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3 things to know about Massachusetts' new pet laws taking effect Tuesday
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
The rain and fog should finally clear up today, but watch out for the wind.
Here's what's blowing our way in the news:
Paw and order: A slate of new rules aimed at protecting the welfare of cats and dogs takes effect Tuesday in Massachusetts, thanks to a pair of laws signed by Gov. Maura Healey this past January. WBUR's Cici Yongshi Yu spoke to Kara Holmquist, the MSPCA's director of advocacy, to explain what they do and the reasons behind them.
- A ban on declawing cats: Massachusetts is now the fifth state in the country to prohibit declawing cats, after New York led the way in 2019. While some pet owners get their cats declawed to prevent scratching and furniture damage, Holmquist says it's a painful procedure that involves not only removing claws, but also amputating the last bone of each of the cat's toes. "It can cause a lot of pain and behavior changes in a cat from that pain," she said. "We really encourage people to use alternatives such as scratching posts and keeping the cat's nails trimmed." The new law does allow medical exceptions for declawing, like an infection or tumor. Violators will face fines starting at $1,000, as well as punishment from the state's veterinarian board.
- The eight-week rule: The second law prohibits the sale of puppies and kittens that are younger than eight weeks old. " It's really important that those animals stay with their mothers," Holmquist said. "They learn a lot behaviorally, and it's much better for them health-wise." The fine for violators is $100 per animal.
- No more roadside sales: The law also bans selling cats and dogs on the side of the road, as well as in public parks, parking lots and flea markets. Holmquist says the measure is meant to protect consumers as much as kittens and puppies. "If a person has a problem with an animal after purchasing an animal in a park or on the roadside, there's not a lot of recourse — if any recourse," she said. (In this case, fines start at $50 for the first offense and ramp up to $300.)
He's running: The first possible 2026 challenger to Healey has entered the ring. Mike Kennealy, a Lexington Republican and former Baker administration official, formally announced his candidacy Monday, with a focus on lowering gas prices, housing costs and taxes. (You can watch his video here.)
- Who is he? Kennealy worked for nearly two decades in private equity, before joining the team that oversaw Lawrence Public Schools' receivership in 2013. He then joined former Gov. Charlie Baker's administration in 2015, serving as housing and economic development secretary through the entirety of Baker's second term. Kennealy now works for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston (which is apparently a breeding ground for recent political candidates).
- What to expect: Kennealy is likely to run as a moderate Republican, like his old boss. As WBUR's Walter Wuthmann reports, a recent video circulated by party activists shows Kennealy telling voters he didn't vote for President Trump or former Vice President Kamala Harris last fall (as Baker has been known to do).
Deferred admission: UMass Chan Medical school will accept some PhD candidates for its biomedical sciences program this fall, reversing its decision last month to rescind all offers due to uncertainty about federal funding. While the uncertainty hasn't gone away, UMass says it will now use its own money to fund a limited number of positions. (The exact number, while smaller, won't be known until next week.)
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