The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government (JCMRG) has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, September 26, 2023, from 1pm to 5pm, and will accept comments until October 3, on multiple animal bills, including “Ollie’s Law” HB 2019/SB 1309, which we are opposing, and HB 314, a bill drafted and filed by the coalition of the IACP and AKC.

Ollie’s Law has very little to do with dog day care facilities. It seeks to regulate dog to staff to animal ratios, fire and emergency planning, group sizes and supervision, minimum housing and care requirements, indoor and outdoor physical facility requirements, dog handling, and insurance with no explanation as to the qualifications of the individuals making such determinations.

It will require commercial boarding and training kennels to report and make public on the internet all injuries to animals or people even those as minor as a scratch or a nick. The prevention of injuries should be the focus by requiring that a dog undergo an evaluation prior to being allowed to attend day care during to determine the dog’s temperament and ability to positively interact with other dogs and humans; require owners to provide complete health records and a requirement for owners to disclose any known aggressive history.

Ensuring proper treatment of pets left in a dog day care facility, is important, but we oppose Ollie’s Law because, instead of addressing dog daycare businesses, this bill would create a one-size-fits-all regulatory framework for every commercial boarding and training kennel with unknown costs to cities and towns.

House Bill 314, on the other hand, focuses on creating a definition for dog day cares and requires policies and emergency procedures to ensure every dog’s safety without unnecessarily encumbering towns and cities with unfunded mandates.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Massachusetts residents are encouraged to contact the JCMRG Committee and share your opposition to Ollie’s Law (HB 2019/SB 1309) and support for HB 314.  Please consider the following talking points:

• Ollie’s Law ought to focus on dog daycare businesses safety issues;
• Training facilities differ greatly from dog daycare facilities and should not be regulated in the same manner;
• A one-size-fits all solution for every commercial boarding, training or personal kennel and dog day care facility is not practical;
• Ollie’s Law does not define dog to staff ratios and there is no regard for dog size, facility size, temperament, or even play style.
• Requiring that all injuries be reported and made public creates needless burdensome bureaucracy and unnecessary costs. 
• HB 314 focuses on creating a definition for dog day cares and requires policies and emergency procedures to ensure every dog’s safety without unnecessarily encumbering towns and cities with unfunded mandates.

1. Written electronic testimony may be submitted until 5pm on October 3, 2023, via email to [email protected]. Please include the bill number and “Testimony” in the subject line. In the body of your email, address your opposition to House Chair Rep. Carole Fiola and Senate Chair Sen. Jacob Oliveira. 

2. Anyone wishing to testify before the committee in person or virtually, on September 26, between 1pm and 5pm, must register to do so before Monday, September 25, at 5pm using this form. If you wish to testify on a panel, please indicate that on the Google form. Once registered, you will receive an email with instructions for joining the hearing. Oral testimony will be limited to 3 minutes per person.

 For more information contact Marlene Ruiz, Director of Oversight, Legislative Committee at [email protected].