Source: http://www.townofcharlton.net/animalcontrol.htm
Timestamp: 2015-05-28 21:47:40
Document Index: 790832769

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 137', '§ 77', '§ 137', '§ 145', '§ 174', '§ 801', '§ 22']

Town of Charlton | Animal Control
c/o Charlton Police Dept.
F: 508-248-1039
The Municipal Animal Shelter is located at 15 Old Town Road, Charlton, MA.
Charlton ACOs are certified through the Animal Control Officers' Association of Massachusetts (ACOAM) Certification Course. Staff Ann Sellew
Animal Control Officer(ACO)
Assistant ACO
There are "ruff-ly" 2800 dogs in Charlton. As of May 26th, about 1990 are licensed for 2015. We all know dogs can count and tell time so they must like numbers! Don't disappoint your furry mathematical genius - bring home a nice shiny new 2015 license number for each of your dogs!
Licenses may be obtained at the Town Clerk's Office during their regular business hours. License before March 1 to avoid a $10 late fee per dog.
Any dog owner failing to obtain a dog license is subject to a $50 fine per dog per day by Animal Control.
Charlton Animal Control Officers (ACOs) are appointed annually by the Board of Selectmen. ACOs are responsible for enforcement of State and local laws and regulations related to animal control. In addition, ACOs will oversee the care and control of domestic animals and, in some instances, wildlife. ACOs respond to dog, cat, and wildlife calls and can provide numerous valuable resources appropriate for each situation.
Dogs: Catch or pick up stray and/or injured dogs. Return to owner (if known) or impound. Issue warning letters, citations, and/or fines, when appropriate.
Cats: Work with residents who find stray cats by maintaining a lost and found list. Reunite with owner if possible. Assist owners with lost cats. Refer to other agency when appropriate. Wildlife: Respond when needed to reports of injured wildlife. Transport sick or injured wildlife to an appropriate wildlife facility when necessary.
All Domestic Animals and Wildlife: Investigate complaints from the public and respond to each complaint according to the merit of the situation. Respond to reports of domestic or wild animals in distress/trapped in unusual places. Please note that a person or organization duly licensed in removing nuisance animals must be notified in situations that necessitate trapping. Work closely with the Animal Inspector on any suspected rabies exposure or other suspected infectious diseases. Wildlife Notice: Charlton Animal Control has been receiving many calls regarding raccoons, skunks, foxes and other wildlife. ACOs assist only with sick or injured wildlife, when possible. It is ILLEGAL to relocate wildlife. If you require assistance with nuisance wildlife, please click here to contact a MA licensed Problem Animal Control Agent. Visit MA Department of Fisheries and Wildlife for specific wildlife information. Thank you.
Charlton Lost and Found Pets List
Charlton Lost and Found Pets
Email your lost pet with photo to Animal Control or call 508-248-2266 with info for posting. If you recognize a found pet, please call us so that we can reunited it with its owner.
Lost Dog: Yorkie mix named Charlie, neutered male, missing from Little Muggett Road since Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Area of Center Depot Road / City Depot Road / Stafford Street. Please call Charlton Animal Control at 508-248-2266 with any info or sightings.
Found Cat: Short haired Tiger, gray with black stripes, found on New Spencer Road / City Depot Road near Ronnie's Seafood. Please call Charlton Animal Control at 508-248-2266 to ID and/or claim.
Dog licenses and Kennel Licenses must be obtained annually at the Town Clerks Office or by mail using the Dog License Mail In Form or Kennel License Application. The dog license period is January 1 to December 31. The owner or keeper of a dog six (6) months old or over is required to obtain a dog license from the Town Clerk and the license must be attached to a collar or harness of said dog per MGL, Ch. 140, § 137.
Dog owners who fail to license will be subject to a $50 failure to license citation per dog given by the Animal Control Officer. Failure to pay this citation within twenty-one (21) days from the date issued will result in a summons to District Court.
Review all Charlton Animal Control Bylaws (as amended at May 20, 2013 Annual Town Meeting).
Charlton Animal Control Brochure
Charlton Animal Control does not currently have an adoption program. Instead, we work with local shelters that accept our unclaimed dogs and cats into their adoption programs. The shelters do age appropriate vet work prior to putting the animals up for adoption. Charlton Animal Control will occassionally post animals available for adoption on our petfinder site as a courtesy and thank you to the assisting shelter. Contact information for the shelter that has the animal is provided so please read carefully. Visit your local shelters and thanks for adopting a homeless pet!
