Massachusetts
Updates about legal issues facing animals in the state
The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, state and local levels to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals.
Animal Protection Laws Ranking
Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes its U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report. Each state is ranked based on 20 different categories of animal protection.
Massachusetts
Overall Rank: #2 (Top Tier)
Animal Protection Laws of Massachusetts
The Animal Protection Laws of Massachusetts compendium contains the general animal protection and related statutes for Massachusetts with an effective date on or before September 1, 2024.
Legislative Session
Take Action
Take action now to help animals in your state.
Massachusetts: Take Action for Companion Animals in Pet Custody Cases Today!
Urge your Massachusetts lawmakers to support the “Pet Custody Bill” — An Act Standardizing Consideration of Pets in Divorce and Separation, S.1206/H.1817 — which provides a framework for judges to use in determining the best interests of a companion animal when a couple is splitting up.
Massachusetts: Urge Your Legislators to Co-Sponsor Animal Protection Bills in the 2025–26 Legislative Session
Urge your Massachusetts legislators to co-sponsor critical animal protection legislation introduced in the 2025–26 Legislative Session.
Stop Ag-Gag Laws
Undercover investigations and whistleblowers have exposed some of the worst aspects of factory farming, but Ag-Gag laws punish people who speak out about cruelty in animal agriculture. Voice your opposition.
No More Puppy Mills
Puppy mill operators maximize their profits by producing large numbers of puppies as quickly as possible. As a result, unsanitary conditions, disease, and neglect are rampant. Sign our pledge to boycott puppy mills. Together we can end cruel puppy mills.
Passing Local Legislation: Retail Pet Sale Ban
In this free webinar, we walk you through the basics of how to pass a retail pet sale bans in your community — a powerful way to fight back against puppy mills.
Passing Local Legislation: Prohibiting Animals in Circuses and Traveling Shows
This webinar will focus on passing a local prohibition on animals used in circuses and other traveling shows.
Recent Victories
Breed Neutral Policy and Animal Cruelty Cross Reporting Bill (Massachusetts)
H.4911
Massachusetts legislation would create a dog-breed-neutral policy, and remove dog breed prohibitions, related to placing a child in a foster or adoptive home; it also clarifies that human services employees can report animal cruelty.
Coercive Control Bill (Massachusetts)
S. 2820
Massachusetts legislation would help victims of domestic violence, both human and animal, by updating the Commonwealth’s legal definition of abuse to include regarding “coercive control” to include committing or threatening to commit cruelty to the animal companion of a human abuse victim.
An Act to Increase Kennel Safety (Massachusetts)
S. 1309/H. 4919
This law, also known as Ollie’s Law, requires the state to put into effect minimum standards for certain types of kennels such as daycares and boarding facilities.
An Act Prohibiting Inhumane Feline Declawing (Massachusetts)
S.2552
This bill would prohibit cat declawing except as a medical necessity to protect the cat’s health.
Active Cases
No results found.
Active Legislation
Retail Pet Sales Ban Bills (Massachusetts)
S. 650 and S. 618
Two bills aim to ban the retail sales of pets in the state. S. 650 would prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in retail pet shops; S. 618 would additionally prohibit the sale of guinea pig
Pet Custody (Massachusetts)
S.1206/H.1817
Protects the best interests of a companion animal when a couple is splitting up by providing a framework for judges to use in determining care and custody of the animal.
Mass Animal Fund (Massachusetts)
H. 3900 Amendment #139/S. 3 Amendments ENV #4 & #8
These amendments in the state budget bill for fiscal year 2024, will allocate $100,000 to critical companion animal health services.
Citations for Cruel Conditions for Animals (Massachusetts)
(S.1190/H.1938)
To expand the law allowing for civil citations for cruel animal conditions towards dogs to include all domestic animals.
Promote Alternatives to Cosmetics and Product Testing on Animals (Massachusetts)
S.D. 1640/H.D. 1914
Bill would require manufacturers and their contract testing facilities to use methods that replace animal testing of products and ingredients for cosmetics, household cleaners, and industrial chemicals.
Pets in Housing (Massachusetts)
(S.1022/H.1559 and H.1476)
To improve access to affordable, stable, adequately insured housing for families with companion animals.
Animal Possession Ban (Massachusetts)
An Act to Protect Animals From Convicted Animal Abusers (H.1914/S.1207)
Bars people convicted of animal cruelty from possessing, adopting, or fostering animals for at least five years after their release from custody
Animal Legal Defense Fund 2024 State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report
See the best and worst states for animal protection laws