TOWN OF LEICESTER
MASSACHUSETTS

Animal Control

Animal Control Officer:

Patricia Dykas Gonet

ASSISTANTS:
Didier L. Gonet
Francis Witkowski
Patricia Sweeney
Kenneth A. Graslie
Meggan Jarmulowicz
Telephone:
508-892-7018 (answering machine)
Emergency Dial 911
No Office Hours

Be Prepared
Please, take a few minutes to review any of these helpful web sites that can help you
prepare an emergency kit for your family and your pet(s). 

These links will be posted on the Town of Leicester web page as well. 

To find out more information in how you could become part of  

Leicester’s
ANIMAL EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM
 Email; bbk8920321@aol.com re: animal response
You will be notified of meetings to attend in the near future.
FEMA www.fema.gov

MEMA www.mass.gov

Humane Society of United States HUSU www. Hsus.org

American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA www.avma.org

Red Cross WWW.REDCROSS.ORG

www.beprepared.com

Thank you,
Pat Dykas-Gonet
Leicester, ACO 

DOG RULES AND REGULATIONS

SECTION 18. No person shall keep any dog which by biting, howling, barking or in any other manner, disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or endangers the safety of any person in a congested area.

SECTION 22. Any person applying to the Town Clerk for a Dog Kennel License under the statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is required to show proof that all local ordinances, especially Zoning and Board of Health requirements, have been complied with prior to the issuance of said license.

SECTION 23.  LEICESTER DOG CONTROL BY-LAW REGULATIONS

  1. Purpose: The provisions of the By-Law will enable the Town to establish its own Dog Fund relative to regulations in accordance with MGL Ch. 140 DOG LAWS and the Town of Leicester General By-Laws.
  2. No person owning or keeping a dog in the Town, shall allow such dog to run at large and/or at any time be unlicensed, uncollared and untagged, or become a nuisance to others, within the Town limits.
  3. An Owner/Keeper of a dog in the Town, must effectively restrain such dog, on owner’s property or with the knowledge and permission of such property’s owner.
  4. An Owner/Keeper of a dog in the Town may effectively confine, such dog to owner’s property or with the knowledge and permission of such property’s owner.
  5. An Owner/Keeper of a dog may physically restrain such dog while accompanied by person responsible for said dog(s), within or on a public way, street, or property of the Town of Leicester, or respectfully on the property of others.
  6. An Owner/Keeper of a dog shall not allow such dog(s) to cause to be a nuisance, by reason of vicious disposition or excessive barking or other disturbance and/or annoyance in conjunction with Town By-Law Chapter 9, Section 18.
  7. The registering, numbering, description and licensing, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 140 of the General Laws, of all dogs kept in the Town and of all dog kennels maintained in the Town shall be conducted in the office of the Town Clerk.
  8. The fees for the services prescribed in Section 7 shall be as prescribed by Chapter 140 of the General Laws, except that the annual fees for licenses for dogs shall be as listed below:
    9.
Male                        $10.00
Female                  10.00                KENNEL LICENSE
Neutered Mail            6.00             Four (4) dogs $30.00
Spayed Female   6.00                   Under 10 dogs 40.00
Substitute Tag            1.00            More than 10 dogs 50.00
Transfer License   1.00

            9.  An additional fee of Twenty ($20.00) Dollars shall be charged to each owner or keeper of a dog six (6) months old or ownership is beyond thirty (30) days. The fees so collected shall be deposited into the Town Dog Fund, over who fails to license said dog on or before June 1 of any year, or after the age of six months, and where proof of owner/keeper of any such dog running at large during that heat period.

        10.All unspayed female dogs shall during the twenty-one (21) day heat period, be confined in the owner's domicile or boarded in a kennel.  A Twenty-Five ($25.00) Dollar fine will be imposed on owner/keeper of any such dog running at lrge during that heat period.

