[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Groveland as Ch. 3 of the General Bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
No person shall suffer horses or grazing beasts or swine to run at large in this Town, or to feed by the roadside, either with or without a keeper.
A. 
No person shall own or keep in the Town, outside the confines of the owner's or keeper's property, any dog which is not held firmly on a leash.
B. 
Enforcement. The Animal Inspector is the enforcing officer of this bylaw, and he shall enter and prosecute a complaint against the owner or keeper of any dog, if such owner or keeper violates the provisions of this bylaw or any part thereof.
[Amended 4-24-2023 ATM by Art. 16]
C. 
Fines for violation. Whoever violates this bylaw shall pay the following fines to the Town:
(1) 
First offense: No fine.
(2) 
Second offense: $15.
(3) 
Third offense: $25.
(4) 
Any offenses following the third offense: $50.
D. 
Violations of this section are punishable by criminal complaint or by noncriminal disposition in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D and § 100-2 of the Town Code.
[Added 4-24-2023 ATM by Art. 16]
[Amended 4-24-2023 ATM by Arts. 13 and 16]
A. 
All dogs over the age of six months must be licensed and tagged. Licensing will be done in the office of the Town Clerk. The owner or keeper of any dog in the Town shall obtain a license by April 1 of each year. The license fees for dogs shall be as follows:[1]
(1) 
Male: $20.
(2) 
Female: $20.
(3) 
Spayed female: $10.
(4) 
Neutered male: $10.
[1]
Editor's Note: At the 4-24-2023 ATM, by Art. 14, the Town voted to accept the provisions of MGL c. 140, § 139, relative to dog fees, to provide that no fee shall be charged for a license for a service animal as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a dog(s) owned by a person aged 70 or over.
B. 
Kennel license fees shall be as follows:
(1) 
One to four dogs: $25.
(2) 
Five to 10 dogs: $35.
(3) 
Eleven or more dogs: $45.
C. 
The owner or keeper of an unlicensed dog after June 1 shall be fined $20 per dog in addition to the license fee. The owner or keeper of an unlicensed dog after July 1 shall be fined $15 per dog in addition to the license fee. All monies collected for licenses and fines shall be retained by the Town. Violations of this section are punishable by criminal complaint or by noncriminal disposition in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D and § 100-2 of the Town Code.
[Amended 4-24-2023 ATM by Art. 16]
All persons who own or are in custody of a dog will be responsible for the removal and disposal of that animal's waste from the property of another, including publicly owned property. Owners or custodians are prohibited from disposing of animal waste in any trash receptacle owned by another, including those owned or leased by the Town. The fine for violation of this provision for the first offense shall be $10 and the second and subsequent offenses shall be $20, punishable by criminal complaint or by noncriminal disposition in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D and § 100-2 of the Town Code.