Puppies and kittens under eight weeks old can no longer be sold in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed S.2908 into law on Wednesday, making that change.
The bill, which had bipartisan support, passed in the Massachusetts Senate on July 29, 2024, and in the Massachusetts House of Representatives on December 26, 2024, without a recorded vote.
The final bill was based on S.1142, introduced by state Senator John Velis (D-Westfield).
“Early separation of puppies and kittens from their mother, and the unregulated roadside sale of dogs and cats, are practices that often lead to serious health or behavioral problems for the animal and no recourse for the new owner,” Velis told NewBostonPost in an email statement. “I was proud to have filed this legislation in the Senate last session and am thrilled the Governor has signed it into law to establish these new protections for animals throughout the Commonwealth.”
The animal welfare organization MSPCA-Angell praised Massachusetts for making this bill law, expressing a similar sentiment to Velis.
“Separating puppies and kittens from their mother and littermates early can result in health and behavioral problems, including disease susceptibility and aggression,” MSPCA-Angell wrote in a Facebook post. “The law also prohibits the sale, exchange, or commercial display of any dog or cat on any roadside, park, recreation area, flea market or outdoor market, or parking lot. Selling animals in such places by individuals often provides no recourse for consumers who may purchase a sick animal.”
And state representative Steve Xiarhos (R-Barnstable) expressed his excitement about the bill becoming law.
“As a proud co-sponsor of this legislation, I am thrilled to see it become law in the Commonwealth,” Xiarhos told NewBostonPost via email. “This law is a significant step forward in protecting the health and welfare of animals, ensuring that puppies and kittens are not separated from their mothers prematurely, and ending unsafe and irresponsible practices like roadside or parking lot sales. By setting clear standards and penalties, we are creating a safer and more humane environment for pets and their future families. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues for their commitment to animal welfare and for working together to make this law a reality.”
The roadside sale ban does not apply to licensed animal shelters, animal rescue organizations, or municipal animal control facilities — which facilitate animal adoption, not sales. Additionally, the law doesn’t ban displaying dogs for sale at a state or county fair or a 4-H exhibit.
Those who violate the law are liable for a fine of $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, and $300 for each subsequent offense.
Lawmakers sent the bill to Governor Healey’s desk on December 30, 2024.
The exact text of the final bill is available below:
SECTION 1. Chapter 140 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 141B the following 2 sections:-
Section 141C. (a) No person shall sell, offer to sell, exchange, trade, barter, lease or transfer for permanent physical placement a dog or cat that is less than 8 weeks of age.
(b) A violation of this subsection shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100. Each dog or cat sold, exchanged, traded, bartered, leased or transferred for permanent physical placement in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense.
(c) A city or town shall enforce this section through its animal control officers or police officers in a manner consistent with the disposition provisions in section 21D of chapter 40.
Section 141D. (a) No person shall sell, offer to sell, exchange, trade, barter, lease or transfer any dog or cat on any roadside, public right-of-way, parkway, median, park or other recreation area, flea market or other outdoor market or commercial or retail parking lot.
(b) This section shall not apply to the: (1) transfer, regardless of payment or compensation, of a dog or cat by, or to, a shelter or animal rescue organization licensed under section 39A of chapter 129 or a municipal animal control facility; or (2) display of a dog or cat as part of a state or county fair exhibition, a 4-H program or similar exhibition or educational program.
(c) A violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $50 for a first offense, a fine of not more than $100 for a second offense and a fine of not more than $300 for each subsequent offense. Each dog or cat sold, offered to be sold, exchanged, traded, bartered, leased or transferred in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense.
(d) A city or town shall enforce this section through its animal control officers or police officers in a manner consistent with the disposition provisions in section 21D of chapter 40.
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