An Act relative to dangerous dogs
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill proposes a process for municipalities to temporarily impound dogs deemed ‘dangerous’ while a public hearing is held to determine if they meet the criteria for being classified as such. The goal is to provide a structured approach for evaluating potentially dangerous dogs and ensuring due process for both dog owners and the community. It aims to establish a framework for assessing and managing dogs considered a risk to public safety.
Key provisions
- Requires municipalities to impound dogs identified as ‘dangerous’ pending a public hearing.
- Establishes a process for determining if a dog meets the criteria for being classified as ‘dangerous.’
- Mandates public hearings to be held for dogs impounded under this bill.
- Specifies the responsibilities of municipalities in managing impounded dogs.
- Outlines the criteria for determining a dog’s ‘dangerousness’.
Who is affected
- Municipalities
- Dog owners
- Residents of Massachusetts
- Animal control officers
- Regional Government
Notable changes
- Establishes a temporary impoundment process for potentially dangerous dogs.
- Requires public hearings before a dog is permanently classified as ‘dangerous.’
Bill text
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
7 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
James K. Hawkins
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