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| A person who owns or keeps a dangerous dog commits a civil | violation for which a forfeiture | | more than $1,000, plus costs, may be adjudged. |
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| | | Sec. 8. 7 MRSA §3952, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2001, c. 399, §5, is | | further amended to read: |
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| | | 1. Procedure. Any person who is assaulted or threatened | | with imminent bodily injury by a dog or any person witnessing | | an assault or threatened assault against a person or | | domesticated animal or a person with knowledge of an assault | | or threatened assault against a minor, within 30 days of the | | assault or threatened assault, may make written complaint to | | the sheriff, local law enforcement officer or animal control | | officer that the dog is a dangerous dog. |
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| | | Upon investigation of the complaint, the sheriff, local law | | enforcement officer or animal control officer may issue a | | civil violation summons for keeping a dangerous dog. |
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| | If, upon hearing, | | dog as defined in section 3907, subsection 12-D, the court may | impose a civil forfeiture |
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| | | A. Order the dog muzzled, restrained, confined to the | | premises of its owner or keeper or confined in a secure | | enclosure. The court may set standards for that | | enclosure; or |
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| | | B. Order the dog to be euthanatized if it has killed, | | maimed or inflicted serious bodily injury upon a person or | | has a history of a prior assault. |
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| | | The court may order restitution in accordance with Title 17-A, | | chapter 54 for any damages inflicted upon a person or a | | person's property. |
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| | | Sec. 9. 7 MRSA §3952, sub-§1-A is enacted to read: |
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| | | 1-A.__Change in ownership or address; notice.__An owner or | | keeper who has received a summons or court order for keeping a | | dangerous dog shall notify the law enforcement agency in the | | municipality where the summons or court order was issued of | | any change in residence or ownership of the dog, whether by | | sale, transfer, exchange, gift or other method.__A copy of any | | summons or court order concerning the dog must be sent by | | registered mail to the new owner and to the law enforcement | | agency in the municipality where the dog resides.__Receipt of | | a copy of any summons or court order by registered mail serves | | as notice to the new owner of the inherent risks involved in | | keeping a dangerous |
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