Planning board continues Wicked Puppies dog‑daycare review; asks staff to draft conditions and research state rules

The Town of Braintree Planning Board on Tuesday continued the application from Wicked Puppies, a proposed dog‑daycare and grooming facility at 29 Messina Drive, to its Oct. 14 meeting and asked planning staff to draft a decision with specific operating conditions.

The applicant, identifying herself as Tingting, presented industry standards and a headcount table showing how many dogs each indoor room and outdoor yard could accommodate, and described evaluation procedures, vaccination and cleaning protocols and play‑area design. She told the board she consulted two construction firms and a longtime animal‑care consultant to produce the materials filed with planning staff.

Board members and staff said Braintree’s bylaws lack detailed rules for dog daycares and that the board would look to nearby ordinances and state guidance for model language. Director Maczek and a number of board members recommended staff consult Weymouth’s zoning language and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health; the applicant had already cited Weymouth as a reference.

Member Makami told the applicant the board needs “something in place before this can go forward” and pressed whether overnight boarding should be permitted; the applicant said she hoped overnight boarding would be allowed but the board asked staff to research that regulatory distinction. Member Connolly and Director Maczek suggested the board could attach operating conditions to a decision that would bind the business while the town considers a town‑wide ordinance.

The hearing was continued to Oct. 14 with direction for planning staff to prepare a draft decision and for the applicant to provide any additional materials requested by staff.