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Animal Cruelty and Protection Task Force

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Animal Cruelty and Protection Task Force Findings and ANIMAL CRUELTY Recommendations AND PROTECTION July 2016 TASK FORCE TABLE OF CONTENTS Message From The Chair ............................................................................................................. 3 Structure of the Task Force ......................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 7 Animal Cruelty In Massachusetts ............................................................................................. 10 Recommendations for Effectively Addressing Animal Cruelty in Massachusetts................ 14 Chapter 272 – Animal Cruelty................................................................................................... 14 Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................... 14 Importance of Updating Select Laws in Chapter 272 ................................................................... 14 Current Practices ........................................................................................................................... 15 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 16 Animals Seized in Cruelty Cases ............................................................................................... 19 Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................... 19 Importance .................................................................................................................................... 19 Current Practices ........................................................................................................................... 19 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 20 Reporting Suspected Animal Cruelty ....................................................................................... 24 Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................... 24 Importance of Facilitating the Reporting of Suspected Animal Cruelty ...................................... 24 Current Practice ............................................................................................................................ 24 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 25 Animal Control and Statutes – Chapter 140 ............................................................................ 28 Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................... 28 Importance .................................................................................................................................... 28 Current Practices ........................................................................................................................... 28 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 30 Education and Training Opportunities .................................................................................... 33 Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................... 33 Importance .................................................................................................................................... 33 Current Practices ........................................................................................................................... 34 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 37 Education ..................................................................................................................................... 46 Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................... 46 Importance .................................................................................................................................... 46 1 Current Practices ........................................................................................................................... 47 Housing Policies .......................................................................................................................... 51 Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................... 51 Importance of Addressing Housing Policies................................................................................. 51 Current Practices ........................................................................................................................... 52 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 54 Animal Abuse Registry ............................................................................................................... 59 Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................... 59 Importance .................................................................................................................................... 59 Current Practices ........................................................................................................................... 59 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 60 The Link Between Animal Cruelty and Other Forms of Violence ......................................... 63 Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................... 63 Importance .................................................................................................................................... 63 Current Practices ........................................................................................................................... 64 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 66 Appendix A: Chapter 293 of the Acts of 2014 ............................................................................ 69 Appendix B: G.L. c. 272 § 77 ...................................................................................................... 71 Appendix C: Recommended Amendments to G.L. c. 272 § 91 .................................................. 72 Appendix D: Recommended Amendments to G.L. c. 272 § 79 .................................................. 73 Appendix E: Recommended Amendments to G.L. c. 104 and Explanation................................. 73 Appendix F: Information from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture on Housing Seized Animals ......................................................................................................................................... 77 Appendix G: Recommend Legislative Changes Relating to the Reporting of Animal Cruelty .. 79 Appendix H: Model Reporting Form to Report Suspected Animal Cruelty ............................... 83 Appendix I: Recommended Amendment to G.L. c. 140 §173A ................................................. 84 Appendix J: Recommended Amendments to G.L. c. 140 174E ................................................... 85 Appendix K: Model Municipal Bylaws ....................................................................................... 87 Appendix L: Recommended Amendments to G.L. c. 6 § 178C ................................................ 105 Appendix M: Recommended Amendments to G.L. c. 276 § 58A .............................................. 106 2 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR On behalf of the Massachusetts Animal Cruelty Task Force, I am pleased to present this report for your consideration. In August 2013, law enforcement and others responded to a suspected cruelty matter where a puppy—who became known as “Puppy Doe”—was systematically and severely tortured over several months. She had to be humanely euthanized because her injuries were so severe. Her alleged abuser has been charged. The details of this case galvanized people who care about animals to ensure that perpetrators like Puppy Doe’s alleged abuser (and others who engage in such cruel acts) are penalized in a manner sufficient for the crime, and for the public to seek to ensure the Commonwealth’s laws are sufficient to prevent animal cruelty and neglect.1 The impact of animal abuse is far-reaching and the link between animal abuse and violence toward humans is well-documented. For example, a Massachusetts study found that 70% of people who committed crimes against animals had also been involved in other violent, property, drug, or disorderly crimes.2 The study also concluded that a person who has committed animal abuse is: five times more likely to commit violence against people, four times more likely to commit property crimes, or three times
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