Not necessarily. According to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 272, Section 77, the owner or keeper of an animal must provide the animal with proper shelter and protection from the weather. A dog or other animal may remain outdoors provided there is compliance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140, Section 174E, in good health and weight (for its breed), has access to an appropriate shelter, and is not of an age or breed where temperatures could be potentially dangerous (very young or old animal).

Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140, Section 174E restricts how dogs may be kept chained/tethered and kept outside. It sets certain parameters and prevents a person from leaving a dog outside “when a weather advisory, warning or watch is issued by a local, state or federal authority or when outside environmental conditions including, but not limited to, extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, snow or hail pose an adverse risk to the health or safety of the dog based on the dog’s breed, age or physical condition, unless the tethering is not for more than 15 minutes.”

The MSPCA does, however, advise that even those domestic animals that are acclimated to the outdoors should be allowed access to the inside during frigid temperatures, whether or not a weather advisory exists.

No. The MSPCA Law Enforcement department accepts anonymous calls, and all calls are treated as confidential.

Whether as owner or custodian, any person who willfully abandons an animal is in violation of Massachusetts state cruelty laws.

The law can be more complicated than one might suspect or desire, and every determination depends on the facts and circumstances of a complaint. Anyone having a question of this nature is advised to call the MSPCA Law Enforcement department at (617)522-6008 or (800) 628-5808.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) licenses pet shops and various other animal businesses in Massachusetts. Complaints about animal health at pet shops should be made to MDAR. Concerns about other aspects of pet stores should be made to the Office of Consumer Affairs Office and Business Regulation, the Attorney General, and/or MDAR. MSPCA Law Enforcement officers are authorized to inspect pet shops that offer animals, birds, or reptiles for sale or exhibit animals and can also respond to animal cruelty allegations.