In Massachusetts, you can file a complaint with the hearing authority that a dog owned or kept in a city or town is a dangerous dog or is a nuisance (G.L. c 140 § 157).

The city or town’s hearing authority will investigate the complaint and take an examination under oath of the person complaining at a public hearing.  After the investigation and hearing, the authority will:

• If the complaint is the dog was a nuisance, dismiss the complaint or find the dog a nuisance.
• If the complaint is the dog was dangerous, dismiss the complaint, find the dog a nuisance, or find the dog was dangerous.

If you want to make a complaint that a dog is dangerous or a nuisance, contact the city or town where the dog is kept and ask to be directed to the hearing authority.  The hearing authority will tell you what you must do to file a complaint.