The pasturing of cattle or other animals, with or without a
keeper, in or upon any street or public way in the Town is hereby
forbidden.
No person shall lead or drive any horse, goat, swine or neat
animal upon any sidewalk so as to interfere with the convenient use
of the same by pedestrians.
[Amended 5-6-2019 ATM,
Art. 38]
The annual fee for every dog license shall be set from time to time in accordance with §
96-1 of the Bylaws. No fee shall be charged for a license for a dog specially trained to lead or serve a blind person, provided that the Division of the Blind certifies that such dog is so trained and actually in the services of a blind person. No license fee or part thereof shall be refunded because of the subsequent death, loss, spaying or removal from the commonwealth or other disposal of the dog, nor shall any license fee or part thereof paid by mistake be paid or recovered back after it has been paid over to the county under MGL c. 140, § 147.
No person shall own or keep in the Town any dog which, by biting,
excessive barking, howling or in any other manner, disturbs the quiet
of the public.
If any person shall make a complaint, in writing, to the Animal
Control Officer that any dog owned or harbored within his jurisdiction
is a nuisance by reason of vicious disposition or excessive barking
or other disturbance, the Animal Control Officer shall investigate
such complaint, which may include an examination under oath of the
complainant, and submit a written report to the Selectmen of his findings
and recommendations, together with the written complaint. Upon receipt
of such report and examinations of the complainant under oath, the
Selectmen may make such order concerning the restraint, muzzling or
disposal of such dog as may be deemed necessary. The Animal Control
Officer, after investigation, may issue an interim order that such
dog be restrained or muzzled for a period not to exceed 14 days to
enable the Selectmen to issue their order following receipt of the
report of the Animal Control Officer. If the Selectmen fail to act
during the period of the interim order, upon expiration of the period
the interim order is automatically vacated.
No person owning or harboring a dog shall suffer or allow it
to run at large in any of the streets or public places in the Town
of Stoughton or allow it upon any of the streets or public places
in the Town of Stoughton or allow it upon the premises of anyone other
than the owner or keeper of such dog without the permission of the
owner or occupant of such premises. No dog shall be permitted in any
street or public place within the Town of Stoughton unless it is effectively
restrained by a chain or leash not exceeding 10 feet in length.
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to apprehend
any dog found running at large in any street or public place within
the Town of Stoughton or in violation of any of the provisions of
this article, and to impound such dog in the place provided therefor.
The Animal Control Officer, upon receiving any such dog, shall make
a complete registry, entering the breed, color, and sex of such dog
and whether licensed. If licensed, he shall enter the name and address
of the owner and the number of the license tag. The owner, if known,
shall be notified as soon as possible that the dog has been impounded.
The owner of any dog so impounded may reclaim such dog upon payment
of the license fee, if unpaid, and of all costs and charges incurred
by the Town for impounding and maintenance of such dog as provided
by law.
For the purposes of this article, a dog, when in the presence
of its owners, who is being trained for hunting shall be considered
leashed and under control.
[Amended 5-6-2019 ATM,
Art. 38]
Except for violations of §
78-6 which are punishable in accordance with the schedule of fines set forth therein, should any owner or keeper of a dog fail to license that dog on or before May 1, that owner or keeper shall pay a late fee as it shall be set from time to time in accordance with §
96-1 of the Bylaws, said fee to be in addition to the license fee for all dogs licensed on or after May 1 of any year; except that for a dog brought into the Town as provided in MGL c. 140, § 138, this late fee shall be applicable from the 61st day after arrival of such dog; and in addition, should any owner or keeper of a dog fail to comply with the provisions of this article or any order of the Animal Control Officer issued pursuant to this article, that owner or keeper shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $25 for each offense.
Except for violations of §
78-10 which are punishable in accordance with the fee set forth therein, the provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Animal Control Officer or any regular Stoughton police officer, by noncriminal complaint pursuant to the provisions of MGL c. 40, § 21D. Each day on which a violation exists shall be deemed to be a separate offense. The penalty for violation of any provision of this chapter for purposes of noncriminal disposition shall be $50, with the exception of §
78-6, which shall be $60.
[Added 5-8-2017 ATM,
Art. 44]
A. It shall be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls
a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by his/her animal(s)
on any sidewalk, street or another public area. It shall further be
the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls an animal(s)
to remove and dispose of any feces left by his/her animal(s) on any
private property neither owned nor occupied by said person unless
the owner and/or legal occupant of that private property consents.
B. No person who owns, possesses, or controls such animal(s) shall appear
with such dog on any sidewalk, street, park or other public area without
the means of removal of any feces left by such dog. Furthermore, no
person who owns, possesses or controls such animal(s) shall appear
on any private property neither owned nor occupied by said person
without the means of removal of any feces left by said animal(s) unless
the owner and/or legal occupant of that private property consents.
C. For purposes of this regulation, the means of removal shall include
any tool, implement or other device carried for the purpose of picking
up and containing such fecal matter for proper disposal. Disposal
shall be accomplished by transporting such feces to a receptacle or
other place suitable for the disposal of waste, trash or debris.
D. The provisions of this section shall not apply to an animal(s) accompanying
any handicapped person who, by reason of his/her handicap, is physically
unable to comply with the requirements of this section.
E. A violation of §
78-13 shall be punished in accordance with §
78-12.