ARTICLE XIX DOG CONTROL
Section 1 Licenses and Tags
Any owner or keeper of a dog three (3) months of age or older shall cause it to be annually registered, numbered, described and licensed with the Town Clerk, in accordance with the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the licensing period beginning April 1st and ending the following March 31st.
As a prerequisite to such licensing, the owner must present evidence to the Town Clerk that the dog, if six (6) months of age or older shall have been vaccinated against rabies within the preceding twelve (12) months by a licensed veterinarian using a vaccine approved by the Department of Public Health. The fee for such license shall be in the amount required by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The owner or keeper of a licensed dog shall cause it to wear around its neck or body a collar or harness to which shall be securely attached the license tag issued by the Town Clerk for the current licensing period and in addition, the tag evidencing that the dog has been properly vaccinated against rabies.
Section 2 Restraint and Muzzling of Dog by Order of Animal Control Officer Upon Written Complaint
If any person shall make complaint in writing to the Animal Control Officer of the Town that any dog owned or harbored within their jurisdiction is a nuisance by reason of vicious disposition or excessive barking or other disturbance, the Animal Control Officer shall investigate such complaint, which may include an examination under oath of the complainant, and may order such dog to be restrained or muzzled.
Section 3 Restraining of Dogs
(a) Whoever owns or keeps a dog within the Town shall confine said dog to the owner’s or
keeper’s premises at all times and shall keep said dog on a leash while on a public way.
This section shall not apply to dogs being used for hunting or training purposes.
(b) Whoever violates Section 3(a) of this article shall be punished by a fine in accordance
with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 4 Fines
Any owner or keeper of a dog who shall fail to comply with Section 1 hereof by July 1 or with any order of the Animal Control Officer issued pursuant to Section 2 or 3 of this Article shall be liable to a fine in accordance with the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 5 Appeal
The owner or keeper of any dog that has been ordered to be restrained or muzzled under Section 2 or 3 of this Article may, within seven (7) days after such an order or restraint, file a request in writing with the Animal Control Officer that the restraining order be vacated or that the dog be released, and after investigation by the Animal Control Officer, said officer may vacate such order to release such dog, with the approval of the majority of the Board of Selectmen, after such hearing or notice as the Board of
Selectmen may deem advisable.
If such order is not vacated or the dog is not released, as the case may be, the owner or keeper of such dog, may within twenty (20) days of such order or restraint bring a petition in the Central District Court of Worcester County requesting that the order of restraint be reviewed by the Court and after such notice to the Animal Control Officer as the court may deem necessary, it shall review such action, hear witnesses and reaffirm or reverse the order of the Dog Officer. The decision of the court shall be final and conclusive on both parties.
Section 6 Removal of Dog Litter
a. Removal of Dog Litter: If any dog shall defecate upon any public property or area, then the owner, keeper or person then walking or otherwise in charge of said dog shall immediately remove or cause to be removed from said property or area, all feces so deposited by said dog. Such owner, keeper or person when walking or otherwise in charge of a dog on public property or a private area must have in his or her immediate possession an appropriate device for scooping excrement and an appropriate depository for the transmission of excrement to:
(1) A receptacle upon property owned by the owner, keeper or person or,
(2) A trash receptacle located on public property, if any, designated as a receptacle for dog or pet litter. This provision shall not apply to a person who is visually or physically disabled. Unless said feces are removed, the owner, keeper and the person then walking or otherwise in charge of said dog (or if said owner, keeper or person shall be a minor, then the parent or guardian) shall be deemed to have committed a punishable offense.
b. Special Provision: This bylaw will be enforced by the Animal Control Officer and the Police Department. The commission of any violation of this bylaw shall be punishable by a fine of $25.00 for the first offense, a fine of $50.00 for a second offense and a fine of $100.00 for all other offenses.
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