Massachusetts has UNNECESSARY regulations that prevent rescue dogs, that are in need of homes, from finding new families. Massachusetts law makers have made it a law that rescue dogs/puppies cannot be adopted by MA residents unless the dog/puppy is quarantined for 48hrs in one of the few special facilities that are approved by the state. Many rescues have called around trying to find openings, while there are FEW facilities that exist, none of them have room for more dogs or rescues. While getting the chance to find a facility with an opening to quarantine a dog/puppy is hard enough, it is made even harder for the rescue to place a dog/puppy in the facility, as it costs a lot of money. AND not only does the rescue have to pay for the quarantine, they also have to pay for a vet check following the quarantine. While rescues are mostly already volunteer based and keep their organization running off of donations, they CANNOT POSSIBLY afford these fees without a drastic increase in adoption fees. 

While Massachusetts is the ONLY state that does this, it is very unnecessary. 

Massachusetts did this with the idea that it would protect current Massachusetts pets and this is a valid idea BUT there are SIMPLE solutions that don't cost nearly as much money and are MUCH more conventional.

Rescues agree this quarantine is an unnecessary step and just holds up the dogs, who need stability, longer. 

Rescues think there’s an easy solution; the following is all quoted from a rescue itself:

-Allow fosters or adopters to quarantine the dogs in their homes and get a vet check after 48 hours. 

-Require rescues to only send up fully vaccinated dogs. That virtually eliminates the worry about the possible transmission of Parvo, Distemper, Lepto and Rabies.(While pretty much all rescues already vaccinate their pets promptly on their arrival at the shelter/rescue. And keep them all updated as their stay continues.)

I as well as many others were taken back by this and were told we COULD NOT adopt a dog/puppy based off of the fact that we were residents of Massachusetts.

Write your Massachusetts lawmakers and the governor's office! Ask them to file legislation to change the requirements listed in these state regulations:

330 CMR 30.00: ANIMAL RESCUE AND SHELTER ORGANIZATION REGULATIONS