Animal Health and Safety

The Northampton Health Department works with the Animal Control Officer at the Police Department to investigate rabies reports, and to make sure that animals are quarantined when necessary.

This page has information about protecting your health when you are around pets and wild animals. You can also download forms for beaver trap permits and stable licenses. Some of the Massachusetts and Northampton laws about animals are posted here as well.

City Ordinance, Sec 5-18 requires that all dogs be leashed and prohibits them from running free on the property of others without permission.

City Ordinance, Sec. 5-22 requires that those who own or control dogs on public property clean up and dispose of any droppings left by their pets.