[Formerly designated Art. XV, § 11]
A.
The registering,
numbering, describing and licensing of dogs, if kept in the Town of
Norwell, shall be conducted in the office of the Town Clerk of said
Town. All dogs within the Town of Norwell shall at all times display
on a collar or harness the Town/City license tag in which the dog
is licensed and a current rabies vaccination tag.
[Amended 5-7-2018 ATM,
Art. 31]
B.
Notwithstanding
the provisions of MGL c. 140, § 139, or any other provision
of law to the contrary, the annual fees to be charged by the Town
of Norwell for the issuance of licenses for dogs shall be established
by the Select Board of said Town.
[Amended 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 11]
C.
Notwithstanding
the provisions of MGL c. 140, § 137A, or any other provisions
of the law to the contrary, the owner or keeper of more than four
dogs, six months of age or over, may make written application to the
Town Clerk for a kennel license.
[Amended 5-6-2019 ATM,
Art. 28]
D.
The license
period for the licensing of dogs and kennels in the Town of Norwell
shall be the time between January 1 and the following December 31,
both dates inclusive, provided, the Town Clerk may provide up to a
three-year license when proof of a three-year rabies vaccine is submitted.
[Amended 5-8-2017 ATM,
Art. 29]
[Amended 5-6-2019 ATM,
Art. 28]
All money received for licenses or from the sale of dog licenses
by the Town of Norwell or recovered as fines or penalties by said
Town under the provisions of MGL c. 140 or this bylaw, relating to
dogs, shall be paid into the Town treasury of said Town and shall
not thereafter be paid over by the Town Treasurer-Collector to Plymouth
County.
Whoever suffers loss by the worrying, maiming or killing of
his livestock or fowl by dogs, outside the premises of the owners
or keepers of such dogs, shall after investigation as described in
MGL c. 140, § 161, be paid from the treasury of said Town,
as provided by said § 161.
[Amended 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 11]
In the event any person suffers a dog bite, the Animal Control
Officer shall be notified, and the dog quarantined, and if necessary,
permanently restrained. All restraining orders will be issued through
the Select Board's office.
A.
Loose livestock
and/or horses will only be restrained at the owner's expense. Unless
life threatening, the Animal Control Officer will not be called out.
[Amended 5-6-2019 ATM,
Art. 28]
B.
Wildlife
(bats, snakes, raccoons, etc.), unless sick or life threatening, is
not the responsibility of the Animal Control Officer. If the officer
wishes to respond, then it is a private matter between the officer
and the homeowner.
C.
Emergencies
are for injured dogs or cats. Calls received before 8:00 a.m. and
after 4:00 p.m. shall be on an emergency basis only. Dead animals,
barking dogs, lost animals, etc., are not to be considered emergencies.
Dead animals will be removed during the tour of duty. When the animal's
owner is known, the Animal Control Officer will advise that it is
the owner's responsibility to dispose of the animal. If the owner
requests, the officer may, at his/her option, dispose of the animal
at an established fee.
[Amended 5-6-2019 ATM,
Art. 28]
A.
No person shall own or keep a dog which by barking, biting, howling,
being unlicensed, unvaccinated or uncollared, causing littering, property
damage, or harassment, or displaying vicious behavior, or in any other
manner disturbs the peace and quiet in any neighborhood or endangers
the safety or damages the property of any person or otherwise violates
the intent of the bylaw.
[Amended 5-7-2018 ATM,
Art. 31; amended 5-6-2019 ATM, Art. 28]
B.
The owner, keeper or parent or guardian of a minor owner or keeper
of a dog or other animal shall not abuse said animal or allow said
dog or animal to trespass on private or public property except under
the supervision and control of the owner or keeper and with permission
of such property owners.
C.
In addition, any violation shall permit the Animal Control Officer
to order the dog/animal restrained and enable the Animal Control Officer
to impound the dog/animal. Return to the owner or keeper shall not
be made until after the payment of a sum to the Town established by
the Select Board. Disposition of dogs impounded and unclaimed shall
be in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth.
[Amended 5-7-2018 ATM,
Art. 31; 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 11]
[Amended 5-13-2002 ATM,
Art. 21; 7-25-2020 ATM, Art. 37; 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 11]
In addition to any of the penalties and/or remedies set forth
in this bylaw, pursuant to MGL c. 140, § 173A, the penalties
for violations of the aforementioned Animal Control Bylaw and any
rules or regulations promulgated thereunder shall be $50 for the first
offense, $100 for the second offense, $300 for the third offense,
and $500 for the fourth and subsequent offenses. Each day of any violation
shall be considered a separate offense. The Select Board, acting through
its Animal Control Officer, shall have the authority to dispose of
said violations in accordance with the procedures and provisions of
MGL c. 140, § 173A.
[Amended 5-10-2004 ATM,
Art. 38; 5-7-2018 ATM, Art. 31]
A.
No person
shall allow a dog onto any Town property posted "No Dogs Allowed."
Service dogs under close control of their owners wearing a valid dog
license and certified as a service dog shall be excluded from this
provision. Any person in violation of this section shall be punishable
by a fine of not more than $50 for each offense. The Select Board
shall have the authority to dispose of said violations in accordance
with MGL c. 40, § 21D.
[Amended 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 11]
B.
All dogs
being walked on the pathways under the jurisdiction of the Town shall
be on a leash.
