A.
Any owner or keeper of four or more dogs, six months of age or older, or of a premises maintained for the boarding, day care, or in-residence training of dogs, shall obtain a commercial kennel license.
B.
In addition to meeting all of the requirements of MGL c. 140, §§ 137A to 137C, applications for a new commercial kennel license shall be submitted to the Town Clerk's office, on a form provided by the Town Clerk, along with two copies of interior and exterior plans of the kennel, as well as a plot plan.
C.
No new kennel license will be issued until proof is submitted by the applicant that the location and operation of the kennel are in compliance with the Town of Raynham's zoning and land use regulations.
D.
New applicants must notify all direct property abutters in writing of the applicant's intent to operate a commercial kennel, and evidence of notification by certified mail or Constable must be submitted with the application.
E.
No new kennel license will be issued unless the Raynham Animal Control Officer, Raynham Health Department, Raynham Building Department, Raynham Board of Selectmen, and Town Clerk review and approve the application. All kennels must be inspected by the Raynham Animal Control Officer before a kennel license can be renewed. No new or renewed kennel license will be issued until the kennel has passed a kennel inspection.
F.
The commercial kennel license fee shall be $300. The Town Clerk shall, upon application, issue without charge a kennel license to any domestic charitable corporation incorporated exclusively for the purpose of protecting animals from cruelty, neglect or abuse and for the relief of suffering among animals. A veterinary hospital shall not be considered a kennel unless it contains an area for the selling or boarding of dogs for other than medical purposes, in which case it shall apply for a kennel license. The license period for a kennel license shall be from January 1 to December 31, inclusive.
G.
Pursuant to MGL c. 140, § 137C, the Health Agent, Building Commissioner, Chief of Police or Animal Control Officer may at any time inspect a kennel or cause the inspection of a kennel. Said inspection may include examination of any pertinent records pertaining to this article. Refusal to comply with an inspection may be grounds for an emergency suspension or revocation. Random compliance inspections can occur on an annual basis or other time period as deemed appropriate for such facility. At the time of the inspection, or promptly thereafter, the inspecting authority will document any violations found.
H.
If the Animal Control Officer, Animal Health Inspector, or other authorized agent, after inspection, determines that the kennel or premises that is the subject of a kennel license is not kept in a sanitary or humane condition, or if records are not kept as required by law, the Selectmen may, by order after hearing, revoke or suspend such license. If a license has been revoked or suspended, the license may be reinstated after inspection and in accordance with the procedure set forth below in § 153-16I. This article may also be enforced through appropriate criminal or civil process under Massachusetts General Laws.
I.
Upon written petition of 25 Raynham residents, filed with the Selectmen, setting forth that they are aggrieved or annoyed to an unreasonable extent by one or more dogs at the kennel because of excessive barking or vicious disposition of said dogs, or other conditions connected with such kennel constituting a public nuisance, said Selectmen, within seven days after the filing of such a petition, shall give notice to the owner or keeper of the kennel, the petitioner(s), and any other person the Selectmen determine should be given notice of a public hearing to be held within 14 days after the date of such notice. Said notice shall also be posted on a Town bulletin board.
J.
Within seven days after such public hearing, said Selectmen shall make an order either revoking or suspending such kennel license, or otherwise regulating said kennel or premises, or dismissing said petition.