Home/Massachusetts/Statutes/Part I: ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT/Title XX: PUBLIC SAFETY AND GOOD ORDER/Ch. 140: LICENSES/§ 158
Massachusetts Statutes

§ 158 — Euthanizing unrestrained dogs or dogs in wild state

Massachusetts § 158
JurisdictionMassachusetts
Part IADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
Title XXPUBLIC SAFETY AND GOOD ORDER
Ch. 140LICENSES

This text of Massachusetts § 158 (Euthanizing unrestrained dogs or dogs in wild state) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 158 (2026).

Text

Section 158. A police officer, constable or animal control officer may capture, detain or, in the case of a threat to public safety, euthanize a dog in a humane manner if found to be in violation of an order of a hearing authority or a district court and may euthanize a dog, in a humane manner, if it is living in a wild state.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Nearby Sections

15
§ 15
Disposition of proceeds
§ 150
Lists of dogs; refusal to answer person listing dogs; false answers
§ 151
Animal control officers; reimbursement of cities and towns for services; contracts with corporation to perform duties of officers; turning over or sale of animals; penalty
§ 151A
Issuance of warrant to officers; duties; confinement of dogs; allowance for care; records
§ 151B
Emergency treatment of dogs or cats injured on ways; payment to veterinarians
§ 151C
Animal control officer training course
§ 152
Returns by officers
§ 153
Form of warrant to officers
§ 155
Liability for damage caused by dog; minors; presumption and burden of proof
§ 155A
Indemnification of law enforcement officers; damages caused by dogs used in performance of official duties
§ 156
Killing dogs under certain conditions; wounded dogs
§ 157
Nuisance or dangerous dogs; orders for remedial action; appeal; violation of order
§ 157A
Non-compliance of dog owner or keeper with order; transferring ownership or selling of dangerous dog
§ 158
Euthanizing unrestrained dogs or dogs in wild state
§ 159
Treble damages for injuries caused by dogs ordered to be restrained
View on official source ↗

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Massachusetts § 158, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/ma/140/158.