Donations to Charlton Animal Control
Animal Care and Rescue Fund
The Animal Care and Rescue Fund helps defray medical expenses incurred for sick or injured domestic animals in the care of Charlton Animal Control. Contributions to this fund will ensure that dogs, cats, and other domestic animals receive the quality veterinary care that they need, such as medications, tests, vaccinations, and procedures. This fund will also be used to supplement the annual animal control budget.
To donate, make checks payable to: Town of Charlton with "Animal Care and Rescue Fund" in the memo line and mail to:
Canned cat food (Friskies Turkey and Giblets is a favorite)
SnuggleSafe® Heatpads with regular covers - we could use two of them to keep kittens warm
Litter (preferably non-clumping and cedar free)
Donations may be left in the Board of Selectmen's Office, 37 Main Street, Charlton, MA during regular office hours. Questions? Call Charlton Animal Control at 508-248-2266. Thanks to all who have donated!!
Feral Cats/Kittens Resources
Semi-feral (semi-wild) or feral (wild) cats/kittens are domestic felines who are not friendly and living in the wild. They do not include friendly stray cats/kittens. They do include feral colonies, ie, a group of wild cats that live near dumpsters or other food sources, and barn cats who are accustomed to living outdoors on farms and catching mice and other small rodents. You should never attempt to pick up a cat/kitten that you think might not be friendly. Cat bites and scratches expose you to rabies and other diseases. Charlton Animal Control can help you determine if a cat is friendly or semi-feral/feral and which option would be best for the situation. If you are aware of feral cat colonies in Charlton or if you are a barn owner with a feral cat or barn cat overpopulation problem there are two solutions:
1. Trap Spay/Neuter and Release (TNR). Call Charlton Animal Control for info.
2. Trap and Euthanize. For info: Charlton Animal Control (on case by case basis)
Charlton Animal Control has several traps available for residents use.
The best way to ensure that your lost pet will find its way home is to always have a collar with identification tags affixed. The Charlton Dog Restraint and Regulation By-Law, Section 2. Licenses and tags requires that all dogs wear collars with license attached. Cats who are indoor/outdoor may wear a break-away collar with an ID tag. Another option for both dogs and cats is micro chipping. Microchips are small computer chips (about the size of a grain of rice) that are injected under the skin, typically between the shoulder blades. Each microchip has a unique ID number associated with it and the number corresponds to owner information on file with the microchip company. If your dog or cat is picked up as a stray, Charlton Animal Control, most local shelters, and many veterinarian offices have scanners that can read the chip and then contact the pet's owner. Talk to your vet or a local shelter about micro chipping. If your pet is missing or if you find a stray pet, follow these steps: Notify Charlton Animal Control immediately by calling 508-248-2266 Notify surrounding ACOs and local shelters Place a lost or found ad in the local newspaper	Create a flyer, with a photo if possible, and post it around town	Go door to door with the flyer to see if the animal belongs to anyone For lost dogs: Lost Dog Search
For lost cats: Cats in the Bag If you think your pet has been stolen: www.doggiemanners.com	Low Cost Spay/Neuter, Vaccination, and Microchipping Programs
Massachusetts Animal Fund: Do you have a cat or dog that needs to be spayed/neutered? Check out the Massachusetts Animal Fund to see if you qualify for a voucher to have your pet fixed FREE. If you do, contact Charlton Animal Control at 508-248-2266 (or the Animal Control Officer in your town) and they can submit a voucher request on your behalf. For more info, visit Mass Animal Fund.
Thank you for helping us stop pet overpopulation!
