MSPCA-Angell Headquarters

350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130
(617) 522-7400
Email Us

Angell Animal Medical Centers – Boston

350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130
(617) 522-7282
angellquestions@angell.org
More Info

Angell West

293 Second Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 902-8400
For on-site assistance (check-ins and pick-ups):
(339) 970-0790
angellquestions@angell.org
More Info

Angell at Essex

565 Maple Street, Danvers, MA 01923
(978) 304-4648
essex@angell.org
More Info

Animal Care and Adoption Centers – Boston

350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130
(617) 522-5055
More Info

Animal Care and Adoption Centers – Cape Cod

1577 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA 02632
(508) 775-0940
More Info

Animal Care and Adoption Centers – Nevins Farm

400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844
(978) 687-7453
More Info

Animal Care and Adoption Centers – Northeast Animal Shelter

347 Highland Ave., Salem, MA 01970
(978) 745-9888
More Info

Donate Now

Donate

More Ways to Donate

From an online gift to a charitable gift annuity, your contribution will have a significant impact in the lives of thousands of animals.

Ollie’s Law

S. 1309/H. 2019: An Act to Increase Kennel Safety, aka Ollie’s Law

MSPCA Position: Support
Sponsors:
Senator Mark Montigny and Representative Brian Ashe
Status:
Referred to the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. Extension order filed (through 6/14/24).


Ollie, who died after sustaining grievous injuries in a dog fight at a doggie daycare. His owner never received any answers as to how or why the fight happened.

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.

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. This bill 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.

Oversight of kennels varies significantly from municipality to municipality, as provided through local kennel licenses. Not all municipalities issue kennel licenses, and even when they do, a kennel license is not adequate – it is a bare minimum requirement that simply states that the kennel must be maintained in a sanitary and humane manner. Animal control officers, consumers, veterinarians, and others have provided detailed examples as to why promulgating regulations, beyond a kennel license, is necessary.

Key provisions:

Massachusetts pets suffer because of insufficient standards for boarding kennels and dog daycare facilities. Animal welfare attorney Jeremy Cohen of Boston Dog Lawyers estimates that a dog is mauled or killed every 10 days at a boarding kennel in Massachusetts.

Ollie, Pampered Pets Doggy Daycare and Spa, East Longmeadow, MA[i]

In 2020, Amy Baxter got an alarming text from Pampered Pets: 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.

Weasley, a 10-year-old yorkie/chihuahua who died September 7th, 2022


One of the latest tragedies happened to Weasley. His owners had to travel to another state after a death in the family. Within less than 24 hours and one hour before their family member’s funeral service, they received a call from Chris Quinn (owner) of Happy Tails located in Sandwich, MA. He advised them that Weasley has passed away in his sleep. However, an autopsy showed otherwise — he suffered from cervical bite wounds with crush injury from another dog. Mr. Quinn continued to maintain that Weasley died in his sleep despite the necropsy report findings. Weasley now joins the list of dozens and dozens of dogs who have been killed while being boarded or in daycare in recent years.

Zuri, Paws With Inn, Ipswich, MA[ii]

In 2019, Justin and Casey Burkinshaw were informed their 4 pound dog Zuri was attacked and killed less than an hour after they had dropped her off by a 30 pound miniature bulldog. The two dogs were being kept in the same “tiny paws” section of the kennel, a section that is supposed to be for small dogs of up to 20 pounds, when the miniature bulldog reportedly grabbed Zuri by the neck and shook her. A veterinarian determined the ultimate cause of death was a broken neck.

Maximus, Annie’s Clean Critters, Whitman, MA[iii]

In 2016, Rob Foley went to pick up his 9-year-old German Shepherd, Maximus, three days after he left him at Annie’s Clean Critters, 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.

Ben, Briarwood Kennel, Hanover, MA[iv]

In 2016, Tracey Siciliano left her Goldendoodle, Ben, at Briarwood Kennel, but when she went back to get him, she didn’t see the same dog she left. Siciliano brought Ben to a vet who told her Ben had a fever of 106 from heat stroke and was dehydrated. He was also suffering from gashes, bites, and bruises from the kennel owner’s dog, who attacked Ben during his stay. Later that night, Ben suffered from a stroke and died in critical care.

Penny, Monumentails, Charlestown, MA[v]

In 2015, Cassie Olson left her 7-year-old rescue mix in Monumentails for one night. She was called the next day and told that there had been a fire and her beloved dog and five other pets had died. When Cassie looked into the details of the fire, she found that the owner of the kennel had left the animals unattended in the house while they went shopping, leaving them with no chance at escaping the fire.

Dexter, Ashland Kennel, Ashland, MA[vi]

In 2014, Michael Edison informed his kennel supervisor, Kimberly Cardiff, that Dexter, a 1-year old Lab, had attacked him. When Cardiff watched the security footage, she saw that Edison had abused the dog. Dexter had not wanted to come inside after playing, so Edison kicked him multiple times and threw him to the ground. Edison made bail and is now no longer allowed to go within 15 feet of an animal, other than his two cats.


