United States — Maine Act or statute

United States — Maine legislation

Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, § 3919-E: Disposition of small animals, 2013

Animal shelters must hold an unidentified small animal for at least 48 hours before treating it as homeless and disposing of it, and they may not sell or give any small animal to a research facility.

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01

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“Animal shelters must hold an unidentified small animal for at least 48 hours before treating it as homeless and disposing of it, and they may not sell or give any small animal to a research facility.”

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    Enacted 2013 · Source version 1 Oct 2025. The date shown identifies this source expression and should not be treated as proof that no later change exists.

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Disposition of small animals

Animal shelters must hold an unidentified small animal for at least 48 hours before treating it as homeless and disposing of it, and they may not sell or give any small animal to a research facility.

Section 3919-E

04

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Source record from legislature.maine.gov · Enacted 2013 · Source version 1 Oct 2025

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§ 3919-EDisposition of small animalsProvision

Animal shelters must hold an unidentified small animal for at least 48 hours before treating it as homeless and disposing of it, and they may not sell or give any small animal to a research facility.

1. Small animals. When an animal shelter accepts a small animal under section 3919 and the animal does not have identification, the animal shelter shall hold that small animal for not less than 48 hours. After the expiration of the 48-hour period, the animal shelter may treat the small animal as homeless and may: A. Offer the small animal for adoption, sell the small animal, give away the small animal or transfer the small animal to an appropriate facility that can provide for that specific type of small animal; or [PL 2015, c. 223, §7 (AMD).] B. Otherwise dispose of the small animal humanely in accordance with Title 17, chapter 42, subchapter 4. [PL 2013, c. 115, §8 (NEW).] An animal shelter may not sell or give any small animal to a research facility. [PL 2015, c. 223, §7 (AMD).] 2. Exceptions. A small animal that is subject to permit requirements of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife under Title 12, chapter 915 may not be adopted or have its ownership transferred without the permission of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. [PL 2013, c. 115, §8 (NEW).]
Section 3919-EVerify source

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  • 1 Oct 2025 · currentEnglish

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