Title 7, Title 7

A person who owns or keeps a dog that attacks, injures or kills a service animal or assistance animal while the service animal or assistance animal is in discharge of its duties commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 may be adjudged. [PL 2015, c.…

1. Violation. Except as provided in subsection 3, the owner or keeper of an animal that due to negligence of the animal's owner or keeper kills or injures livestock, poultry, domestic rabbits or pets commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture not to exceed $100 may be adjud…

If any properly enclosed livestock, poultry, domestic rabbits or pets are killed or injured by 2 or more dogs at the same time and the dogs are kept by 2 or more owners or keepers, the owners or keepers are jointly and severally liable for the damage.

1. Prohibition on sale. A person, firm, corporation or other business entity may not sell or offer for sale or resale in the State any ferret that is less than 8 weeks of age as determined by examination for adult canine dentition. 2. Prohibition on importation. A person, firm, c…

1. Rulemaking. The commissioner shall adopt major substantive rules in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A to regulate the breeding and sale of small mammals, including, but not limited to, guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits. The rules must reflect the standards o…

1. Use of animals in schools. No live vertebrate, except eggs, may be used in kindergarten and grades one to 12 of any public or private school as part of a scientific experiment or for any other purpose in which the animal is experimentally medicated or drugged in a manner to ca…

1. Unlawful use of animals. It is unlawful for any person to: A. Sell, display, raffle, give away or offer for sale within the State any live animals that have been dyed or otherwise artificially colored; [PL 1997, c. 690, §39 (AMD).] B. Sell, display, raffle, give away or offer …

1. Period of confinement. No railroad, motor truck, common carrier or its receiver, trustee or lessee which transports animals within the State or other person having the care, custody or charge of animals loaded into any such form of transportation may confine the animals in car…

A railroad, motor truck, common carrier or its receiver, trustee or lessee has a lien on all animals in transit for reimbursement of penalties paid in consequence of the direction or orders of the owner or person in custody of the shipment of animals and for all extra expenses or…

The commissioner, a humane agent, sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, police officer or person authorized to make arrests may take possession of any animals detained in violation of this chapter and may unload the animals and place them in properly equipped pens or other suitable…

The commissioner or any person having a lien in accordance with section 3982 or 3983 may enforce the lien in the same manner as enforcements of liens on personal property pursuant to Title 10, chapter 631.

Neither the commissioner nor any person having a lien in accordance with section 3982 or 3983 is liable for the detention of animals pursuant to this chapter.

1. License necessary. A research or teaching institution of higher education may not employ live animals in scientific investigation, experiment or instruction or for the testing of drugs or medicines without first having been issued a license under this section by the commission…

1. Permit required. Any person sponsoring a calf or pig scramble shall obtain a permit from the commissioner for each specific event at least 10 days before the event. 2. Application. Applications for calf or pig scramble permits shall specify the name of the applicant, the type …

1. Cruelty to animals. Except as provided in subsection 1‑A, a person, including an owner or the owner's agent, is guilty of cruelty to animals if that person: A. Kills or attempts to kill any animal belonging to another person without the consent of the owner or without legal pr…

1. Cruelty to birds. A person is guilty of cruelty to birds if that person: A. Keeps or uses any live pigeon, fowl or other bird for a target or to be shot at, either for amusement or as a test of skill in marksmanship; [PL 1987, c. 383, §3 (NEW).] B. Shoots at any bird or is pre…

No person owning or responsible for confining or impounding any animal may fail to supply the animal with a sufficient supply of food and water as prescribed in this section. [PL 1987, c. 383, §3 (NEW).] 1. Food. The food shall be of sufficient quantity and quality to maintain al…

No person owning or responsible for confining or impounding any animal may fail to supply the animal with necessary medical attention when the animal is or has been suffering from illness, injury, disease, excessive parasitism or malformed or overgrown hoof.

No person owning or responsible for confining or impounding any animal may fail to provide the animal with proper shelter, protection from the weather and humanely clean conditions as prescribed in this section. [PL 1997, c. 456, §7 (AMD).] 1. Indoor standards. Minimum indoor sta…

1. Penalty. A person who violates this chapter commits a civil violation. A. The court shall adjudge a civil fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 for the first violation, none of which may be suspended, and a civil fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 for…

The commissioner may adopt any rules necessary or useful to carry out this chapter pursuant to the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375.

