(New Boston Post- Tom Joyce) Puppies and kittens under eight weeks old can no longer be sold in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed S.2908 into law on Wednesday, making that change.
The bill, which had bipartisan support, passed in the Massachusetts Senate on July 29, 2024, and in the Massachusetts House of Representatives on December 26, 2024, without a recorded vote.
The final bill was based on S.1142, introduced by state Senator John Velis (D-Westfield).
“Early separation of puppies and kittens from their mother, and the unregulated roadside sale of dogs and cats, are practices that often lead to serious health or behavioral problems for the animal and no recourse for the new owner,” Velis told NewBostonPost in an email statement. “I was proud to have filed this legislation in the Senate last session and am thrilled the Governor has signed it into law to establish these new protections for animals throughout the Commonwealth.”