Animal Welfare Act
Maine · Extension Work With State University · §§ 3901 to 3910-C · 17 sections
Overview
The act regulates the commercial handling of dogs, cats, and other animals, reaching pet shops, dog dealers, dog and cat breeders, animal shelters, animal control facilities, and foster homes. It requires these operators to hold a state-issued license renewed each fiscal year and paid for by non-returnable application fees, to maintain sanitary conditions and fire alarm protection, to withhold puppies and kittens from sale until they reach a minimum age, and to disclose and keep records on animals offered for sale or adoption; it also restricts the retail sale of dogs and cats by pet shops and sets terms for accepting strays, redeeming them, transferring animals between shelters, and placing them for adoption. Enforcement runs through the administering department, which issues rules and forms, imposes administrative fines, and disciplines licensees by suspension or revocation after a recorded hearing subject to judicial review, with violations separately punishable as a misdemeanor on a per-day basis.
Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.
Sections covered
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3901Animal Welfare Act
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3902Purposes; comprehensive program
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3903Membership
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3903-AAnimal Welfare Board; membership
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3904Terms of office
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3905Administration
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3906Powers and duties of the board
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3906-APowers and duties of board
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3906-BPowers and duties of commissioner
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3906-CAnimal Welfare Advisory Council
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3907Definitions
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3908Governmental function
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3909Enforcement
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3910Jurisdiction
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3910-AForfeitures and surcharge
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3910-BCompanion Animal Sterilization Fund
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 3910-CCompanion Animal Sterilization Program
Enacted in other states
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