This bill would prevent individuals who are convicted of animal abuse from owning animals for at least 5 years. This legislation would protect vulnerable pets from individuals convicted of serious animal cruelty offenses including mutilation, torture, and dogfighting. State law already bans these offenders from working with animals at their place of work but does not prevent access to animals in their home. These are serious violations of criminal law and indicate an unquestioned failure to meet the basic responsibilities that we require of pet owners.

While the legislature took up omnibus legislation to address the humane protections of animals last session, this bill, which is crucial to the overall protection of animals, was excluded from the final version of the bill. Therefore, under current Massachusetts law, there are no constraint on a convicted animal abuser’s ability to adopt a pet unless the individual was charged for bestiality. I refiled this bill to address this gap in our legal system by prohibiting anyone convicted of crimes of animal abuse from owning, residing with, working or volunteering at an establishment where animals are present. Currently, 39 states in the U.S. have adopted similar possession bans for people convicted of animal cruelty.