Tell Massachusetts Lawmakers: We must protect our pets by passing Ollie's Law
- by: MSPCA
- recipient: Massachusetts Lawmakers
In 2020, Amy Baxter got an alarming text from the dog daycare: her 7-month-old Labradoodle puppy, Ollie, had been injured in a dog fight. When she arrived to pick him up, he had wounds all over his body. Ollie needed round-the-clock care and surgery, and was in the hospital for two months before succumbing to his injuries. Amy never received answers from the facility on how and why her dog was injured so badly.
Sadly, Ollie is not the only one to lose his life from a lack of regulations for these businesses.
In 2016, Rob Foley went to pick up his 9-year-old German Shepherd, Maximus, three days after he left him at a boarding facility, but was told Maximus had died from stomach bloat just hours earlier. When authorities asked the kennel owners to release their surveillance tapes, Maximus was seen being kept in a cage no bigger than a cat's for over 30 hours, unattended. The rest of the time, he was kept outside without water or shelter from the sun.
Massachusetts currently has no state oversight of breeders or daycare/boarding facilities. The only requirement for anyone with more than four dogs is to obtain a kennel license from the city or town. Ollie's Law requires the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to establish reasonable rules and regulations for boarding kennels and daycare facilities, as well as for higher-volume breeding kennels producing dogs for the public.
While Massachusetts is a leader on the protection of animals in many ways, the lack of regulations to protect animals who are kept in kennels across the state is a significant gap that often results in tragic consequences. This must change!
Tell Massachusetts lawmakers to pass Ollie's law and ensure state oversight of breeders and daycare/boarding facilities to protect our pets!
Sadly, Ollie is not the only one to lose his life from a lack of regulations for these businesses.
In 2016, Rob Foley went to pick up his 9-year-old German Shepherd, Maximus, three days after he left him at a boarding facility, but was told Maximus had died from stomach bloat just hours earlier. When authorities asked the kennel owners to release their surveillance tapes, Maximus was seen being kept in a cage no bigger than a cat's for over 30 hours, unattended. The rest of the time, he was kept outside without water or shelter from the sun.
Massachusetts currently has no state oversight of breeders or daycare/boarding facilities. The only requirement for anyone with more than four dogs is to obtain a kennel license from the city or town. Ollie's Law requires the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to establish reasonable rules and regulations for boarding kennels and daycare facilities, as well as for higher-volume breeding kennels producing dogs for the public.
While Massachusetts is a leader on the protection of animals in many ways, the lack of regulations to protect animals who are kept in kennels across the state is a significant gap that often results in tragic consequences. This must change!
Tell Massachusetts lawmakers to pass Ollie's law and ensure state oversight of breeders and daycare/boarding facilities to protect our pets!
Dear Legislator,
The lack of protections for both animals and consumers in certain types of kennel environments is a significant problem in our state.
Massachusetts currently has no oversight of breeders or daycare/boarding facilities. The only requirement for anyone with more than four dogs is to obtain a kennel license from the city or town — which is simply not adequate to ensure animal health and welfare.
S. 1309/H. 2019: An Act to Increase Kennel Safety, aka Ollie's Law, would require the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to establish reasonable rules and regulations for boarding kennels and daycare facilities, as well as for higher-volume breeding kennels producing dogs for the public.
If an investigation about a dog or humane injury at a boarding or daycare kennel results in an enforcement action, this will be made available on the state's website, to provide consumers with information to help their decision making.
Animal control officers on the local level inspect kennels and, under these bills, would have more guidance for these inspections. Additionally, the state will be able to assist when needed.
A committee, consisting of a variety of stakeholders and experts, will be formed to advise MDAR on these regulations.
We can continue to be a leader for animals in Massachusetts by ensuring that animals across the state are covered by reasonable standards.
Sincerely,
[Name]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionThe lack of protections for both animals and consumers in certain types of kennel environments is a significant problem in our state.
Massachusetts currently has no oversight of breeders or daycare/boarding facilities. The only requirement for anyone with more than four dogs is to obtain a kennel license from the city or town — which is simply not adequate to ensure animal health and welfare.
S. 1309/H. 2019: An Act to Increase Kennel Safety, aka Ollie's Law, would require the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to establish reasonable rules and regulations for boarding kennels and daycare facilities, as well as for higher-volume breeding kennels producing dogs for the public.
If an investigation about a dog or humane injury at a boarding or daycare kennel results in an enforcement action, this will be made available on the state's website, to provide consumers with information to help their decision making.
Animal control officers on the local level inspect kennels and, under these bills, would have more guidance for these inspections. Additionally, the state will be able to assist when needed.
A committee, consisting of a variety of stakeholders and experts, will be formed to advise MDAR on these regulations.
We can continue to be a leader for animals in Massachusetts by ensuring that animals across the state are covered by reasonable standards.
Sincerely,
[Name]
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