Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 77A (2026)

Willfully injuring police dogs and horses

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 77A. Whoever willfully tortures, torments, beats, kicks, strikes, mutilates, injures, disables or otherwise mistreats, a dog or horse owned by a police department or police agency of the commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions or whoever, willfully by any action whatsoever, interferes with the lawful performance of such dog or horse shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars and not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years or both. Persons violating this section may be arrested without a warrant by any officer qualified to serve criminal process provided said offense is committed in his presence.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 3 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2019–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Jordan, 125 N.E.3d 800 (Mass. App. Ct. 2019).

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Commonwealth v. Jordan, 125 N.E.3d 800 (Mass. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “The manner in which the defendant closed the door, combined with all of the other evidence, supported the inference that he acted "willfully" to "strike" Justice within the meaning of G. L. c. 272, § 77A. 4 The defendant argues that we should construe the statute to apply only…”

Commonwealth v. Ronyvan v. Goncalves. (Mass. App. Ct. 2023). “265, § 13D, one count of mistreating or interfering with a police dog, G. L. c. 272, § 77A, one count of attempt to commit a crime (to wit, larceny over $250), G.”

Commonwealth v. Lamarr Carrigan. (Mass. App. Ct. 2026). “266, § 127; mistreatment of a police dog in violation of G. L. c. 272, § 77A; witness intimidation in violation of G.”

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