25.1--Dog license required-- any owner of a dog six (6) months or older in the town of Amesbury shall cause that dog to be licensed as required by Mass. general laws, chapter 140 commencing on april first (1 st) of each year.
25.2--License fee-- as of april 1, 1994 and thereafter, the fee for license under article 25 shall be as follows: neutered male dogs-$5.00----spayed female dogs-$5.00 un-neutered male dogs-$10.00---- un-spayed female dogs-$10.00 kennel license: not more than four (4) dogs-$25.00
not more than ten (10) dogs-$50.00 more than ten (10) dogs- $100.00 dogs who are currently licensed in another town with in the commonwealth of Mass. may obtain a transfer license and tag by turning in the other license and tag and paying a fee of $1.00 If a tag is lost a duplicate tag may be obtained in the town clerk's office for a fee of $1.00
25.3-Exemptions from license fee no fee shall be charged for a license for a dog specifically trained to lead or serve a blind/ deaf person provided that the Mass. division of blind/deaf certifies that such dog is so trained and actually in the service of a blind/deaf person.
Other exemptions: dog is specifically trained for, and in service as, a police department k-9 provided that the chief of police dept. or station commander certifies that such dog is so trained and actually in the service of a police dept.
25.4-Refunds: no license fee or part thereof shall be refunded because of subsequent death, loss, spaying, neutering or removal from the town of Amesbury, the commonwaelth of Mass. or other disposal of the dog.
25.5- Rabies vaccination: when applying for a license the applicant must show proof of rabies vaccination by a certified veterinarian dated within the last 1-3 years, if the dog is six months of age or over, as required by the mass. general laws, chapter 140, section 145b and any subsequent amendments thereto.
25.6 Nuisance-public safety: no person shall own or keep within the town any dog which by biting, barking, howling, or in any other manner disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or endangers the safety of any person or domesticated animal or farm animal.
25.7- Dogs running at large: no person owning or keeping a dog in the town shall allow such dog to roam at large upon the land of another, except if it be on the premises of another person with the knowledge and permission of such other person, nor allow such dog to roam at large on any portion of any public highway. such owner or keeper of a dog in the town which is not on the premises of the owner or upon the premises of another person with the knowledge and permission of such other person, shall restrain such dog by a chain or leash not exceeding six (6) feet in lenght. nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or prohibit the use of hunting dogs or the holding of feild trials for hunting dogs.
25.8-Enforcement of section 25.7: any dog found running at large will be placed in a suitable pound and will not be released to it's owner untill a pick up charge of ten (10) dollars for the first pick up; and twenty five (25) dollars for the second pick up: and thirty (30) dollars for each subsequent pick up; and a daily boarding fee of ten (10) dollars has been paid to the town. any owner or keeper of a dog who permits the same to run at large in violation of this bylaw shall be fined ten (10) dollars for the first offense within a year, and twenty five (25) dollars for each subsequent offense within the same year.
25.9- Complaint of nuisance:if any person shall make a complaint in writing to the animal control officer (dog officer) that any dog owner or harbored within her jurisdiction a nuisance by reason of vicious disposition or excessive barking or other disturbances, the animal control officer shall investigate such complaint, which may include an examination under oath of the complainant, and submit a written report to the municipal council of her findings and recommendations, together with the written complaint. Upon receipt of such report and examination of the complaint under oath, the council may make such an order concerning the restraint, muzzling or disposal of such dog as may be deemed necessary. The animal control officer after investigation, may issue an interim order that such dog be restrained or muzzled for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days to enable the council to issue their order following receipt of the report of the animal control officer. If the council fail to act during the period of the interim order, upon expiration of the period the interim order automactically is vacated.
25.10- Authority to restrain: The animal control officer may restrain or muzzle, or issue an interim order to restrain or muzzle, for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days, any dog for any of the following reasons: a) Having bitten any person; b) If found at large or unmuzzled, as the case may be, while an order for the restraint of such dog is in effect; c)If found in a school, schoolyard, or public recreational area; d) For having killed, maimed or otherwise damage any other domesticated animal; e) For chasing any vehicle upon any public way or way open to public travel in the town; f) For any violation of the section six (6) or seven (7) of this bylaw; upon restraining or muzzling, or issuing an interim order to restrain or muzzle, the animal control officer shall submit a written report to the council of her action and the reasons therefor. Upon receipt of such report, the council may make such an order concerning the restraint, muzzling or disposal of such dog as may be deemed necessary. if the council fail to act during the period of the interim order, upon expiration of the period the interim order automactically is vacated.
