Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 129, § 36

Whoever kills an animal or causes it to be killed, with the consent of the owner or person in possession thereof, upon suspicion that it is affected with or has been exposed to a contagious disease, and who, upon the inspection of the carcass thereof, finds or is of opinion that it is affected with a contagious disease, shall forthwith notify such owner or person in possession thereof, and the director or an inspector for the town where such animal was kept, of the existence of such disease, and of the place where the animal was found, the name of the owner or person in possession thereof and of the disposal made of such carcass. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two months, or both.