Boston Animal Control and the MSPCA investigate hoarding cases under MGL Ch. 272 §77, which criminalizes cruelty when owners keep more animals than they can house, feed, or maintain in sanitary conditions.
Animal hoarding in Boston is prosecuted primarily under Massachusetts cruelty law (MGL Ch. 272 §77) rather than a standalone city hoarding statute. Boston Animal Care and Control, working alongside ISD and BPHC inspectors, responds when neighbors report odors, repeated complaints, or visible neglect. Officers may seize animals when conditions threaten welfare and the case is referred to the Suffolk County District Attorney. BPHC may simultaneously declare the unit unfit for habitation under Boston Sanitary Code Ch. II. Convictions can include forfeiture of animals, mandatory mental-health evaluation, and a multi-year ban on owning pets.
Felony cruelty under MGL Ch. 272 §77 carries up to 7 years prison or a fine up to $5,000, plus court-ordered animal forfeiture and possession bans.
Boston, MA
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Boston, MA
Under Boston Code Ch. 16-1.9F, any household keeping four or more dogs over six months old must obtain a multiple-dog permit from Boston Animal Care and Cont...
See how Boston's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
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