reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 140 § 138 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 138 - Change of Owner or Keeper of Licensed Dog; Dog Brought Into Commonwealth

Section 138. A person who during any license period becomes the owner or keeper of a dog which is duly licensed in the town or city where it is to be kept shall forthwith give notice in writing to the clerk of such town or city, or if kept in Boston to the police commissioner, that he has become such owner or keeper and said clerk or police commissioner, as the case may be, shall change the record of such license to show the name and address of the new owner or keeper. Any person bringing or causing to be brought from another state or country any dog licensed under the laws thereof which is 6 months old or over or will be 6 months old before the expiration of thirty days therefrom shall, on or before the expiration of thirty days following the arrival of such dog within the commonwealth, cause such dog to be registered, numbered, described and licensed for the remainder of the then current license period.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 139 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 139 - Fees; Certificate or Statement That Dog Has Been Spayed; Service Dogs Defined by Americans With Disabilities Act; Dogs Owned by Persons Aged 70 or Over; Refunds

Section 139. (a) The fee for a license shall, except as otherwise provided, be determined by a city or town; provided, however, that no fee shall be increased without a majority vote of the city or town council or the voters present at a town meeting.  (b) The license fee for a spayed or neutered dog shall be less than the license fee for an intact dog. Upon application for a license, a city or town clerk shall require a certificate from the veterinarian who spayed or neutered the dog as proof that the dog is spayed or neutered; provided, however, that if the city or town clerk is satisfied that the certificate of the veterinarian who spayed or neutered the dog cannot be obtained, the clerk may instead accept a receipt of a bill from the veterinarian who performed such procedure or a statement signed under the penalties of perjury by a veterinarian registered and practicing in the commonwealth describing the dog and stating that the veterinarian has examined the dog, which appears to have been spayed or neutered and incapable of propagation.  (c) No fee shall be charged for a license issued under this section for a service animal as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act or regulations promulgated thereunder. No fee shall be charged for a license for a dog owned by a person aged 70 years or over in a city or town that accepts this provision. No license fee or portion thereof shall be refunded because of the subsequent death, loss, spaying or removal from the commonwealth or other disposal of the dog, nor shall a license fee or portion thereof paid by mistake be paid or recovered after it has been paid over to a city or town under section 147.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 139a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 139a - Shelters; Sale or Gift of Dog or Cat Not Spayed or Neutered

Section 139A. No shelter shall sell or give away any dog or cat that has not been spayed or neutered, unless a written agreement is entered into and a deposit of not less than $40 for spaying or neutering such dog or cat has been tendered to the shelter. The shelter may make appropriate arrangements for the spaying or neutering of such dog or cat by a licensed veterinarian, or may return the deposit to the person purchasing or receiving the dog or cat upon presentation of a written statement or receipt from a veterinarian or clinic that the dog or cat has been spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian.  Any dog or cat six months of age or older at the time it is sold or given away by the shelter shall be so spayed or neutered within sixty days, or the deposit shall be deemed unclaimed. Any dog or cat under six months of age at the time it is sold or given away by the shelter shall be so spayed or neutered within sixty days after reaching six months of age, or the deposit shall be deemed unclaimed.  Any deposit not claimed under this section shall be used only for the following purposes:  (1) a public education program to prevent overpopulation of dogs or cats;  (2) a program to spay or neuter dogs or cats;  (3) a follow up program to assure that animals sold or given away by the shelter are spayed or neutered; or  (4) costs incurred under this section.  A shelter may enter into a cooperative agreement with another shelter and with a veterinarian in carrying out the provisions of this section.  The commissioner may set fines for violations of this section and may further establish regulations to ensure compliance with this section. Additionally, an animal control officer, an officer licensed under section 57 of chapter 22C, a police officer or the owner, director or a duly authorized agent of an animal shelter from which an animal was obtained may bring a petition in the district court within the judicial district in which the dog or cat is owned or kept for an action of forfeiture and relinquishment of ownership. Legal fees or court costs incurred in the enforcement of this section shall be the responsibility of the owner of the animal.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 141 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 141 - Violation of Statutes

