Maine Revised Statutes Title 7 Sec. 3948 – Animal control
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1. Control. Municipalities shall control dogs running at large.
[PL 1997, c. 690, §29 (AMD).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 7 Sec. 3948
- Animal: means every living, sentient creature not a human being. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 7 Sec. 3907
- Animal control: means control of dogs, cats, and domesticated or undomesticated animals in accordance with section 3948. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 7 Sec. 3907
- At large: means off the premises of the owner and not under the control of any person whose personal presence and attention would reasonably control the conduct of the animal. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 7 Sec. 3907
- Companion animal: means a cat or dog. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 7 Sec. 3907
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Municipality: means an organized city, town or plantation. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 7 Sec. 3907
- Owner: means a person owning, keeping or harboring a dog or other animal. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 7 Sec. 3907
- Stray: means off the owner's premises and not under the control of a person. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 7 Sec. 3907
- Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
2. Medical attention. Law enforcement officers and animal control officers shall take a stray animal to its owner, if known, or, if the owner is unknown, shall ensure that any injured companion animal that is at large or in a public way is given proper medical attention.
[PL 2009, c. 343, §21 (AMD).]
3. Domesticated and undomesticated animals. A municipality shall control domesticated animals that are a cause of complaint in the community. A municipality shall control animals that pose a threat to public health or safety. A municipality may control undomesticated animals in matters on which no other department is charged by law to regulate.
[PL 1997, c. 690, §31 (AMD).]
4. Reporting. By January 31st of each year, a municipality shall report to the animal welfare program of the department all complaints related to animal control incidents for the prior calendar year. The report must include the number and type of animal complaints received and responded to by municipal animal control officers, law enforcement officers or municipal officials and the outcomes of each investigation. The reports must be on forms provided by the department.
[PL 2017, c. 404, §10 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 383, §3 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 643, §4 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 468, §16 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 490, §17 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 690, §§29-31 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 343, §21 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 404, §10 (AMD).