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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.
Thank you to Governor Maura Healey, sponsors Senator John Velis, State Representative Ted Philips, and State Representative Jessica Giannino! 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.
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 closes a gap by prohibiting anyone from doing this.
Prohibiting the roadside sale of animals This section prohibits 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 does 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.