1. Report by veterinarian. Except as provided in subsection 1‑A, a veterinarian licensed in accordance with Title 32, chapter 71‑A who, while acting in a professional capacity, has reasonable cause to suspect that an animal is the subject of cruelty or neglect in violation of thi…

1. Removal authorized. A law enforcement officer, humane agent, animal control officer, firefighter as defined in Title 26, section 2101 or security guard licensed under Title 32, chapter 93, referred to in this section as "authorized persons," may take all steps that are reasona…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Calf raised for veal" means a calf of the bovine species kept for the purpose of producing the food product referred to as veal. [PL 2009, c. 127,…

1. Definitions. 1-A. Trespass. An owner or keeper of an animal may not allow that animal to enter onto or remain on the property of another or unattended on any local, county or state road or highway after the owner or keeper has been informed by a law enforcement officer, author…

1. Ownership of livestock unknown. If the ownership of any stray livestock cannot be established, the livestock must be handled as a stray and an animal control officer shall seize, impound or restrain the livestock and: A. Deliver the livestock to an animal shelter, farm or hold…

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1991, c. 779, §41 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 779, §60 (AFF).] 1. Boarding stable. 2. Commercial riding facility. 3. Engage in an equine activity. 4. Equine. "Equine" mean…

1. Liability. Except as provided in subsection 2, an equine activity sponsor, an equine professional or any other person engaged in an equine activity is not liable for any property damage or damages arising from the personal injury or death of a participant or spectator resultin…

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1995, c. 589, §1 (NEW).] 1. Animal. "Animal" means a dog, wholly of the species canis familiaris, or a cat, wholly or in part of the species felis domesticus. 1-A…

1. Required disclosure. A seller shall deliver to a purchaser of an animal a written disclosure containing the following: A. An animal history that includes: (1) For sellers licensed with the United States Department of Agriculture, the name, address and United States Department …

1. Requirement to provide. A seller who states, promises or represents that an animal is registered or capable of registration with an animal pedigree organization shall provide the purchaser with the documents necessary for registration at the time of sale or within 90 days of t…

1. Animal with disease, illness or condition. Notwithstanding section 4152, a seller may not sell an animal that has any obvious clinical sign of infectious, contagious, parasitic or communicable disease or abnormality or has any disease, illness or condition that requires hospit…

1. Unfit for sale. If, within 10 days after receipt of the animal by the purchaser, a veterinarian states in writing that the animal has a health problem that existed in the animal at the time of delivery or if, within one year after receipt of the animal by the purchaser, a vete…

To obtain the remedies provided in section 4155, the purchaser has the following responsibilities with respect to an animal with a health problem. [PL 1995, c. 589, §1 (NEW).] 1. Veterinary diagnosis. The purchaser must notify the seller, within 2 business days, of the diagnosis …

1. Refusal to sell. A seller may refuse to sell an animal to a potential purchaser who appears not to accept or understand the provisions of this chapter. 2. Exemption from purchaser remedies. A refund, replacement or reimbursement of veterinary fees is not required if any one or…

1. Demand for remedy; contest. When a seller wishes to contest a demand for the remedy specified in section 4155, the seller may require the purchaser to produce all the veterinarian's records and the animal for examination or autopsy by a veterinarian designated by the seller. T…

A seller whose facility has public access shall post, in a prominent location in the area to which a prospective purchaser would have access, a notice printed in a minimum of 48-point, bold-faced type and containing the following language:"YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A STATEMENT OF CONSU…

1. Written notice. A seller shall provide the purchaser a written notice of rights, signed by the seller, certifying the accuracy of the information contained in the notice. The notice must be signed by the purchaser, acknowledging that the purchaser has reviewed and understood t…

This chapter does not limit the rights or remedies that are otherwise available to a purchaser under any other law.

1. Civil violation. A person who fails to meet a requirement of this chapter commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $50 or more than $500 per violation may be adjudged. 2. Action against pet shops and breeding kennels. The department may, in accordance with T…

A person may not advertise for sale, sell or exchange for value more than one cat or dog under the age of 6 months in a 12-month period unless that person has a valid animal shelter, kennel or breeding kennel license or a valid vendor's license issued under this section. [PL 2019…

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1997, c. 642, §2 (NEW).] 1. Animal feeding operation. "Animal feeding operation" means a lot or facility where animals are confined and fed for a total of at leas…

The commissioner shall implement a program to promote responsible use of farm nutrients in accordance with this chapter. The commissioner has the powers and duties as set forth in this section. [PL 1997, c. 642, §2 (NEW).] 1. Nutrient management plans. In accordance with Title 5,…

The Nutrient Management Review Board is established pursuant to Title 5, section 12004-D, subsection 5. [PL 1997, c. 642, §2 (NEW).] 1. Duties. The board's duties are as follows: A. The board shall review and approve all proposed amendments to the original rules adopted in accord…

1. Nutrient management plan required. A person who owns or operates a farm that meets the criteria established in subsection 2 shall have a nutrient management plan for that farm and shall implement the provisions in that plan by the dates specified for that category of farm in s…

1. Operations requiring a livestock operations permit. Beginning on January 1, 2000, a permit issued by the commissioner pursuant to subsection 2 is required for an animal feeding operation that meets one or more of the following criteria: A. The operation is a concentrated anima…