Twenty-five citizens of a city or town may file a petition with the mayor of a city, the select board of a town or the police commissioner of the city of Boston, as the case may be, stating that they are aggrieved or annoyed to an extent that constitutes a nuisance by a dog maintained in the city or town due to excessive barking or other conditions connected with a kennel. The mayor, select board, town manager or police commissioner of the city of Boston, as the case may be, shall, not more than 7 days after the filing of such petition, give notice to all interested parties of a public hearing. The hearing shall be held not more than 14 days after the date of the notice. The mayor, select board, town manager or police commissioner of the city of Boston shall, not more than 7 days after the public hearing, investigate or cause to be investigated the subject matter of the petition and shall, by order:
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 140:137C