (1) Limit fees to reasonable, documented costs directly related to the animal’s care; (2) Allow courts to waive fees for indigent defendants; (3) Require full refunds if the case doesn’t end in a guilty verdict or plea; and (4) Prohibit spaying, neutering, or elective non-therapeutic surgeries without the owner’s written consent while the case is pending.
HB 1938 ISSUANCE OF CITATIONS FOR CRUEL CONDITIONS FOR ANIMALS – AMEND
HB 1938 would expand current law by applying dog tethering, confinement, restrictions, and penalties for violations to “animals”. In addition, the Department of Agricultural Resources would be limited to consulting only with the Animal Control Officers Association, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Animal Rescue League of Boston, in the adoption of new regulations to implement, enforce, and administer the expanded law.
No animal should be neglected or cruelly treated. AKC strongly supports enforcement of federal and state statutes. However, drafting initial regulations impacting all animals, including dogs, ought to include experts who work with various domestic animals, from pets to livestock, providing care, treatment, and guidance on animal health, behavior, and welfare.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Concerned Massachusetts residents are encouraged to contact the JJC to express these positions. Submit your comments on House bills, addressed to Chairman Michael S. Day, by email to talia.quinn@mahouse.gov. Submit your comments on Senate bills, addressed to Chairwoman Lydia Edwards, by email to kyle.fields@masenate.gov. Please include the bill number.
Anyone wishing to speak in person or virtually at the hearing must sign up before 5PM on Sunday, July 27, 2025, to testify by completing this form. You will receive further instruction on how to participate directly from the committee. Those testifying in person should arrive by 1PM in Room A-2, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02133 on Tuesday, July 29.
For more information, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org; or the MassFed at info@massfeddogs.org.