Sec. 10. 7 MRSA §3952, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1999, c. 350, §2, is further amended to read:

3. Dogs presenting immediate threat to public; temporary custody. After issuing a summons and before hearing arraignment, if the dog poses an immediate or continuing threat to the public, a sheriff, local law enforcement officer or, animal control officer or humane agent shall order the owner or keeper of the dog to muzzle, restrain or confine the dog to the owner's premises or to have the dog confined at the owner's expense at a place determined by the sheriff, local law enforcement officer or, animal control officer or humane agent. If the owner or keeper fails to comply, the sheriff, local law enforcement officer or, animal control officer or humane agent may apply to District Court, Superior Court or a justice of the peace for an ex parte order for authorization to take possession of the dog that poses an immediate or continuing threat to the public and turn the dog over to the applicant or other suitable person.

Sec. 11. 7 MRSA §3952, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:

3-A.__Violation of order.__If the owner or keeper of the dog refuses or neglects to comply with the order under subsection 3 that is issued by the sheriff, law enforcement officer, animal control officer or humane agent, then the sheriff, law enforcement officer, animal control officer or humane agent is authorized to take temporary custody of the dog without a court order and place the dog in a veterinary hospital or licensed animal shelter for a period of 48 hours.__If after 48 hours the owner does not claim the dog from temporary custody, the dog may be declared abandoned and the shelter is authorized to dispose of the dog as provided in section 3913, subsection 4.

A person found guilty of violating this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $250 or no more than $1,000 may be adjudged.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the animal welfare laws to add the definition of "abandoned animal," to establish procedures for municipalities regarding animal control and to provide for notification procedures for owners or keepers of dangerous dogs.

The bill also increases the minimum fine for certain civil violations involving dog licenses and establishes a fine for certain violations regarding owning or keeping a dangerous dog.