Section 141. Whoever violates section 137, 137B or 138 shall be assessed a penalty of not less than $50, which shall be paid to the city or town wherein the violation occurred.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 141a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 141a - Application of Law; Exception

Section 141A. Sections one hundred and thirty-seven to one hundred and forty-one, inclusive, shall not apply to any institution licensed under the provisions of chapter forty-nine A.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 141b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 141b - Application of Law; Licensed Pet Shops Exempted

Section 141B. Sections one hundred and thirty-seven to one hundred and forty-one, inclusive, shall not apply to any pet shop the owner of which is licensed under the provisions of section thirty-nine A of chapter one hundred and twenty-nine.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 145 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 145 - Symptoms of Rabies Printed on License; Description Supplied by Department of Public Health

Section 145. Every license issued to the owner of a dog shall have a description of the symptoms of rabies printed thereon. Such description shall be supplied by the department of public health.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 145a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 145a - Anti-Rabic Vaccine and Treatment; Rates of Compensation

Section 145A. The board of health of a city or town shall, upon application, furnish free of charge to any uninsured resident thereof who has been exposed to rabies, or may have been so exposed, anti-rabic vaccine and anti-rabic treatment, in accordance with rules and regulations which the department of public health is hereby authorized to make. Except in Boston, such person shall have the right to select his own physician, who shall be paid by the city or town at a rate established as hereinafter provided, and the fact that a physician is a member of a board of health shall not disqualify him from being so selected and from being paid by the city or town for his services. Boards of health shall establish rates of compensation for such treatment.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 145b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 145b - Vaccination Against Rabies; Certificate; Tag; Proof of Vaccination; Exemption; Penalty

Section 145B. (a) Each owner or keeper of a dog, cat or ferret that is 6 months of age or older shall cause such dog, cat or ferret to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian using a licensed vaccine according to the manufacturer's directions and shall cause such dog, cat or ferret to be revaccinated at intervals recommended by the manufacturer. Unvaccinated dogs, cats or ferrets acquired or moved into the commonwealth shall be vaccinated within 30 days after the acquisition or arrival of such animal into the commonwealth or upon reaching the age of 6 months, whichever last occurs. It shall be the duty of each veterinarian, at the time of vaccinating a dog, cat or ferret, to complete a certificate of rabies vaccination which shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: the owner's name and address; a description of the animal, including breed, sex, age, name and distinctive markings; the date of vaccination; the rabies vaccination tag number; the type of rabies vaccine used; the route of vaccination; the expiration date of the vaccine; and the vaccine lot number.  (b) The veterinarian shall issue a tag with each certificate of vaccination. The tag shall be secured by the owner or keeper of the dog, cat or ferret to a collar or harness made of suitable material to be worn by the dog, cat or ferret; provided, however, that the owner of a cat or ferret may choose not to affix the tag, but shall have the tag available for inspection by authorized persons. In the event that a tag is lost, the owner or keeper of the animal shall, upon presentation of the original vaccination certificate, be issued a new tag.  (c) In order for a dog, cat or ferret to be accepted at an animal hospital, veterinarian's office or boarding facility, an owner or keeper of such animal shall show proof of current vaccination against rabies; provided, however, that if an animal has not been so vaccinated or such owner or keeper fails to show proof of vaccination, the animal shall be vaccinated against rabies prior to being discharged if the animal's medical condition permits.  (d) A licensing authority may grant an exemption from this section for a dog, cat or ferret that:  (i) the local board of health has declared exempt from the rabies vaccination requirement upon presentation of a veterinarian's certificate stating that because of an infirmity, other physical condition or regimen of therapy, such inoculation is considered inadvisable for a specified period of time for such reasons; (ii) is in transit; or (iii) was brought into the commonwealth temporarily for the sole purpose of display in a show or for exhibition.  (e) This section shall not apply to a dog, cat or ferret housed in a research institution.  (f) Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 146 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 146 - License Valid Throughout State; Removal of Dog Into Another Town or City

