An Act relative to updating animal health inspections

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jim Arciero and 20 co-sponsors

The bill creates a new regulatory regime for kennels to ensure humane housing, care, and records, with inspections, penalties, and appeal rights.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means

Overview

H 4365 seeks to modernize Massachusetts animal welfare regulation by expanding kennel definitions and establishing new health and welfare standards for both commercial and personal breeder kennels. The bill would authorize routine inspections, specify housing, care, and recordkeeping requirements, and create a regulatory framework with enforceable penalties and appeal rights. It is currently reported favorably by the committee and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee (as of August 4, 2025).

What the bill would do

Add and redefine key terms

Adds “personal breeder kennel” to the definition of Kennel in General Laws Chapter 140, Section 136A.

Defines “personal breeder kennel” as a single premise with 3 or more intact female dogs kept for breeding and selling offspring to breeders or end consumers.

Clarifies exclusions: personal kennels used solely for private personal use and not offered for sale, and commercial breeder kennels that sell to wholesalers, brokers, or pet shops for consideration.

A dog is considered kept for breeding if it has given birth within the 12 months prior to the license application date.

New regulatory regime for kennels (Section 174I)

The Department of Agricultural Resources must promulgate rules for both commercial and personal breeder kennels to ensure proper housing, space, solid flooring, appropriate temperature, no cage stacking, nutrition, hydration, enrichment, grooming, staffing, handling, health and veterinary care, exercise, socialization, and other standards of care.

Regulations will consider the differences between commercial and personal breeder kennels, including scale and home-based operations.

Inspection and enforcement

Inspections may be conducted by the commissioner or an authorized inspector from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with reasonable notice to the operator; advance notice may be waived if necessary for a proper inspection.

If a kennel at a private residence is regulated, only areas used for kennel purposes or related records are subject to inspection.

Enforcements include suspension or revocation of the kennel license, or written citations with timelines for compliance. If noncompliance continues, licenses may be revoked.

Appeals

Enforcement actions by local animal control or inspectors may be appealed within 21 days to the district court.

Enforcement actions by the commissioner may be appealed within 21 days to the Division of Administrative Law Appeals (Chapter 30A).

Implementation timeline

The Department must promulgate the required regulations within 18 months of the act’s effective date.

The Department must provide updated regulation lists and any relevant training materials to local licensing authorities and animal control officers for enforcement.

Who would be affected

Kennel operators, including commercial breeders and individuals operating personal breeder kennels.

Private residents with kennels who breed animals.

Local licensing authorities, animal control officers, and other enforcement personnel.

Breeders and potential buyers by establishing standardized welfare requirements.

Key details to note

The bill references the existing framework in Chapter 140, Section 136A and introduces a new Section 174I.

It emphasizes humane housing, health care, and recordkeeping, with a structured enforcement and appeal process.

No specific fiscal amounts are stated; implementation costs would depend on regulatory development and enforcement needs.

Bill