Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 330 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES › Title 330 CMR 12.00 - Licensing and Operation of Pet Shops › Section 12.04 - Animal Care Requirements

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Each Licensee shall ensure that:
(1) Sufficient fresh food of a type
			 consistent with the dietary requirements and age of the species is offered to
			 each Animal daily, or at intervals commonly appropriate to the species and age
			 of the Animal;
(2) Sufficient fresh
			 and clean water is available to each Animal at all times;
(3) B owls, dishes and other containers used
			 for the feeding and watering of Animals are cleaned daily or more often if
			 necessary to maintain them free from contamination by excrement, urine, or
			 other matter;
(4) Adequate staffing
			 is present to ensure the general care and maintenance of the Animals on a daily
			 basis;
(5) Animals are provided
			 with emergency and standard veterinary care in a timely manner by a
			 Veterinarian or as prescribed by a Veterinarian consistent with a valid
			 veterinary-client patient relationship, pursuant to the Board of Registration
			 in Veterinary Medicine regulations at
			 256 CMR
			 2.00:
General Provisions.
Emergency
			 care shall be provided immediately. Non-emergency veterinary care shall be
			 sought within 48 hours after discovery of the need;
(6) If Animals are group housed, they are
			 maintained in compatible groups without overcrowding;
(7) No female dog, cat or rabbit in season is
			 maintained in a cage, run, pen or other enclosure with a male dog, cat, or
			 rabbit, other than for breeding purposes. Breeding activities for any species
			 may not be within public view.
(8)
			 Food and water containers for birds are designed to permit easy access to the
			 contents. Each food and water container shall be either designed or located
			 within the cage in a manner that serves to minimize contamination from
			 excrement;
(9) The Animals are kept
			 clean and dry unless species-specific requirements dictate an aquatic or
			 semiaquatic environment. Each Animal that requires a semiaquatic environment
			 shall be maintained in an environment that contains both aquatic and
			 terrestrial features. Each feature shall be of sufficient size and space to
			 permit the Animal the option of submerging or soaking in clean water or
			 remaining completely dry;
(10)
			 Euthanasia shall be performed in accordance with current American Veterinary
			 Medical Association guidelines and as specified in 330 CMR 12.04(10)(a) and
			 (b):
(a) Euthanasia for Dogs and Cats shall
			 be performed by a Veterinarian or by an individual trained in humane euthanasia
			 and operating under the direction and supervision of a Veterinarian. Other
			 methods of euthanasia may be deemed acceptable for other species in accordance
			 with the American Veterinary Medical Association's Guidelines for the
			 Euthanasia of Animals.
(b) The Pet
			 Shop shall record the date of euthanasia, the methods used, and the reasons for
			 euthanasia, and the name of the individual who performed the procedure. A copy
			 of these records shall be maintained in accordance with
			 330 CMR
			 12.09.