Animal Ordinances in Bristol County, MA (2026)

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 157 – Nuisance and dangerous dogs

restrained; provided, however, that no order shall provide that a dog deemed dangerous be chained, tethered or otherwise tied to an inanimate object including, but not limited to, a tree, post or building; (ii) that the dog be confined to the premises of the keeper of the dog; provided, however, that ''confined'' shall mean securely confined indoors or confined outdoors in a securely enclosed a...

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 157A – Failure to comply; dangerous dog penalties

An owner or keeper of a dog who fails to comply with an order of a hearing authority or district court shall be punished, for a first offense, by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 60 days in a jail or house of correction, or both, and for a second or subsequent offense by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days in a jail or house of ...