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 a significant number of municipalities failing to comply with reporting requirements.

The report highlights that 229 municipalities submitted acceptable reports by the June 1, 2025 deadline, while 107 municipalities did not provide any data, and 15 municipalities submitted data in an unreadable format. The report indicates a need for enforcement authority within the statute, as the lack of compliance among numerous towns raises concerns about the effectiveness of the current licensing framework. The department suggests that legislative consideration should be given to granting enforcement authority to address these compliance issues.