Haverhill, MA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Haverhill does not require every dog to be altered. The requirement is conditional: once the Chief of Police, or a designee, determines under City Code § 137-17 that a dog is dangerous or vicious, § 137-17C(1) authorizes the Chief to order the owner to submit written verification confirming spay or neutering of the animal if it is not already altered. The same paragraph builds in an exemption: the order does not apply if a veterinarian certifies in writing that the dog is medically unfit for the procedure.

The order can be combined with three other conditions the Chief may impose on the same dog: microchip identification, behavior training from an approved trainer at the owner's expense, and an up-to-date rabies vaccination under MGL c. 140, § 145B. A parallel, discretionary version applies to "potentially dangerous" dogs under § 137-18B(1), where the Chief "may" order spay or neutering with the same veterinary exemption. Owners of a declared dangerous dog also pay a $50 annual licensing surcharge under § 137-17B(4), enforced by the Animal Control Officer, on top of the base license fee.

There is no separate spay/neuter fee or subsidy program named in the chapter; the order is a correction requirement tied to the dangerous-dog finding, not a standalone city service.