S. 1190/H. 1938: An Act enhancing the issuance of citations for cruel conditions for animals
MSPCA Position: Support
Sponsors: Senator Mark Montigny and Representative Angelo Puppolo, Jr.
Status: H. 1938 referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Hearing held 07/29/2025; S. 1190 referred to the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. Hearing held 06/10/2025.
This legislation would amend M.G.L. Chapter 140 Section 174E to protect all domestic animals, not just dogs, from “cruel conditions,” a phrase that has a specific meaning under the law.
This legislation would extend protections to all domestic animals to prevent them from suffering under cruel conditions, such as filthy and dirty confinement conditions including, but not limited to, exposure to excessive animal waste, garbage, dirty water, noxious odors, dangerous objects that could injure or kill an animal upon contact or other circumstances that could cause harm to an animal’s health.
Allowing animal control and law enforcement officers to address cruel or dangerous conditions for animals with a civil citation would permit local law enforcement to more readily address these situations with owners, provide a financial incentive for correction of such conditions, and help avoid the needless suffering and death of animals.
This citation ability would be helpful in addressing issues with other domestic animal species, such as cat hoarding cases. Recently, a Massachusetts resident surrendered 91 cats, many having health issues commonly seen in hoarding scenarios, such as upper respiratory infections and blindness. Animal hoarding affects thousands of animals annually and may be linked to mental illness.
This legislation could help animal control and law enforcement officers to provide incentives, encouragement, and information to establish practices in the best interest of the animals. A financial citation can be effective in changing behaviors, and some situations could be resolved without having to charge felony animal cruelty, which might take months to reach a disposition.
