Citations for Cruel Conditions for Animals (Massachusetts)

The Animal Legal Defense Fund supports this bill.

Sponsors: Sen. Montigny (D-Second Bristol and Plymouth), and Rep. Angelo Puppolo (D-12th Hampden)

Introduction Date: Introduced in the 2025-26 legislative session

An Act Enhancing the Issuance of Citations for Cruel Conditions for Animals,  S.1190/H.1938, would allow law enforcement and animal control officers to issue civil citations for domestic animals kept in cruel conditions, expanding upon the current law (Ch. 140 §174E) that only allows citations for dogs kept in such conditions.

Since 2012, civil citations for dogs have been used to address certain cruel conditions impacting a dog’s health and safety and have been successful at addressing problematic situations and preventing them from escalating to felony animal cruelty. Based on this experience, it is widely recognized that having this as a tool for other animals would benefit animals and animal owners.

Why is this legislation important?

There are many situations in Massachusetts that could have—or would—benefit from such a change. For example, hoarding cases, often involving cats, occur too frequently in our state. Currently, the only tools that law enforcement officers have are the two extremes of the enforcement spectrum—either a felony cruelty charge or a warning. Issuing a citation with a fine provides officers with the ability to achieve corrective action before a situation rises to a violation of the animal cruelty statute. Issuing citations for dogs kept in cruel confinement conditions has proven successful and demonstrates that officers should be afforded the flexibility to issue citations for other animals in similar circumstances.

For more information about animal protection legislation in Massachusetts and opportunities to take action for animals, visit aldf.org/massachusetts.