Pets
MA passes PAWS II animal protection law
New law improves enforcement of animal cruelty reporting, among other steps.
PAWS II, An Act to protect animal welfare and safety, passed the governor's desk yesterday, according to a news release by the MSPCA Animal Action Team. This legislation will help:
1. Facilitate the reporting of animal abuse
2. Ensure efficient enforcement of animal control laws
3. Prohibit the drowning of animals
4. End the automatic killing of animal fighting victims
5. Require landlords to notify the police or ACOs about abandoned animals
6. Modernize animal sexual abuse laws
Thank you to the Governor and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito; bill's sponsors: State Representative Lou Kafka, State Senator Mark Montigny, and State Senator Bruce Tarr; House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo; Senate President Karen E. Spilka; and Representative Jeffrey Sánchez; the conference committee members; and the many other legislators who supported this bill along the way.