Section 11 - Enforcement and Penalties

Animal Control By-Law
  1. The Animal Control Officer duly appointed or, in their absence, police officers shall enforce the provisions of this Animal Control by-law, and shall attend to all complaints or other matters pertaining to animals in the Town of West Stockbridge.
  2. Notwithstanding any provisions of the General Laws to the contrary, any person(s) who:
    1. Refuses to answer or answers falsely questions of an Animal Control Officer or a police officer pertaining to his/her ownership of an animal; or
    2. Is found guilty of cruelty to animals; or
    3. Refuses to turn over any animal to the Animal Control Officer upon demand as authorized by Sections 6 and 7 of this By-law; or
    4. Violates a Selectmen’s order shall be punished by a fine not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than three hundred dollars ($300).
  3.  Any owner or keeper who:
    1. Violates the provisions of this By-law; or
    2. Is the owner/keeper of any animal who shall be found by an Animal Control Officer to have defecated on private property other than that of its owner/keeper, or on a public sidewalk; or
    3. Is the owner/keeper of any animal who intentionally allows any such animal to cause a nuisance by barking, howling or otherwise disturb another person’s right to peace; or
    4. Is the owner/keeper of an animal found to have bitten or injured any person, dog or other animal may be penalized by non-criminal disposition as provided in MGL Chapter 40 Section 21D ad shall be punished by a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300).
  4. Where applicable, each day shall constitute a separate offense.