Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 88 (2026)

Complaints and warrants relative to fighting animals; searches; arrests

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 88. If complaint is made to a court or magistrate authorized to issue warrants in criminal cases that the complainant has reasonable cause to believe that preparations are being made for an exhibition of the fighting of birds, dogs or other animals, or that such exhibition is in progress, or that birds, dogs or other animals are kept, owned, possessed, trained, bred, loaned, sold, exported or otherwise transferred in violation of section 94 at any place or in any building or tenement, such court or magistrate, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such belief, shall issue a search warrant authorizing any sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable or police officer, or special police officer duly appointed by the colonel of the state police at the request of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or at the request of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, to search such place, building or tenement at any hour of the day or night and take possession of all such animals and all paraphernalia, implements, equipment or other property used or employed, or intended to be used or employed, in violation of section 94 there found, and arrest all persons there present.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2006–2021 · leading case: Carney v. Attorney Gen., 447 Mass. 218 (Mass. 2006).
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Carney v. Attorney Gen., 447 Mass. 218 (Mass. 2006). “Current criminal statutes do not address the breeding of dogs for fighting, see G. L. c. 272, § 88 (search warrant), § 89 (warrantless search), §91 (forfeiture), and § 94 (punishment), or address the issue of dog fighting paraphernalia.”
Thomas v. Ralph v. Civil Serv. Comm'n & Another., 100 Mass. App. Ct. 199 (Mass. App. Ct. 2021). “270, § 18 (special police officer may make warrantless arrest of person using, possessing, or selling toxic vapors for intoxication); G. L. c. 272, § 88 (warrant may authorize special State police officer to arrest persons engaged in animal fighting); G.”
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