Ordinance Committee backs update to Cambridge dog law, approves new kennel-licensing code for review by full council

Vice Mayor McGovern presided over a meeting of the Cambridge City Ordinance Committee that voted to send proposed amendments to the city’s dangerous-dog ordinance and a new kennel-licensing ordinance to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation.

Assistant City Solicitor Diane Pires told the committee the city’s existing “vicious dog” ordinance (last revised in 1989) must be updated to align with Massachusetts statutes in chapter 140, including changes to definitions, fine amounts and hearing procedures. Pires said the proposal replaces terms such as “vicious dog” with “dangerous dog,” adds more detailed hearing procedures and creates a kennel-license process the city does not currently have.

Pires described requirements in recent state legislation that will require commercial boarding and training kennels to keep individual dog records, ensure dogs over 6 months wear rabies and license tags, and provide municipal processes for issuing and revoking kennel licenses. She said the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is required to promulgate regulations by June 2026 and that Cambridge’s draft ordinance follows current state law but may need later amendment once MDAR issues final rules.

During questions, Councilor Nolan confirmed the change is primarily to comply with state law and to make municipal procedures consistent with statutory requirements. A committee member reported, “Currently, we have 4” kennels in Cambridge and described outreach efforts to inform operators about the new rules. Vice Mayor McGovern noted practical concerns about having to place breakaway collars and transfer metal tags during kennel intake; Pires and staff responded that those tag and recordkeeping requirements are statutory and therefore mandatory.

On a motion by Councilor Nolan, the committee voted to forward the proposed ordinance package to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation; the clerk recorded five affirmative votes and four absences. The committee then approved a motion to adjourn.

The ordinance package as presented would bring Cambridge into compliance with state law, establish annual kennel inspections by the animal control officer, require kennels to report injuries and provide MDAR with municipal kennel lists. The committee was advised that, if MDAR issues regulations that differ from the city draft, the council can amend the ordinance later.

Next steps: the measure will appear on the full City Council agenda for consideration.