Ashland, Massachusetts

§ 87-3 Definitions.

Unless otherwise set out in this bylaw, any term defined in section 136A shall have the same meaning in this bylaw, and shall be expressly incorporated herein.

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KENNEL: A pack or collection of dogs on a single premise, including a commercial boarding or training kennel, commercial breeder kennel, domestic charitable corporation kennel, personal kennel or veterinary kennel.

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PERSONAL KENNEL: A pack or collection of more than four (4) dogs, three (3) months old or older, owned or kept under single ownership, for private personal use; provided, however, that breeding of personally owned dogs may take place for the purpose of improving, exhibiting or showing the breed, use in legal sporting activity or other personal reasons; provided, further, that selling, trading, bartering or the distribution of such breed dogs from a personal kennel shall be to other breeders or individuals by private sale only and not to wholesalers, brokers or pet shops; provided, further, that personal kennels shall not sell, trade, barter or distribute any dogs not bred from their personally owned dogs; and provided, further, that dogs temporarily housed at a personal kennel in conjunction with an animal shelter or rescue registered with the Department may be sold, traded, bartered or distributed if the transfer is not made for the purpose of profiting thereby.

§ 87-8 Licensing Requirements.

(A) Every dog (6) months old or older kept in the Town of Ashland shall be duly registered, numbered, described and licensed.

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(H) The license fee for spay or neutered dogs shall be $15.00 and shall be $20.00 for intact dogs. There shall be no license fee for persons over the age of seventy (70) years.

§ 87-9 Kennel Registration and Fees.

(A) Any person maintaining a Commercial Boarding or Training Kennel, Commercial Breeder Kennel, Domestic Charitable Corporation Kennel, Personal Kennel, or Veterinary Kennel, upon application shall be issued a kennel license. Prior to the issuance of a kennel license, the Animal Control Officer may inspect the proposed facilities to insure they comply with any rules and regulations as they may relate to Kennels.

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(C) The Animal Control Officer may at any time inspect any Kennel located in the Town of Ashland.

(D) Petitions or complaints against any such Kennel shall be filed with the Select Board. The Board, as well as the Town Manager, shall have investigatory powers over any such petitions or complaints. Said investigation shall be conducted by the Town Manager who, within seven days after the filing of such petition or complaint, shall give notice to all parties of interest of a public hearing to be held before the Select Board within fourteen (14) days after the date of such notice. After such public hearing the Board may make an order either revoking or suspending such kennel license or otherwise regulating such Kennel, or dismissing said petition. Within ten days after receipt of such order, the holder of such license may bring a petition in the district court as outlined in G.L. c. 140, § 137C. Any person maintaining a Kennel after the license has been revoked, or while such license is suspended shall be punished as set forth in the penalty provision of this bylaw.

(E) A kennel license shall be in lieu of any other license for a dog kept at a Kennel during any portion of the period for which the kennel license is valid. A kennel licensee shall cause each dog kept in its Kennel to wear, while it is at large, a collar or harness of leather or other suitable material, to which a tag shall be securely attached. Such tags shall be provided to the kennel licensee by the Licensing Authority and shall state “Town of Ashland,” the year of issue and kennel license number.

(F) Failure to comply with this Section 87-9 shall result in a fine of not less than $50.00 for the first offense and not less than $100.00 for each offense thereafter in any twelve (12) month period.

§ 87-21 Fees (license/kennel), Penalties and/or Fines.

(A) The Licensing Authority shall determine fees for dog and kennel licenses pursuant to G.L. c. 40, § 22F, provided:

i. the license fee for unneutered males/unspayed females shall be more than the license fee for neutered males/spayed females;