205 CMR 12.03 - Greyhound Housing

(1) Facilities shall be adequately constructed and maintained in good repair to ensure protection of greyhounds from injury or other endangerment.

(2) Kennel buildings shall be of adequate size to prevent overcrowding of the greyhounds.

(3) Shelter shall be provided to adequately allow access to shade from direct sunlight and protection from exposure to inclement weather in all greyhound housing and exercise areas.

(4) Dry bedding, adequate to provide comfort, shall be provided for all greyhounds.

(5) Heat, insulation or additional bedding adequate to provide comfort shall be provided when the ambient temperature is below 50 ºF. Facilities shall have operational cooling devices available to prevent interior temperatures from exceeding 85ºF.

(6) Facilities shall at all times provide ventilation to the greyhounds by means of doors, windows, vents, air conditioning or direct flow of fresh air adequate to provide for the good health and comfort of the greyhounds.

(7) Ample lighting shall be provided by natural and/or artificial means to allow efficient cleaning of the facilities and routine inspection of the facilities and greyhounds contained therein.

(8) Each kennel building shall have hot and cold running water.

(9) Washrooms or sinks shall be provided within each housing facility and be readily assessable for maintaining cleanliness among greyhound caretakers and sanitizing food and water utensils. Drainage systems shall be functional to affect those purposes and minimize vermin infestation, odors, and disease hazards.

(10) Ceilings, walls and floors shall be constructed to lend themselves to efficient cleaning and sanitizing. Such surfaces shall be kept in good repair.

(11) Kennels must comply with all state and local fire safety statutes and ordinances.

(12) Smoking shall not be allowed in the kennel areas.

(13) A minimum of one functional fire extinguis her shall beavaila bleat each kennel building.

(14) Exercise areas shall be free of debris, brush, or any unsanitary or hazardous materials that could endanger the greyhounds.

(15) Fencing for exercise areas shall be a minimum of six feet high. Material for fencing shall be such that the health and safety of the greyhounds are not endangered. Fencing shall be maintained in satisfactory repair.

(16) Exercise areas having sand or other non-permanent surface materials shall be cleaned and disinfected daily, or more frequently as may be necessary. Fresh surface materials shall be added to soak up urine, as necessary, to reduce disease and odors.

(17) Facilities shall be cleaned and disinfected at least weekly, or more frequently as may be necessary, to eliminate disease hazards, odors, fleas, ticks and vermin.

(18) Equipment shall be available for the removal and disposal of waste materials from all kennel housing and exercise facilities. This equipment shall be maintained and used in such a manner to ensure the proper storage and disposal of wastes and/or contaminated material in order to control vermin and insects, the spread of diseases, and obnoxious odors.

(19) Droppings must be picked up and removed from the kennel area at least daily. Dropping buckets must have lids that must be kept on the buckets except when in use. Dropping buckets shall be stored in an area removed from the kennel housing and exercise areas.

Notes

205 CMR 12.03