Massachusetts § 165 Investigation of damages caused by dogs; settlement; action against owner or keeper; payments over to city or town treasurer

Massachusetts Statutes

§ 165 — Investigation of damages caused by dogs; settlement; action against owner or keeper; payments over to city or town treasurer

Massachusetts § 165

Part IADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT

Title XXPUBLIC SAFETY AND GOOD ORDER

Ch. 140LICENSES

This text of Massachusetts § 165 (Investigation of damages caused by dogs; settlement; action against owner or keeper; payments over to city or town treasurer) 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, § 165 (2026).

Text

Section 165. A city or town may investigate any case of damage done by a dog of which the chair of the board of selectmen, mayor or animal control officer shall have been informed as provided in section 161. If the chair, mayor or animal control officer believes that the evidence is sufficient to sustain an action against the owner or keeper of the dog and believes that such owner or keeper is able to satisfy any judgment recovered in an action, the chair, mayor or animal control officer shall bring the action unless the owner or keeper pays the amount in settlement of the damage as the chair, mayor or officer deems reasonable before the action is brought. The action may be brought in the name of the chair, mayor or animal control officer prosecuting the action and the chair, mayor or anim

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Section 165. A city or town may investigate any case of damage done by a dog of which the chair of the board of selectmen, mayor or animal control officer shall have been informed as provided in section 161. If the chair, mayor or animal control officer believes that the evidence is sufficient to sustain an action against the owner or keeper of the dog and believes that such owner or keeper is able to satisfy any judgment recovered in an action, the chair, mayor or animal control officer shall bring the action unless the owner or keeper pays the amount in settlement of the damage as the chair, mayor or officer deems reasonable before the action is brought. The action may be brought in the name of the chair, mayor or animal control officer prosecuting the action and the chair, mayor or animal control officer shall have the same powers and authority as animal control officers appointed under section 151 and acting under sections 136A to 174E, inclusive. All damages received or recovered under this section shall be paid over to the city or town treasurer.