Section 146. A license duly recorded shall be valid throughout the commonwealth, except that, in the case of the permanent removal of a dog into another town within the commonwealth, the owner or keeper thereof shall, within thirty days after such removal, present the original license and tag of such dog to the clerk of the town or city to which such dog has been removed and the clerk shall take up the same and issue to such owner or keeper a transfer license and a tag for such dog upon payment of an amount to be determined by the city or town which shall be retained by the clerk unless otherwise provided by law. The provisions of section one hundred and thirty-seven relative to the form and furnishing of licenses and tags shall apply to licenses and tags issued under this section.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 147 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 147 - Issuance of Licenses; Disposition of Fees; Action on Official Bond

Section 147. The police commissioner of the city of Boston and the clerks of other cities and towns shall issue dog licenses and tags, receive the money therefor and pay such funds into the treasuries of their respective cities and towns on the first Monday of each month or more often, at their discretion. The clerks of cities and towns, except the city of Boston, may retain for their own use $.75 cents for each license issued, unless otherwise provided by law, and shall certify under penalties of perjury the amounts of money thus received and paid over to them. The police commissioner of the city of Boston and each city or town clerk shall make a record of the name of the owner or keeper of each dog licensed and the name, registered number and description of each dog licensed. Such records shall be open to public inspection during the usual office hours of the city or town clerk. All blanks for the licenses and tags and the record books shall be paid for out of the city or town treasury. The police commissioner of the city of Boston and any city or town clerk or city or town treasurer violating this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $500 or by imprisonment for not less than 1 month nor more than 1 year in a jail or house of correction, or both such fine and imprisonment. If a city or town clerk neglects or fails to pay the money into the city or town treasury as required by this section, the city or town may recover the amount thereof for the benefit of the city or town, with all damages sustained through such neglect or failure, and interest thereon, in an action on the official bond required, in the case of a city clerk, by section 13A of chapter 41 and, in the case of a town clerk, by section 13 of said chapter 41. All payments required under this section shall be subject to section 52 of said chapter 41.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 149 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 149 - Accounts of Treasurers

Section 149. Each city or town treasurer shall keep an accurate and separate account of all money received and expended by the treasurer under this chapter relating to animals.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 150 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 150 - Lists of Dogs; Refusal to Answer Person Listing Dogs; False Answers

Section 150. Persons authorized or directed by section 4 of chapter 51 or by a special law, to make lists of residents 3 years of age or older shall make a list of all dogs owned by the inhabitants at the time of making such lists and shall annually return the same, in duplicate, to the city or town clerk or to the police commissioner in the city of Boston. An owner or keeper of a dog who refuses to answer or answers falsely to a person directed or authorized to make such a list shall be punished by a fine of not less than $20 which shall be paid to the city or town.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 151b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 151b - Emergency Treatment of Dogs or Cats Injured on Ways; Payment to Veterinarians

Section 151B. A veterinarian registered under section 55 or 56A of chapter 112 who renders emergency care or treatment to, or who euthanizes, a dog or cat that is injured on any way shall receive payment from the owner of such dog or cat, if known, or, if not known, from the city or town in which the injury occurred in an amount not to exceed $250 for such care, treatment or euthanization; provided, however, such emergency care, treatment or euthanization shall be rendered for the purpose of maintaining life, stabilizing the animal or alleviating suffering until the owner or keeper of the dog or cat is identified or for 24 hours, whichever is sooner. A veterinarian who renders such emergency care or treatment to a dog or cat or euthanizes a dog or cat shall notify the municipal animal control officer and the animal control officer shall assume control of the dog or cat or the remains of the dog or cat.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 151c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 151c - Animal Control Officer Training Course