The following low cost spay/neuter and/or vaccination programs are available for cats and dogs. Some include heartworm/lyme testing for dogs and FELV/FIV testing for cats as well as microchipping. Please contact the appropriate organization for more information, pricing, and participating veterinarians:
2. Worcester Animal Rescue League, 508-853-0030 (Worcester, MA) 3. Cat Mobiles MRFRS Low Cost Programs 4. PETCO, 508-721-2241 (Auburn, MA) 5. SpayUSA, 800-248-SPAY (National)
8. Alliance for Animals, 617-268-7800, (Boston, MA) 9. Concerned Citizens for Animals, (413) 565-5383 (Springfield, MA)
We believe that pets are for life. But we also understand that there are times when you may need to rehome your cat or dog (or other small animal). Here are some tips if you need to find your pet a new home: If your pet was adopted from a shelter, call that shelter and inquire about their return policy. Contact local animal shelters and see if they can accept your pet into their adoption program. Most shelters have waiting lists so don't wait until the last minute to call. Call your vet and see if they can help you place the pet. Wildlife Resources
Charlton Wildlife Committee - The Charlton Wildlife Committee is available to assist residents with wildlife issues through education on applicable laws, alternatives for resolution of problems, and sources of financial assistance. Mass Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
MassWildlife - Moving Wildlife is Illegal - Find out why moving wildlife is illegal, ineffective and harmful.
MassWildlife - Wildlife Rehabilitation - Wildlife rehabbers care for sick, injured or orphaned wildlife until they are healthy enough to be returned to the wild. For instructions on what to do if you find a sick/injured/abandoned wild animal, visit Wildlife Rehabilitators' Association of Massachusetts. The closest rehabilitator is Tufts University Wildlife Clinic, Grafton, MA, 508-839-7918.
MassWildlife - Problem Animal Control - According to the MassWildlife website, "PAC permits authorize the handling of skunk, muskrat, raccoon, weasel, red fox, gray fox, porcupine, Norway rat, mice, voles, red, gray and flying squirrel, opossum, chipmunk, rabbit, woodchuck, snapping turtle, moles, pigeon, house sparrow, starling and certain species of bats. Individuals with damage caused by beaver flooding must contact their local Board of Health for a determination and necessary permitting. Damage caused by migratory birds and other birds such as woodpeckers, which are protected under both state and federal law, require a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (413.253.2403)." MassWildlife - Turtle Information and Conservation Tips
MSPCA's Intruder Excluder - An interactive guide for detecting and humanely resolving confluicts with unwanted household and garden visitors in three simple steps. Turtle Rescue League - for all your turtle related questions!
Charlton has a 24 hour leash law.
Charlton Lost/Found Pets List
2015 Dog License are now available in the Town Clerk's office or by mail in request. A late fee of $10.00 will be added to license fees if you fail to license by March 1. Any dog owner failing to obtain a dog license is subject to a $50 fine by Animal Control.
Cat/Dog FREE Spay/Neuter Voucher Program for qualified MA residents: Mass Animal Fund
Pit Fix: Second Chance Animal Shelter offers low cost spay/neuter for Pits. Call 508-637-1333 for an appointment.
Pit Fix: Worcester Animal Rescue League has a grant to spay/neuter Pits owned by folks who can't afford the cost of surgery. See if you meet the criteria to take advantage of this program!
Got Cats? Second Chance Animal Shelter has low cost spay/neuter programs!
Learn about Black Bears Wish List Items: Friskies canned cat food, Purina Cat Chow, Purina or Iams Kitten Chow, disposable vinyl or latex gloves, paper towels.
If you are in need of a dog house or dog/cat carrier, please call us at 508-248-2266.
Charlton Animal Control Bylaws
When is the dog licensing period and what do I need to do to license my dog?
Friends of Charlton Animal Shelter, Inc.
MA Animal Laws
ACO Law - Chapter 193: An Act Further Regulating Animal Control
Cruelty to Animals - MGL Ch. 272 § 77
Dog/Kennel License - M.G.L., Ch. 140, § 137
Rabies Vaccinations - M.G.L., Ch. 140, § 145B
Chaining and Tethering Dogs - Chapter 140 § 174E
Devocalization Ban - Chapter 272 § 801-2
Transporting Animals in Back of Motor Vehicle - Chapter 90 § 22H
MSPCA - Animal Cruelty Laws
MSPCA - FAQ on MA Animal Laws
MassWildlife - Moving Wildlife is Illegal
MassWildlife - Problem Animal Control
MassWildlife - Turtle Information and Conservation Tips
MassWildlife - Wildlife Rehabilitation
MSPCA's Intruder Excluder
Tufts University Wildlife Clinic
Central MA Disaster Animal Response Team
Petfinder - Charlton Animal Control
SMART - State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team SnuggleSafe® Heatpads with regular covers