Section 11 - Enforcement and Penalties
Animal Control By-Law
- 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.
- Notwithstanding any provisions of the General Laws to the contrary, any person(s) who:
- 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
- Is found guilty of cruelty to animals; or
- 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
- 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).
- Any owner or keeper who:
- Violates the provisions of this By-law; or
- 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
- 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
- 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).
- Where applicable, each day shall constitute a separate offense.