25.11 Appeal of restraint or muzzling:The owner or keeper of any dog that has been ordered to be restrained or muzzled or has restrained under this bylaw may file a request in writing with the animal control officer that the restraining order be vacated, or that the the dog be released. After investigation by the animal control officer such officer may vacate such order or release such dog, if the order or restraint was imposed by her. If the order was or restraint was imposed bt the council, the animal control officer shall submit a written report of her investigation, with her recommendations, to the council, who may vacate the order.
25.12 Animal control officer authorazation: in addition to any other statutory authority in Mass. general laws, chapter 140, the animal control officer may enter a complaint before the municipal council for the purpose of obtaining an order with the respect to the control or disposition of a dog found to be uncontrollable of whose owner or keeper is unresponsive to any other penalties contained in this bylaw.
25.13- Disposition of collected fines and fees: All fees and or fines collected in relation to the control of dogs within the town of Amesbury, unless controlled by law, shall be desposited with the treasurer of the town and desposited as part of the general fund.
25.14-Transfer of control or ownership within town: The owner of any dog that is sold or given away, or whose custody is otherwise transfered, to any other resident of the town, shall provide said resident with a copy of all medical records, licenses and the like for said dog. any resident of the town who buys or accepts custody of any dog previously registered in the town, shall notify the town clerk within thirty (30) days of said transfer.
25.15- Un-spayed female dogs: The owner of any un-spayed and unleashed female dog found to be roaming at large in season (heat) off the premises of the owner or keeper shall be subject to a penalty fee of fifty ($50.00) dollars, for each offense.
25.16 Animal wastes: a) each person who owns , keeps or controls a dog within the town shall remove and dispose of any feces left by such dog on any sidewalk, street, park or other public area, or any private proprty which is not owned or occupied by such person. b) no person who owns, keeps or controls a dog within the town shall permit such dog to be on any sidewalk, street, park or other public area unless such dog is accompanied by a person carring a device which is suitable for picking up and containing feces, unexposed to such person and to the general public. c) feces may only be disposed of at a place suitable and regularly reserved for the disposal of human feces or otherwise designated as approiate by the board of health. d) This section shall not apply to a dog accompanying any handicapped person who, by reason of a handicap, is physically unable to comply with the requirements of such sections.
25.17- Livestock and farm animal controls: No person shall permit any horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry or other livestock under his care to feed by the roadside, or to roam at large upon the land of another, except if it be on the premises of another person with the knowledge and permission of such other person, nor allow such animal to roam at large on any portion of any public highway.
25.18- Severability: If any section of this bylaw is invalid, unenforceable, changed by law or regulation or declared invalid by order, decree or judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction for any reason, that decision shall not affect any other section of this bylaw which shall remain in full force and effect and the bylaw shall be construed as if such invalid provisions had not been inserted or as if the new law or regulation had been incorporated herein. or take any other action relative thereto.
THE TOWN OF AMESBURY ALSO HAS A "VICIOUS DOG" BYLAW: FOR THE SAKE OF EATING UP HUGE AMOUNTS OF SPACE, AS THIS IS A VERY LONG BYLAW WITH MANY SECTIONS AND PROVISIONS, THERFORE THIS BYLAW CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE, THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO MAKE A COPY FOR YOU,
I WILL GIVE YOU A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE TOWN CONSIDERS A "VICIOUS" DOG.
"Vicious" dog means: 1)Any dog that when unprovoked inflicts bites or attacks a human being or other animals, either on public or private property, or in a vicious or terrorizing manner approaches any person in apparent attitude of attack upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds or places; or
2) Any dog with a know propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury or to otherwaise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals; or
3)Any dog which attacks a human being or domestic animal without provocation; or
4) Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting, or any dog trained for dog fighting; or
5)Any dog not licensed according to town law.
"vicious dog" shall include the breed of dog known as the american staffordshire pit bull, pit bull terrier, bull terrier or the american pit bull.
THIS BYLAW IS NINE (9) PAGES LONG; SO PLEASE - you can pick a copy up at the Town Clerk's Office- 62 Friend St. Amesbury, Ma
Any questions contact the Amesbury Animal Control Officer/Animal Inspector
Web Design: Bonnie Buckley CopyRight 1998-2002
Former Amesbury Animal Control Officer ~from 10-94~10-98