Massachusetts
Massachusetts Senate passes bill to ban sale of dogs, cats from pet stores
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Mass. (WJAR) — Changes could be on the way in Massachusetts when it comes to where you buy ‘Buddy’ or ‘Rocky’ as the Senate passes legislation banning pet stores from selling dogs and cats.
It’s part of the ‘PETS Act’, which still needs approval from the House of Representatives and Gov. Maura Healey.
Several municipalities including Attleboro have already adopted similar regulations at a local level, with the goal being to prevent a puppy mill to pet shop pipeline.
Alisa Clements, the Director of Government Affairs for the Pet Advocacy Network spoke with NBC 10’s Devin Bates about the bill. (WJAR)
“If it will help stop puppy mills and maybe help put a crimp in that distribution and force people to think of other ways to acquire pets, especially rescues, that would be great,” said dog owner Linda Taylor.
However, those against the legislation claimed it would hurt small businesses who rely on pet sales. The non-profit Pet Advocacy Network believes it could even end up shifting demand to shady online sellers or out-of-state dealers.
“New York’s ban went into effect a little over a year ago, and we’re already seeing folks selling dogs out of their cars in Manhattan and importing dogs from Taiwan to apartments in Queens and selling them,” said Alisa Clements, the Director of Government Affairs for the Pet Advocacy Network.
Clements said these sellers are not inspected or regulated.
“All the things that our pet stores do, because they are the most highly regulated and inspected place to get a dog in this country,” she said.
The MSPCA has voiced its support for the PETS Act, adding that state and federal records show dogs from, “some of the worst puppy mills in the country have been sold to Massachusetts consumers at pet shops.”
The Pet Advocacy Network, while agreeing with some other measures of the sweeping PETS Act, like allowing seniors in state-funded housing to have a companion animal of their choosing, was disappointed the ban on dog and cat sales was included in the package.
A dog running inside a park in North Attleborough. (WJAR)
Instead, the organization is throwing its support behind another bill under consideration, H.2256, which would essentially require pet stores to source their dogs and cats from U.S.D.A-licensed breeders while tightening up inspection requirements.
“They’re going to have to be licensed, inspected and transparent about the health and origins of every animal that they sell, so it’s really this great, comprehensive bill that will strengthen the regulations,” Clements said. “This is actually something that will help increase protections, would do something for animal welfare and help combat that problem we’re seeing of bad actors.”
If the PETS Act does pass, store owners who sell a dog or a cat could face a $1,000 fine, with repeat offenders risking losing their shop’s license altogether.
Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.
The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.
State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.
The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.
In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.
Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.
This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
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Massachusetts residents love their beach towns.
And Condé Nast Magazine loves two particular beach towns in the Bay State, but surprisingly didn’t pick a beach on Cape Cod.
That’s why the towns were included on the magazine’s 2025 list of the 17 best beach towns on the East Coast.
“Whether you’re looking to lay out on the sand in summer or prefer walking along the water spotting wildlife and collecting rocks, the shores of the East Coast have a little something for everyone,” Condé Nast stated on its website.
Here’s more about the magazine’s favorite beach towns in Massachusetts.
Oak Bluffs ranked No. 5 on the list
Coming in at number 5 is one of the most popular spots on Martha’s Vineyard – Oak Bluffs.
What they said: “The colorful gingerbread houses for which Oak Bluffs is known are straight out of a storybook. Visitors walk straight off their boats into Ocean Park, a circular green overlooking the sea, encircled by said houses, with a frothy, delicate gazebo sitting in the center. Oak Bluffs has a long history of welcoming Black visitors, and today it is home to the annual African-American Film Festival.”
Rockport ranked No. 4 on the list
Rockport is a town on the North Shore of the Bay State.
What they said: “The coastal region is known for its excellent seafood, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks. Many a good film has been filmed here as well, such as Martin Scorsese’s ‘Shutter Island’ and Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Manchester-by-the-Sea.’
“Forty miles north of Boston, (Rockport) has a can’t-miss natural gem in Halibut Point State Park, from which visitors can spot Maine in the distance 80 miles away. Rockport is also beloved by art history buffs: it is home to Motif Number 1, a fishing shack with the superlative ‘the most-often painted building in America.’ It was built in 1840, and was a popular subject because it represented New England’s nautical character.”
What other regions of New England are on the list?
According to Condé Nast, they include:
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Kennebunkport, Maine
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
- Madison, Connecticut
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