Animal Control Officer

1. We have a 24-hour Leash Law: ALL DOGS MUST be on a leash secured by its walker whenever it leaves its owners property.
2. NO DOGS are permitted in the Greenlawn Cemetery.
3. The Johnson School is designated as a “dog free zone”. NO DOGS are allowed on the grounds which includes: playgrounds, play areas, ball fields and parking lots.
4. NO DOGS ARE PERMITTED on ANY BEACH, MAY 1ST through SEPTEMBER 30th. At other times, OCTOBER 1st through APRIL 30th, dogs may be on any beach but MUST BE LEASHED.
5. All dog walkers must remove their dog’s feces from public and private property. Necessary “tools/equipment” must be carried for this purpose.
6. Excessive barking is prohibited and may become a Police matter if not properly addressed by the owner.
7. All dogs must be licensed EVERY JANUARY. Proof of Rabies Immunization must be presented to the Clerk in the Town Hall.
8. A low cost Rabies Clinic is held every year behind the Town Hall the first Wednesday in May. (The Clerk is available for license purchases for those who may still need to get one.)
9. Please help prevent Pet Overpopulation. Spay/neuter you’re pet. Adopt from shelters or rescue groups, especially mature animals

1. A $20 fine will be assessed for late (after April 15th of each year) licensing of each dog.
2. ALL FINES  MUST BE PAID before January 1st of each year.

No person shall permit a dog owned or kept by him beyond the confines of the property of the owner or keeper, unless the dog is held firmly on a leash. No person shall permit a dog, owned or kept by him, to enter on or remain on any part of
Johnson School property. (rev.4-27-02) Article 37.

No person shall permit a dog, owned or kept by him, to enter on or remain on any Town beach, from May through September 30 each year, except that the beach known as Doggie Beach on Castle Road opposite the Coast Guard Station may be used year-round for the exercise of dogs not on a leash. For the purpose s of this section, Doggie Beach on Castle Road, opposite of the Coast Guard Station, does not extend to the beach behind the residential area of Castle Road.

Enforcement of this Section 13 shall follow the procedure set forth in Section C (below) with these specific penalties:

1. For the first offense, a twenty-five dollar ($25) fine
2. For the second offense, in any twelve-month period, a fifty dollar ($50) fine
3. For the third offense, in any twelve-month period, a seventy-five dollar ($75) fine
4. For each subsequent offense, in any twelve month period, a hundred dollar ($100) fine

1. The Town Administrator shall annually appoint a Dog Control Clerk, whose duties shall be to supervise and co-ordinate the processing of all violations of this Section 13. Said Clerk shall have the authority, subject to the approval of the Town Administrator, and to appropriation of funds therefor, to hire such personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out such duties.
2. The issuance of a citation by a police officer or the Dog Officer, for a violation of this Section 13, shall serve to give the owner of the dog notice to appear before the Dog Control Clerk, at any time during regular office hours, not later than twenty-one days after the date of such violation. A copy of the citation shall be given to the Dog Control Clerk, who shall maintain a docket of all such persons notified to appear.
3. Any person so notified to appear before said Clerk may appear before him or his designee and admit to the offense charged, either personally or through an agent duly authorized in writing or by mailing to said Clerk the citation, accompanied by the fine imposed, such payment to be made only by postal note, money order or check payable to
   the Town of Nahant. Payment of the fine established shall operate as a final disposition of the case.
4. A citation given as herein provided, shall be deemed a sufficient notice and a certificate of the officer giving such citation that it was given to the person charged in accordance with this by-law, shall be deemed prima facie evidence thereof and shall be admissible in any judicial or administrative proceedings as to the facts contained therein.
5. Should any person notified to appear hereunder fail to appear, or, having appeared, fail to pay the fine imposed or request a hearing on the matter, the Dog Control Clerk shall forthwith schedule the matter before a person, hereinafter referred to as a hearing officer, said hearing officer to be the Dog Control Clerk or such other person or persons
   as said Clerk may designate. Written notice of the date, time and place of said hearing shall be sent by first class mail to the person notified to appear hereunder. Said hearing shall be informal, the rules of evidence shall not apply and the decision of the hearing officer shall be final, subject to judicial review, as provided by Section 14 of Chapter 301
   of the Massachusetts General Laws.
6. All fines received by the Town, pursuant to sub-section B hereof, shall be paid into the Town treasury. This section 13 was revised on April 26, 1986; April 29, 1995; and May 21, 2022.

1. Duty to Dispose. It shall be the duty of each person who owns, possesses, or controls a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by his/her dog on any sidewalk, street or other public area. It shall further be the duty of each person who
   owns, possesses, or controls a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by his/her by such dog.
2. Duty to Possess Means of Removal. No person who owns, possesses or controls a dog shall appear with such dog on any sidewalk, street, park or other public area without the means of removal of any feces left by such dog. Furthermore, no person who owns, possesses or controls a dog shall appear on any private property neither owned nor occupied by said person without means of removal of any feces left by such dog.
3. Method of Removal and Disposal. For the purpose of this subsection, the means of removal shall be any tool, implement, or other device, including but not limited to bags or other suitable containers, carried for the purpose of picking up and containing such feces. Disposal shall be accomplished by transporting such feces to such person’s
   private trash container, a public trash container, or any other suitable place designated as appropriate by the Nahant Board of Health. Disposal in the storm drains is prohibited.
4. The provisions of this subsection D shall not apply to a physically handicapped person in sole custody of a dog.
   Police By-Laws Adopted voted and accepted Town Meeting May 21,2022 Article #26
   AG approved 8/22/2022