Section 151C. The commissioner shall, from time to time and subject to the availability of funds from the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund in section 35WW of chapter 10, provide for a training course for animal control officers. For a training course established under this section, there shall be a preference for persons who have been in the employ of a city or town as an animal control officer for 12 months or less. A training course that is offered by a private entity including, but not limited to, the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts, shall not be eligible for reimbursement from the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund unless such course has been approved by the commissioner.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 152 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 152 - Returns by Officers

Section 152. Each police officer, constable or animal control officer to whom such warrant is issued shall make returns, on or before October first, on or before January first, and on or before April first, in each year, and at the expiration of his term of office, to the mayor or chairman of the board of selectmen issuing the same, and shall state in said returns the number of dogs and cats which he has caught, confined or killed, or made available for adoption, the names of the owners or keepers thereof and whether all unlicensed dogs in his town have been caught, confined or killed, or adopted, and the names of persons against whom complaints have been made under the provisions of this chapter relating to animals, and whether complaints have been entered against all of the persons who have failed to comply therewith since the previous report.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 153 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 153 - Form of Warrant to Officers

Section 153. In the several cities and towns of the several counties, such warrant may be in the following form:—  COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS  (Seal)  To , ss.  To , constable of the city (or town) of  In the name of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to proceed forthwith to seek out, catch and confine all dogs within said city (or town) not duly licensed, collared or harnessed, and tagged, according to the provisions of chapter one hundred and forty of the General Laws, and you are further required to make and enter complaint against the owner or keeper of every such dog, and to kill or cause to be killed only by the administration of barbiturates in a manner deemed acceptable by the American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines on Euthanasia, except by gunshot in case of emergency each dog which after being detained for a period of 7 days, shall not then have been duly licensed, collared or harnessed, and tagged, except that any dog not found to be diseased may be made available for adoption for not less than $3, and you shall keep an account of any such adoption and forthwith pay over the money to the town treasurer. Before delivery of any dog so adopted you shall require the purchaser to show identification and to register and procure a license and tag for such dog from the town clerk of the town where the dog is to be kept, in accordance with the provisions of section one hundred and thirty-seven of said chapter one hundred and forty of the General Laws.  Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant with your doings therein, on or before the first day of October next, on or before the first day of January next, and on or before the first of April next, and at the expiration of your term of office, stating the number of dogs caught, confined and/or killed, or adopted, and the name of the owners or keepers thereof, and whether all unlicensed dogs and cats in said city (or town) have been caught, confined and/or killed, or adopted, and the names of persons against whom complaints have been made under the provisions of said chapter one hundred and forty, and whether complaints have been made and entered against all the persons who have failed to comply with the provisions of said chapter one hundred and forty.  Given under my hand and seal at ___ aforesaid the ___ day of ___ in the year 2000 and ___  Mayor of (or Chairman of the Selectmen of)
MA Gen L ch 140 § 155 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 155 - Liability for Damage Caused by Dog; Minors; Presumption and Burden of Proof

Section 155. If any dog shall do any damage to either the body or property of any person, the owner or keeper, or if the owner or keeper be a minor, the parent or guardian of such minor, shall be liable for such damage, unless such damage shall have been occasioned to the body or property of a person who, at the time such damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog. If a minor, on whose behalf an action under this section is brought, is under seven years of age at the time the damage was done, it shall be presumed that such minor was not committing a trespass or other tort, or teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog, and the burden of proof thereof shall be upon the defendant in such action.
MA Gen L ch 140 § 155a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order|Chapter 140 - Licenses|Section 155a - Indemnification of Law Enforcement Officers; Damages Caused by Dogs Used in Performance of Official Duties

Section 155A. If an action is brought against a law enforcement officer because of damage caused by a dog which said officer was caring for or maintaining in connection with his official duties, the commonwealth or the political subdivision employing said officer shall indemnify him for expenses or damages incurred in the settlement or defense of such action; provided that in the case of an officer employed by the commonwealth the settlement or defense of such case shall have been made by the attorney general, and that in the case of an officer employed by a city or town such settlement or defense shall have been made by the city solicitor or town counsel or by an attorney legally employed for the purpose by a city or town.