Additional Resources and information:


[i] Pugliese, K, Russo, A. “Local family fights for change after mauling at dog daycare.” Western Mass News. 19 Oct 2020. https://www.westernmassnews.com/news/local-family-fights-for-change-after-mauling-at-dog-daycare/article_c851e63a-124d-11eb-bbdc-83f8bee58d54.html.

[ii] Leighton, Paul. “Questions Raised after Dog’s Death in Day Care.” Salem News, 14 May 2019, www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/questions-raised-after-dogs-death-in-day-care/image_c12f7d59-0f76-516a-98d0-4ee7bbfc442d.html.

[iii] Shepard, C. “Dog’s Death Leads to Animal Cruelty Charges at Whitman Kennel.” The Enterprise. 21 Mar 2017. https://www.enterprisenews.com/news/20170317/dogs-death-leads-to-animal-cruelty-charges-at-whitman-kennel.

[iv] Lambert, Lane. “Dog’s Mauling Death Prompts Investigation at Hanover Kennel.” The Patriot Ledger. 9 Aug 2016. https://www.patriotledger.com/news/20160809/dogs-mauling-death-prompts-investigation-at-hanover-kennel.

[v] Personal communication.

[vi] Inc., Hearst Television. “Kennel Worker Repeatedly Beat Dog, Police Say.” WCVB. 6 May 2014. https://www.wcvb.com/article/ashland-kennel-worker-repeatedly-beat-dog-authorities-say/8200795.

Co-Sponsors

Updated 3/27/24

State Senators:

Name District/Address
Mark C. Montigny Second Bristol and Plymouth
Adam Gomez Hampden
Jacob R. Oliveira Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester
John F. Keenan Norfolk and Plymouth
Rebecca L. Rausch Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex
Sal N. DiDomenico Middlesex and Suffolk
Bruce E. Tarr First Essex and Middlesex
Patrick M. O’Connor First Plymouth and Norfolk
Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex
Michael O. Moore Second Worcester
Susan L. Moran Plymouth and Barnstable
Pavel M. Payano First Essex
John C. Velis Hampden and Hampshire
Lydia Edwards Third Suffolk
John J. Cronin Worcester and Middlesex
Julian Cyr Cape and Islands

State Representatives:

Name District/Address
Brian M. Ashe 2nd Hampden
Rodney M. Elliott 16th Middlesex
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. 12th Hampden
Adam Scanlon 14th Bristol
Gerard J. Cassidy 9th Plymouth
Patricia A. Duffy 5th Hampden
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. 20th Middlesex
Brian W. Murray 10th Worcester
Jack Patrick Lewis 7th Middlesex
Josh S. Cutler 6th Plymouth
Kate Donaghue 19th Worcester
Sean Garballey 23rd Middlesex
Vanna Howard 17th Middlesex
Thomas P. Walsh 12th Essex
Steven Owens 29th Middlesex
Tram T. Nguyen 18th Essex
Thomas M. Stanley 9th Middlesex
Lindsay N. Sabadosa 1st Hampshire
John Barrett, III 1st Berkshire
Ruth B. Balser 12th Middlesex
Natalie M. Higgins 4th Worcester
Adrian C. Madaro 1st Suffolk
Carol A. Doherty 3rd Bristol
William C. Galvin 6th Norfolk
Joseph D. McKenna 18th Worcester
Paul McMurtry 11th Norfolk
Michelle M. DuBois 10th Plymouth
Denise C. Garlick 13th Norfolk
Samantha Montaño 15th Suffolk
James K. Hawkins 2nd Bristol
Hannah Kane 11th Worcester
Bruce J. Ayers 1st Norfolk
Adrianne Pusateri Ramos 14th Essex
Natalie M. Blais 1st Franklin
Richard M. Haggerty 30th Middlesex
Margaret R. Scarsdale 1st Middlesex
James C. Arena-DeRosa 8th Middlesex
Christopher Richard Flanagan 1st Barnstable
Kristin E. Kassner 2nd Essex
William F. MacGregor 10th Suffolk
Mike Connolly 26th Middlesex
F. Jay Barrows 1st Bristol
Kimberly N. Ferguson 1st Worcester
Carmine Lawrence Gentile 13th Middlesex
Jennifer Balinsky Armini 8th Essex
Simon Cataldo 14th Middlesex
Patricia A. Haddad 5th Bristol
Tommy Vitolo 15th Norfolk
Kay Khan 11th Middlesex
Michael P. Kushmerek 3rd Worcester
Marjorie C. Decker 25th Middlesex
Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr. 28th Middlesex
Andres X. Vargas 3rd Essex
Danillo A. Sena 37th Middlesex

Join the Animal Action Team to stay up to date on animal issues across the Commonwealth.

Advocacy Puppy