  1. DOG FUND – All money received for the services prescribed herein, as well as monies recovered under fines for violations of Chapter 140 of the General Laws and the Town of Leicester General By-Laws shall be deposited in the Town Treasury in a special fund to be known as Dog Fund, separate from all other monies of the Town. The money in the Dog Fund shall be expended at the direction of the Selectmen without further appropriation for the payment of costs and expenses imposed on the Town by (a) Section 151B of said Chapter 140 for emergency care, treatment or disposal by registered veterinarians of dogs and cats injured on ways, and (b) Section 161 of said Chapter 140 for damage to livestock and fowl by dogs and for appraising the amount of such damage, pending the location of the owner(s) of the offending dog(s), at which time reimbursement will be made to the Dog Fund, provided that the liability of the Town for such damage shall not exceed the amount of One Thousand ($1000) Dollars on account of each occurrence out of which such damage arises. Any amount of money in excess in the Dog Fund shall be distributed for the educational and/or upgrading of the department, pursuant to the findings of the Board of Selectmen.
  2. Each known owner or keeper of a dog which has done damage to livestock or fowls shall be jointly and/or severally liable to make restitution to the injured party.
  3. An Owner/Keeper may file a Letter of Intent providing the dog(s), are duly licensed and tagged, supervised, and under full-control for the purpose of periodic training exercise, or use of hunting dog(s) during open hunting season, competition, or at other times when necessary for field training in non-restricted areas.

    4. 13a. At any time Owner/Keeper, allows said dog(s) to cause harm, damage, or nuisance to any person, property , or other animals such dog will be in violation of the provisions of this section, and the Letter of Intent will no longer be recognized in good standing. A Letter of Intent can be obtained at time of licensing or through the Animal Control Officer.

    VIOLATION:

  4. Violations of the By-Law will result in impoundment of animal by the Animal Control Officer. Said animal shall be released upon the remittance of a valid license and payment to the Town of Leicester, of a pick-up fee of Ten ($10.00) Dollars, plus normal boarding fees. Violator will also receive penalties in accordance with applicable Town Dog Control By-Laws and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 140.

    PENALTY:

  1. Any Owner/Keeper found in violation of any part of the provisions of this By-Law shall be fined by means of citation as follows:
•1st Offense within 12 month period Written Warning
•2nd Offense within 12 month period $25
•3rd Offense within 12 month period $35
•4th Offense within 12 month period $50
•5th and subsequent offenses within 24 month period…..Forfeiture of license with approval of the Board of Selectmen.

Said fines to be paid to Town Clerk’s Office upon citation by Animal Control Officer. Fines collected shall be deposited into the Town of Leicester DOG FUND.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:
OWNER – Shall mean any person or persons, firm, corporation, or association owning or keeping a dog(s).
KEEPER – Any person or society, other than the owner harboring or having in his possession any dog(s).
CONFINE – To limit in area, effectively restricted to private property, by means of fence, pen or other devise or structure.
PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED – To deprive of freedom, to limit or restrict by means of leash, harness or lead in compliance with humane requirements.
RESTRAINED – To deprive of freedom, to limit or restrict.
FULL CONTROL – Dog(s) will respond to the command, order or signal of the owner or keeper responsible for the dog.
DOG FUND – The fees, fines and reimbursements collected in connection with licensing of dogs and the enforcement of said sections.
LETTER OF INTENT - To make your actions clear, of responsibility, a promise to your fellow citizens that you can and will conduct your pet(s) in a manner, no offensive to others. And be responsible for said animal.
NUISANCE – Any dog shall be considered a public nuisance when such dog is found to be not under control of the owner/keeper, poses a threat to public safety, cause disturbance via barking/howling.
CONFINE – To limit in area, effectively restricted to private property, by means of fence, pen or other devise or structure.
PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED – To deprive of freedom, to limit or restrict by means of leash, harness or lead in compliance with humane requirements.
RESTRAINED – To deprive of freedom, to limit or restrict.
FULL CONTROL – Dog(s) will respond to the command, order or signal of the owner or keeper responsible for the dog.
DOG FUND – The fees, fines and reimbursements collected in connection with licensing of dogs and the enforcement of said sections.
LETTER OF INTENT To make your actions clear, of responsibility, a promise to your fellow citizens that you can and will conduct your pet(s) in a manner, no offensive to others. And be responsible for said animal.
NUISANCE – Any dog shall be considered a public nuisance when such dog is found to be not under control of the owner/keeper, poses a threat to public safety, cause disturbance via barking/howling.

West Nile Virus-Questions and Answers

Rabies-What You Need To Know:
How Can You Prevent Rabies
Rabies- What To Do If Bitten
Self Defense Against Rabies
Take Away The Welcome Mat
Take Away The Place Mat
Too--Late They're Here!
 
What Does It Take To Be Loved?