Two Massachusetts Joint Committees that have held public hearings on bills impacting dog owners recently advanced the following:
UPDATING ANIMAL HEALTH INSPECTIONS
HB 2253 and SB 1458 would require persons selling, exchanging or otherwise transferring the offspring of their personally-owned animals to be licensed, inspected, and regulated under the state’s authority to oversee pet shops. The American Kennel Club (AKC) issued this alert and testified in opposition at a Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government public hearing.
On August 5, the committee favorably released a re-drafted bill, HB 4365, and sent it to the House Ways and Means Committee. HB 4365 would create a new “personal breeder kennel” municipal license for anyone with three or more intact females whelping a litter in the preceding 12 months who sell or exchange the offspring. The state would issue regulations within 18 months for commercial breeder and personal breeder kennels to be enforced by the state and municipal animal control officers. AKC is analyzing the details and impacts of HB 4365.
DANGEROUS DOGS
HB 2342 and SB 1459 would require dangerous dog assessments with a focus on the management and regulation of dangerous dogs. Key changes include the requirement for a hearing authority to file a petition in district court for the impoundment of a dog deemed dangerous, especially if it has bitten and broken the skin of a human or animal. It also introduces a requirement for dog owners to consult with professionals to develop a behavior modification plan that must exclusively use “evidence-based techniques that do not result in pain, discomfort, fear, or anxiety.” For example, commonly used electric training and choke collars would be prohibited. Despite strong testimony that the sole use of positive training techniques may be ineffective for some dogs and lead to their disposal, the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government favorably released HB 2342 on August 15 to the House Ways and Committee for further consideration.
MISREPRESENTATION OF SERVICE ANIMALS
HB 1686 would establish a commission to study the use of service animals in the state, including the fraudulent misrepresentation of animals as service animals. AKC issued this alert in support. The Joint Judiciary Committee made minor changes to who would serve on the proposed commission before favorably releasing the bill as HB 4371.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. Updating Health Inspections: Massachusetts residents are encouraged to review the text of HB 4365 and to share your thoughts on the creation of a personal breeder kennel license and how it might be enforced with AKC. Email them to doglaw@akc.org with MA HB 4365 in the subject line. All shared information will remain confidential.
- Dangerous Dogs: Massachusetts residents are also encouraged to contact the House Ways and Means Committee. Share your experience in effectively using training tools to modify aggressive or unwanted dog behavior. Request that the committee strike from HB 2342 the requirement to only use training tools that do not result in pain, discomfort, fear, or anxiety when working to rehabilitate dangerous dogs and protect communities. Contact the committee at (617) 722- 2990 or email its members listed here by clicking on their name.
AKC Government Relations (GR) will continue to provide updates on these bills and other Massachusetts legislation as developments warrant. For more information on this or other legislative issues in Massachusetts, contact AKC GR at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org; or the Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners at info@massfeddogs.org.