Massachusetts
A new MA law will protect animals at boarding facilities. What to know about it
See video as Paws on Post kennel opens on Fort Liberty
Fort Liberty on Tuesday opened its first pet kennel, Paws on Post, which serves as a daycare and overnight boarding for dogs and cats.
New regulations are coming for pet kennel, in a move legislators are touting will increase pet safety.
Gov. Maura Healey and Lieutenant Gov. Kim Driscoll signed Ollie’s law on Oct. 10, which is meant to bring oversight to the kennel industry in Massachusetts.
The legislation is the result of four years of effort from Amy Baxter, the dog mom of labradoodle Ollie. In 2020, Ollie sustained serious injuries in a dog fight while staying at a doggy daycare and died from complications soon after. Baxter has fought since then for more animal protection. The law is now named “Ollie’s Law” after her dog.
“For far too long, Massachusetts lacked oversight of our animal daycare facilities, and our pets paid the cost for that inaction,” said Driscoll in a press release. “Now, pet facilities across Massachusetts will begin adhering to a higher standard to make sure our pets are properly cared for and come home happy and healthy to their families.”
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What is Ollie’s Law?
Ollie’s Law updates licensure and regulation of kennels and other pet boarding facilities.
Specifically, under Ollie’s Law, all kennels and their individual dogs must be licensed, and all kennels must have an established limit of the number of animals that can be housed according to accommodations and staff availability.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) will provide all kennels with detailed operational and safety regulations, to be enforced by municipalities.
Authorities said a driver is facing charges after a hit-and-run crash left a pedestrian badly hurt this weekend in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. Saturday on Court Street. Police said the driver briefly stopped before fleeing the scene.
The victim was airlifted to a Boston hospital with critical injuries. Plymouth police said Monday that the patient is in stable condition and faces a long road to recovery.
The driver, identified as Francis Kelly of Plymouth, is charged with negligent operation and leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury.
“We would like to sincerely thank the public for the tips provided and for sharing surveillance footage that proved critical to this investigation,” Plymouth Police Capt. Marc Higgins said in a statement. “Incidents like this underscore the strength of community cooperation in supporting victims and ensuring accountability.”
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – There is a chance for snow leading up to Christmas.
In western Massachusetts, the chances for a white Christmas go up the farther north you are or the closer you are to the Berkshires. In Springfield, the chance for at least one inch of snow on Christmas Day is around 40 to 50 percent.
In Pittsfield, the chances are over 75 percent. In the extreme northwest corner of Massachusetts, near North Adams, the historical chance for a white Christmas is over 90 percent. So, it definitely helps your chances for snow if you’re in one of the higher-elevation areas.
How much snow is expected Tuesday
Light snow will begin on Tuesday around sunrise and continue on and off for much of the day until the evening. A minor accumulation is expected in the Pioneer Valley with a few inches in the hills and Berkshires. Slick roads and sidewalks are possible, especially if not treated. High temperatures will be in the low to mid-30s.
What’s the chance of a white Christmas in western Mass?
As of right now, the chances for a white Christmas this year are definitely higher than in the past few years, with some snow on Tuesday. Of course, the best chance for the snow to stick around until Christmas Day without melting will be back in the Berkshires.
December 25 2025 12:00 am
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day both look dry and comfortable.
Local News Headlines
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Massachusetts
Three Mass. residents arrested in undercover operation targeting child sex trafficking
Police arrested three Massachusetts residents in Framingham on Thursday after they tried to arrange payment for sex with a child while unknowingly communicating with undercover officers, according to Massachusetts State Police.
Framingham resident Joseph Norton, Sherborn resident Eric Gurvis and Milford resident Surya Chandra Ravi Kumar Eda were each arraigned in Framingham District Court on Friday, according to court records. All three pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted child rape, enticement of a child under 16 and paying for sexual conduct with a child.
The arrests were the result of an undercover operation by the State Police High Risk Victims Unit and Framingham police, State Police said in a press release. The operation was meant to address an increase in demand for commercial sex with children locally.
Gurvis is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on Jan. 12, 2026, according to court records. Norton’s next court date is a probable cause hearing scheduled for Jan. 30, 2026. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for Eda for Feb. 25, 2026.
No further information has been released.
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