11/21/2025
As we near the start of the holiday season, we are already seeing an increase via social media- of inquiries for, and responses to-dog owners and service offerings-for dog boarding/keeping within caretaker’s homes.
Please be reminded that you cannot keep-for the day nor overnight-dogs, in your home or on your property, if you are operating as a business-without a kennel license-even for just one dog.
Those who are offering dog boarding or dog care services out of their homes, under app-based companies, which are designed ‘to connect’ dog owners with dog care providers, such as Rover, Wag, Petsitter [.com], Care [.com], etc., are NOT exempt from needing a kennel license.
Rover, Wag, Petsitter [.com], Care [.com], etc. are NOT employers of these pet caretakers – Rover, Wag, Petsitter [.com], Care [.com], etc. are platform applications, and those who use these apps to offer dog care services, are independent contractors, running their OWN dog care businesses. These caretakers determine their own fees, schedules, and are responsible to be familiar with, and adhere to, their local laws.
This means the platforms, such as Rover, Wag, Petsitter [.com], Care [.com], etc. do NOT provide their app users with insurance for any potential harm to pets, people, or property, nor do these platforms provide training, ensure qualifications, oversee concepts, visit the properties, contact community officials, nor assume liability.
And while these platforms may conduct some form of a background check and/or vetting process for their platform users, these are simply screening measures.
If we see or have verified that unlawful dog care services are being offered and/or provided, out of one’s home, we will take action.
Kennel license requirements, regardless of within which community you reside, fall under Massachusetts General Law. Service providers may be heavily fined, and/or issued cease & desist orders, under the municipality, which may not only bring existing dog boarding/keeping services to a halt, but such action may also result in dog owners needing to return from their trips in order to pick up their pets, if alternative ‘keeping’ arrangements are not able to be accommodated over the phone.
Unlawful boarding, keeping, daycare and dog training services have been a major focus for Massachusetts state officials, Animal Control Officers and Town/City Clerks, since the passing of Ollie’s Law, in 2024. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ollies-law-information
Dog owners – please know that Ollie’s Law legislation’s introduction stemmed from numerous incidents of dogs becoming injured, lost, and even killed, while being ‘kept’ by (even legitimate) pet service providers, as a result of unsafe properties and conditions, untrained staff/caretakers, insufficient or absences of emergency plans, incident reporting, and accountability.
Ollie's Law was incepted to provide oversight ‘to increase safety in pet boarding and pet daycare services, by establishing statewide regulations, ensuring all home boarding/residential and commercial kennels, are licensed and inspected, require injury reporting, and create a pathway for developing future kennel standards.'
[In Massachusetts, a kennel is defined as a collection of dogs on a single property for commercial boarding, breeding, training, or a private collection of a certain number of dogs...]
[Commercial boarding is the business of providing temporary lodging, meals and care for pets for profit]
Dog care providers – please know that while we appreciate your desire to provide dog care services out of your homes, amidst an explosive, ceaseless and lucrative pet care industry, we have little tolerance, nor does the state provide margins, when these practices are being conducted unlawfully.
If you are providing or considering providing such services out of your home, we advise you to contact your local officials to ascertain the requirements, inspections and licenses needed to provide such services -before offering them to anyone.
[Dog service providers are free to care for other people’s dogs in the homes in which the dog(s) reside, without kennel licenses.]
Dog owners - please know that while your dog walker may be running a legitimate and trustworthy dog walking business – and our communities have plenty of these wonderful dog walkers – just remember that dog walking does not roll over to include dog overnight care.
Dog owners -please also know that Dedham has only two (2) lawful dog daycare/boarding options – Dogtopia of Dedham and Tails.
Dedham does NOT have ANY licensed in-home dog care providers at this time. Please advise us if such service is being offered to you.
The town of Westwood has only two (2) licensed daycare/boarding facilities-The Dog House on Providence Hwy, and Pet Providers- which is the ONLY in-home facility with a kennel license.
We view pets as just as much a member of your families as you do, and the fact that we oversee and inspect lawful and lawfully-pursued service provision properties, to ensure they are humanely sound, safe, secured, sanitary, licensed, and prepared- to ‘keep’ your pets -should be of great value to you.
This should also be of great value to pet care providers, as we want to work with you so that your business interests are protected and lawful, and so that we can be a positive resource for you, if you need one while caring for other people's pets.
[Image: multiple dogs on a caretakers bed, in a residential home].
Town of Dedham, MA
Town of Westwood (Official)
Ollie's Law
