Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 302 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION › Title 302 CMR 12.00 - Parks And Recreation Rules › Section 12.13 - Rules of Conduct on DCR Properties - Pets, Horses, and Other Domesticated Animals

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1) No person may
			 cause or permit any pet, horse, or other domesticated animal to be unattended
			 or to roam or be at large on DCR property.
(2) Unless in an area of DCR property
			 designated and posted otherwise, no person may cause or permit any pet, horse,
			 or other domesticated animal owned by him or her or in his or her custody or
			 under his or her control to be on DCR property, unless such animal is
			 restrained within a cage, or is bridled, or is restrained on a tether or leash
			 no greater in length than ten feet. 302 CMR 12.13(2) shall not apply to
			 hunting; the training of hunting dogs; the act of dog sledding; the training of
			 sled dogs; or the training of search dogs.
(3) In designated areas where dogs are
			 allowed off-leash, the owner or keeper must accompany the dog with leash in
			 hand and maintain effective control of the dog through voice control or
			 electronic training collar or in a manner directed by a law enforcement
			 officer, DCR ranger or other DCR personnel.
(4) Pets, horses, and other domesticated
			 animals are not allowed on coastal beaches or in designated swimming areas of
			 inland beaches from May 1st through September
			 15th each year, unless otherwise posted.
(5) A person may not allow any pet, horse, or
			 other domesticated animal under his or her control to interfere with any other
			 person's enjoyment of DCR property, but a person's enjoyment of DCR property is
			 not interfered with merely by another person's interacting with an animal under
			 his or her control in a customary manner for such animal.
(6) DCR personnel may direct that a pet,
			 horse, or other domesticated animal be removed from DCR property by the
			 animal's owner or handler. Failure to abide by such direction may subject the
			 owner or animal to eviction or banning from the DCR property, and may subject
			 the owner or handler to a fine.
(7)
			 Any pet or other domesticated animal required by law to have a rabies
			 vaccination must have proof of the vaccination.
(8) A pet, horse, or other domesticated
			 animal may not be hitched or tied to a fence, flagpole, tree, bush, shrub, or
			 any other DCR property, object or structure unless designated
			 otherwise.
(9) When accompanying
			 persons with medical or service needs, and when acting within their service
			 capacity, service and medical support animals are allowed access to DCR
			 property where pets, horses or other domesticated animals are otherwise
			 prohibited.
(10) Pets, horses, and
			 other domesticated animals are not allowed in DCR camping structures, or on
			 sites where those structures are located.
(11) All persons who bring pets onto DCR
			 property shall properly remove and dispose of the pets' feces.
(12) No person may feed wild animals, birds
			 or fish including, but not limited to, geese, waterfowl, bears, raccoons, or
			 other wild animals.
(13) No person
			 may release any animal on any DCR property without prior authorization from the
			 Division Director.
(14) Except when
			 traveling in a vehicle on a DCR roadway, or while engaged in the act of dog
			 sledding or sled dog training or while hunting or training hunting dogs where
			 these activities are allowed, no person may have in his or her possession, care
			 or custody more than four pets or other domesticated animals on any DCR
			 property at any one time without a special use permit issued in accordance with
			 302 CMR
			 12.17(2), or a commercial
			 dog walking permit issued in accordance with
			 302 CMR
			 12.17(5).
(15) No person or organization may use any
			 DCR property for organized animal shows, events, field trials or training
			 without obtaining a special use permit issued in accordance with
			 302 CMR
			 12.17(2).
(16) A commercial dog walker must obtain an
			 annual permit to use DCR property, in accordance with
			 302 CMR
			 12.17(5).
(17) When engaged in commercial dog walking,
			 a commercial dog walker must display his or her commercial dog walking permit
			 on his or her person and, if applicable, on his or her vehicle
			 dashboard.