[HISTORY: Adopted as indicated in article
histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Recodified ATM 3-8-1965 by Art. 14]
No person shall throw the carcass of any dead
animal or any other animal substance liable to putrefy into any pond,
stream or other body of water in the Town or leave such carcass or
animal substance on the surface of the ground insufficiently buried.
[Recodified ATM 3-8-1965 by Art. 14]
If any person shall make a complaint to the
Dog Officer, Chief of Police or Selectmen that a dog is a nuisance
by reason of being at large on the premises of another; or being at
large on the streets or public ways; or being at large on public property,
the Dog Officer shall investigate such complaint and determine whether
it may be necessary to hold a hearing before the Board of Selectmen
concerning the restraint or any other disposition of such dog or whether
a noncriminal complaint should be sought in the District Court for
violating this Dog Control Article.
Any dog found at large and deemed to be a nuisance
may be picked up by the Dog Officer and be impounded in a kennel of
the Town's choosing, at the owner's expense. The Dog Officer may also
impound any dog for other violations of MGL c. 140.
Dogs impounded and unclaimed by owner or keeper
after 10 days from delivery of impoundment notice or of posting of
notice in a public place may be sold or given to new owners or mercifully
put to death by a veterinarian as determined by the Dog Officer.
Any incident in which a dog does bodily injury
to a person or attacks, wounds or kills any other dog, pet or livestock,
without provocation, shall be investigated by the Dog Officer. After
such investigation, the Dog Officer may order the dog to be permanently
confined to the premises of its owner or keeper. If said dog is then
in violation of a restraint order or is thereafter in violation of
such restraint order, following an investigation and such determination
by the Dog Officer, the dog may be ordered removed from the Town by
order of the Dog Officer.
The Selectmen shall appoint a Dog Officer who
shall be responsible for enforcing this article as well as the General
Laws relating to dogs, making investigations, preparing reports, attending
meetings and hearings and maintaining accurate reports pertaining
to his/her duties.
A.
All dogs having reached the age of 3 months shall
require a license. Fees for such licenses shall be set by the Selectmen.
B.
No fee for licensing shall be charged to a dog which
is certified by the Division of the Blind to be in the service of
a blind person.
C.
Any person who is the owner of a dog in the Town of
Dover and who fails to license said dog within the times prescribed
by the General Laws and this article shall pay a late fee as set by
the Selectmen in addition to the licensing fee.
Except as otherwise provided herein, all other
definitions included in MGL c. 140, § 136A are incorporated
within this article.