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.

2024 – Sale of Puppies and Kittens and Roadside Sales

S. 2908: An Act relative to the humane protection of animals

MSPCA Position: Support
Sponsor: Senator John Velis; Representatives Ted Philips and Jessica Giannino
Status: Passed the Senate on July 29, 2024. Passed the House on December 30, 2024. Signed into law January 8, 2025 as Chapter 346 of the Acts of 2024.


Governor Maura Healey has signed this bill into law! Thank you to sponsors Senator John Velis, State Representative Ted Philips, and State Representative Jessica Giannino for your advocacy on this issue! We also want to thank Senate President Karen E. Spilka, Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate Ways and Means Chair Senator Michael Rodrigues, and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz for your leadership and supporting this bill through your committees and chambers.


Current provisions:

Prohibiting the sale of puppies and kittens under 8 weeks old
Separating puppies and kittens from their mother and littermates early can result in health and behavioral problems, including disease susceptibility and aggression. For puppies, these weeks include their primary socialization developmental stage—when they learn important species-specific behaviors such as bite inhibition, submissive postures, and the development of proper social relations with their littermates. Behavior problems caused by early separation can make dogs in particular more difficult to adopt and, in worst-case scenarios, can contribute to the likelihood of dog bites and can be a public safety threat. Pet shops and shelters already are prohibited from selling or adopting animals at this young age; this section would close a gap by prohibiting anyone from doing this.

Prohibiting the roadside sale of animals
This section would prohibit the sale, exchange, or commercial display of any dog or cat on any roadside, park, recreation area, flea market or outdoor market, or parking lot. Selling animals in such places by individuals often provides no recourse for consumers who may purchase a sick animal. The prohibition would not apply to the transfer of a dog or cat by, or to, a shelter, animal control, or animal rescue; or to the display of a dog or cat as part of a state or county fair exhibition, a 4-H program, or similar exhibition or educational program.

Co-Sponsors

State Senators:

Name District/Address
John C. Velis Hampden and Hampshire
Patrick M. O’Connor First Plymouth and Norfolk
Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex
Paul W. Mark Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire
Michael O. Moore Second Worcester
Pavel M. Payano First Essex

State Representatives:

Name District/Address
Edward R. Philips 8th Norfolk
Jessica Ann Giannino 16th Suffolk
Jack Patrick Lewis 7th Middlesex
Thomas P. Walsh 12th Essex
James J. O’Day 14th Worcester
James C. Arena-DeRosa 8th Middlesex
Ryan M. Hamilton 15th Essex
Lindsay N. Sabadosa 1st Hampshire
Samantha Montaño 15th Suffolk
Steven George Xiarhos 5th Barnstable
Natalie M. Higgins 4th Worcester
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. 12th Hampden
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf 17th Worcester
Carol A. Doherty 3rd Bristol
William C. Galvin 6th Norfolk
Michelle M. DuBois  10th Plymouth
Denise C. Garlick 13th Norfolk
John Barrett, III 1st Berkshire
Vanna Howard 17th Middlesex
Steven S. Howitt 4th Bristol
James K. Hawkins 2nd Bristol
Rodney M. Elliott 16th Middlesex
Paul McMurtry 11th Norfolk
Marcus S. Vaughn 9th Norfolk
Patricia A. Duffy 5th Hampden
James Arciero 2nd Middlesex
Bruce J. Ayers 1st Norfolk
Jennifer Balinsky Armini 8th Essex
Adrian C. Madaro 1st Suffolk
Kevin G. Honan 17th Suffolk
David Allen Robertson 19th Middlesex
Patrick Joseph Kearney 4th Plymouth
Brian W. Murray 10th Worcester
Simon Cataldo 14th Middlesex
Brian M. Ashe 2nd Hampden
Steven Owens 29th Middlesex
Josh S. Cutler 6th Plymouth
David T. Vieira 3rd Barnstable
Kate Donaghue 19th Worcester
Mathew J. Muratore 1st Plymouth
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. 20th Middlesex
Natalie M. Blais 1st Franklin
Margaret R. Scarsdale 1st Middlesex
Daniel J. Ryan 2nd Suffolk
Tommy Vitolo 15th Norfolk
William F. MacGregor 10th Suffolk
Tricia Farley-Bouvier 2nd Berkshire
Michael P. Kushmerek 3rd Worcester
Carmine Lawrence Gentile 13th Middlesex
Sally P. Kerans 13th Essex