Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XIX Chapter 128
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 128, § 8B (2026)

Supervision of mink ranches; listing; fee; certificate; penalty

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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Section 8B. Mink that have been propagated in captivity for two or more generations shall be considered domesticated mammals subject to all the laws of the commonwealth with reference to possession, ownership and taxation as are at any time applicable to domesticated animals; such domesticated mink and the pelts or products thereof shall be deemed agricultural products and shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter one hundred and thirty-one. The breeding, raising, producing in captivity and marketing thereof shall be deemed an agricultural pursuit. For the purposes of this section, a mink ranch shall be deemed to be any place where mink as defined by this section are raised and propagated in captivity. Each mink ranch shall be listed with the department on or before February first of each year and the premises and the breeding records may be inspected by the commissioner or his agents at any reasonable time. The fee for such listing shall be $25 annually for which fee a certificate shall be issued by the department of agriculture. Such certificate shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises at all times. The burden shall be upon the owner of such a ranch to prove that all mink possessed are domesticated as defined above. Whoever violates any provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 1969–1971 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Proctor, 246 N.E.2d 454 (Mass. 1969).
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Commonwealth v. Proctor, 246 N.E.2d 454 (Mass. 1969). “Provisions similar to those just mentioned are now included in G. L. c. 128, § 8B, inserted by St. 1969, c.”
Moore v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals, 276 N.E.2d 712 (Mass. 1971). · cites it 2× “’ This strongly suggests that the term, ‘other animals,’ refers only to those similar to domestic animals and of the sort commonly associated with agricultural pursuits.”
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