Expert veterinary care for every stage of your pet’s life.
Emergency: 617-522-7282
Poison Control: 888-426-4435
Bringing pets and people together—for life.
Advocate for animals, volunteer, or get help for your pet with our compassionate community services.
H. 4919 (formerly H. 4564) passed the House on July 25, 2024. Passed the Senate on July 31 with an amendment. Signed by the Governor on September 20, 2024. Read the law.
Oct. 10, 2024 – It was a great day at the State House with a signing of Ollie’s Law, which will put in place commonsense standards and regulations for dog daycares and boarding facilities. Many thanks to Governor Maura Healey and the legislature, particularly sponsors Representative Ashe and Senator Montigny, as well as committee chairs Representative Fiola and Senator Oliveira, and House and Senate leadership, for advancing this legislation.
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 was a significant gap that often resulted in tragic consequences.
This law requires the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to establish reasonable rules and regulations for boarding kennels and daycare facilities. These regulations will be promulgated in 2026. Animal control officers, consumers, veterinarians, and others have provided detailed examples as to why promulgating regulations, beyond a kennel license, is necessary. To learn more about Ollie’s Law, visit the state’s website.
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.
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.
Ollie, Pampered Pets Doggy Daycare and Spa, East Longmeadow, MA[i]
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.
Weasley, a 10-year-old yorkie/chihuahua who died September 7th, 2022
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.
Zuri, Paws With Inn, Ipswich, MA[ii]
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.
Maximus, Annie’s Clean Critters, Whitman, MA[iii]
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.
Ben, Briarwood Kennel, Hanover, MA[iv]
In 2015, Cassie Olson left her 7-year-old rescue mix Penny 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.
Penny, Monumentails, Charlestown, MA[v]
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.
Dexter, Ashland Kennel, Ashland, MA[vi]
