The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Ms. Jehlen

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
                Court assembled:

                The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

An Act to Protect Animals.

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PETITION OF:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

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An Act to Protect Animals.

                Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

            Section 1.    Section 34D of chapter 208 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the full sentence beginning at line 25 through line 31, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

            In all instances where an outstanding warrant exists, a judge shall make a finding, based upon all of the circumstances, as to whether an imminent threat of bodily injury exists to the petitioner or to a domesticated animal. In all instances where such an imminent threat of bodily injury to a human being or a domesticated animal is found to exist, the judge shall notify the appropriate law enforcement officials of such finding and such officials shall take all necessary actions to execute any such outstanding warrant as soon as is practicable.