Please Pass Nine Animal-related Bylaw Amendments

The Rehoboth Animal Advisory Committee encourages voters to pass nine animal-related bylaw amendments at the May 15 Town Meeting. They are numbered 10 through 19 in the warrant booklet. Our committee compared our bylaws with those in neighboring, similar towns and also worked with town counsel on the best wording of these changes. The Board of Selectmen are co-sponsoring these bylaw changes along with us, your town animal committee. We have made summaries available on our town website, https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/animal-advisory-committee.

These amendments will update our bylaws to make them consistent with state laws passed since 2014. Town bylaws should follow state law to better inform residents about what is required. The amendments also improve protection of human health and safety through enforcement of rabies and licensing requirements and stronger remedies for nuisance and dangerous dogs.

The updates also make the processes and penalties for infractions of the rules more clear. They are both better deterrents and protect the rights and safety of town residents and as well as dog owners. Finally, the updates help emphasize important new state-law requirements for the care and protection of dogs and provisions to rescue animals in closed cars. Therefore, they will help protect animals too.

Sincerely,

Richard Panofsky
291 Fairview
Chair, Rehoboth Animal Advisory Committee