New Bedford, MA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Section 4-29 defines a 'dangerous' or 'vicious' dog by conduct, not breed: a dog that has bitten, attacked, or attempted to attack a person, shows a known propensity to attack or injure, approaches a person in a vicious or terrorizing manner in public, or was owned or trained for dog fighting. The determination rests in the discretion of the animal control officer, who must notify the owner. Once declared dangerous, the owner must comply with spay/neuter (absent a veterinary medical exemption), microchipping, certified behavioral training, and current rabies vaccination.

Outdoor confinement requires a proper enclosure at least 12 feet by 12 feet and 6 feet high, chain-link, padlocked, with a solid floor and secure top; when removed from the enclosure the dog must be muzzled and leashed on a leash no longer than four feet, under an adult 18 or older, and is barred within 500 feet of any city park or playground. A 'Beware of Dog' sign is mandatory on the property and the kennel, and the owner must carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance.

1 separately covers 'potentially dangerous dogs,' a lower tier triggered by two off-leash incidents in 12 months or highly aggressive unprovoked behavior, requiring similar spay/neuter, microchip and training steps plus owner-provided security improvements within 60 days, and bars anyone under 18 from being responsible for such a dog.