The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has submitted a report to the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government regarding kennel licensing in the state, as mandated by Chapter 213 of the Acts of 2024. The report outlines that by July 1, 2025, the department will provide a comprehensive analysis of the number and types of kennel licenses issued, identify municipalities that are not in compliance with licensing requirements, and offer any legislative recommendations based on their findings. Currently, there are 1,370 reported kennels in Massachusetts, with varying types including commercial boarding, breeding, and veterinary kennels.

The report highlights significant compliance issues, with 107 municipalities failing to submit any data on kennel licenses, and an additional 15 municipalities providing records in an unreadable format. Only 229 municipalities have complied with the reporting requirements. The report notes that the current statute lacks enforcement authority for the Department, suggesting that legislative consideration should be given to granting such authority to address the high number of non-compliant towns effectively.