Beth Coughlin

Low-cost rabies shot clinics sponsored by Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Resources

The Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Resources will be sponsoring several Boston area rabies clinics in order to support responsible pet ownership and assist pet owners in meeting licensing requirements. Fourteen of the 220 clinics scheduled will be in Boston proper...

New Year's time to think about licensing.

With First Night coming up quickly, it is time to check the local laws in your community about when your dog's license is due. Various communities have different deadlines. As a general rule throughout Massachusetts, dog licenses become...

Life or death vote on pitbull puppy's lives in Mashpee

Breed specific legislation is working on hitting a new high in low on Cape Cod. Mashpee voters will vote at their town meeting tomorrow as to whether life can be made a capital offense for new-born pitbull and pitbull...

Why breed specifc regulation will not solve animal cruelty

Many of the advocates of Breed Specific Legislation against bully breeds overlook that it is the culture of cruelty, and not the availability of pit bulls and other bully breeds that makes dog fighting possible.The bird world has recently...

HB3704: An Act Relative to the Regulation of Animal Shelter would close public health protection gap

HB3704, An Act Relative to the Regulation of Animal Shelters would provide the State Department of Agriculture the permanent responsibility to provide oversight of shelter and rescue organization activities. This act would formalize the emergency powers granted the Department of...

Dog Laws 101: How to find out the rules and regulations in your community

If you are a dog owner moving to Massachusetts, moving your town of residence within Massachusetts, adopting a new dog, or even dog-sitting for a friend or relative, its important to be familiar with your local dog...

SB774: Act Relating to Puppy Mills is misnamed and misleading

Massachusetts communities all currently regulate their own licensing procedures regarding multiple dog households. SB774 defines all such households as a puppy mill, regardless of whether any dogs are actually bred or not, as well as whether the dog owner breeds...

Dogs 101: Bad reasons to get a puppy

Puppy ownership is a responsibility on a number of different levels. The legal and moral responsibility that you take on is considerable.Some of the worst reasons to get a dog include:1) Because a famous person has that type...

HB 1997: Law would mandate community and dog owner decsions

HB 1997: An Act Relating to Animals is a bill that dictates everything from vaccination protocols that are currently under debate in the veterinary community, to encouraging breed specific legislation to allowing minimal nuisance complaints result in an euthanasia order...

HB 1977: The type of dog law that punishes the deed not the breed

Of the 15 Dog Laws under consideration at the Boston State House on Tuesday, July 14th, this is the one that every responsible dog owner should support. In essence, this is a law drafted to punish the "deed and...

Currently in Los Angeles