Prohibits the sale of certain hazardous inhalants to persons under the age of twenty-one

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Roxanne Persaud

Creates a civil claim for the death of a cat or dog due to another’s conduct, with damages up to $30,000 non-economic cap and a 3-year filing deadline.

REFERRED TO HEALTH

Overview / Purpose

S 1263, titled “An Act promoting pet safety” and referred to as Crawford’s Law, would create a new civil cause of action in Massachusetts law for the unnecessary or unjustified death of a cat or dog. The stated intent is to provide monetary recovery to owners when another person’s willful, wanton, reckless, or negligent conduct causes the death of a pet.

Key provisions

Inserts a new section 77D into Chapter 272 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

Creates liability for any person whose willful, wanton, reckless, or negligent act causes the unnecessary or unjustified death of a cat or dog.

Permits the animal’s owner to recover damages including:

Fair monetary value of the deceased animal;
Loss of comfort, protection, companionship, and other non-economic harms;
Special damages and services the animal provided to its owner;
Reasonable afterlife (e.g., burial/cremation) expenses;
Court costs and attorney’s fees; and
Other reasonable damages resulting from the act.

Caps non‑economic damages (e.g., companionship, emotional loss) at $30,000.

Establishes a statute of limitations: actions must be commenced within three years from the date of death or from the date the aggrieved knew, or through reasonable diligence should have known, of the factual basis for the claim.

Who would be affected

Pet owners (owners of cats and dogs) — gain a specific civil remedy and ability to recover certain economic and non‑economic losses when their animal is killed by another’s misconduct.

Individuals whose conduct causes the death of a cat or dog — would face increased civil exposure, including for negligent acts (not only intentional cruelty).

Insurers, veterinarians, animal rescue/shelter operations, and businesses interacting with animals — could be affected indirectly through liability and insurance implications.

Courts and legal practitioners — will adjudicate new claims and interpret application of the cap and types of recoverable damages.

Procedural and timeline notes (as provided)

Filed on the Senate docket 1/9/2025; presented by Sen. Bruce E. Tarr.

Listed as introduced (April 2, 2025) and referred to committee(s). Current status shown as REFERRED TO HEALTH.

Hearing(s) scheduled for July 29, 2025 (multiple updates to time/format recorded).

Next legislative steps would typically include committee hearings, possible amendments, committee vote, Senate/House floor consideration, and, if passed, the governor’s signature.

Legal placement and limits

Amends Chapter 272 by inserting new section 77D (immediately following section 77C).

Scope limited to death of cats and dogs; does not address injury short of death or other species (unless otherwise interpreted in future legal proceedings).

This bill creates a narrowly framed civil remedy to compensate pet owners for the death of companion animals and establishes a $30,000 cap on non-economic damages, with a three‑year statute of limitations for bringing claims.

Bill