A. 
No person owning or keeping a dog in the Town shall allow such animal to roam at large upon the land of another, except if it be on the premises of another person with the knowledge and permission of such other person. Such owner or keeper of an animal in the Town which is not on the premises of the owner or upon the premises of another person with the knowledge and permission of such person shall restrain such animal by a chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length.
B. 
The unauthorized presence of any animal on the land of any person other than the owner or keeper of such animal when such animal is not restrained as above mentioned shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of the provisions of this section.
[Amended 4-12-2022]
A. 
A violation of this Article I, including § 315-8, shall be punishable by a fine of $25 for the first offense and $50 for the second and third offenses within a calendar year. The fourth and subsequent offenses shall be punishable by a mandatory hearing and a fine of $75.
B. 
The owner of any dog picked up shall pay a fee of $25 to the Town before the release of the dog from the pound. The pound fee for animals held in violation of this Animal Control Law shall be $25.
C. 
In addition to the above-described procedures, the provisions of this article may also be enforced by the Animal Control Officer or any police officer of the Town by noncriminal disposition procedure pursuant to Chapter 1, Article II, of the bylaws.
[Amended 4-12-2022; 2-27-2024]
The fee required by MGL c. 140, §§ 137 to 174, inclusive, as amended, for the licensing of dogs within the Town shall be increased by $10 for any license purchased after the due date; said additional fees shall be retained by the Town. Dogs shall be required to be vaccinated against rabies and proof of same shall be required before licensing, unless the dog is exempt from vaccination in accordance with MGL c. 140, § 145B.
Pound and other fees for violation of the Animal Control Law shall be collected by the Animal Control Officer and shall be turned over to the Town Collector/Treasurer.
The Town Manager or designee may designate times and places on Town property where dogs may be exercised or trained off the leash but under the control and supervision of their masters.
Any animal found to be at large in violation of this article shall be caught and confined by the Animal Control Officer and/or assistants, who shall notify forthwith the licensed owner or keeper of such animal, giving the owner or keeper of such animal a period of 10 days within which to recover such animal. Animals confined under the authority of this order shall be confined in a place suitable for the care and detention of animals, or they may be placed in the care of the holder of a kennel license, such place or holder of a kennel license to be designated by the Town Manager or designee. At the end of the ten-day period, any animal not so claimed may be disposed of in the manner provided by law. The owner or keeper of such animal shall be required to pay the reasonable expense of maintaining such animal in confinement, including, but not limited to, the cost of feeding, medical care, medicines and the like. Return of the animal to the licensed owner or keeper shall be dependent upon admission of ownership or the keeping of the dog and the assumption of responsibility by the licensed owner or keeper. The Animal Control Officer shall enter and prosecute a complaint against the owner or keeper of any animal taken into custody under this section; provided that if within the 12 months next preceding this offense the owner or keeper has not been convicted for violation of this section or an animal owned or kept by the owner or keeper has not been taken into custody for violation of this section, the Animal Control Officer may waive prosecution.
A. 
The Town Manager or designee shall appoint an Animal Control Officer and such assistants as are deemed necessary to administer and enforce this bylaw and the sections of MGL c. 140, as amended, relating to dogs.
B. 
The Town Manager or designee may appoint the Animal Control Officer a special police officer or constable.
A. 
If any person shall make a complaint in writing to the Town Manager or designee that any animal owned or harbored within the Town is a nuisance by reason of vicious disposition, excessive barking or other disturbance, the Town Manager shall take any action as provided in MGL c. 140, §§ 137 to 174, inclusive, or any other chapter, and any amendments thereto. Such disturbance causing a nuisance shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) 
Biting of persons.
(2) 
Running in packs.
(3) 
Breaking or damaging shrubbery or crops and gardens.
(4) 
Chasing cars.
(5) 
Running at large in violation of this bylaw.
B. 
Said written complaint to the Town Manager or designee shall include the name and address of the owner and keeper of such animal and the name and address of the person(s) making the complaint.
No bull or vicious animal shall be kept within the Town unless securely confined within an enclosure adequate to prevent its escape therefrom. The Fire and Police Departments are to be notified of areas where there are animals trained to attack.