Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, § 4042: Stray livestock, 2019

1. Ownership of livestock unknown. If the ownership of any stray livestock cannot be established, the livestock must be handled as a stray and an animal control officer shall seize, impound or restrain the livestock and: A. Deliver the livestock to an animal shelter, farm or holding facility that is capable of safely containing the number, type and size of the livestock; or [PL 2019, c. 437, §6 (NEW).] B. Arrange for the safe confinement of the livestock at a location designated by the municipality in which the livestock was found. [PL 2019, c. 437, §6 (NEW).] [PL 2019, c. 437, §6 (NEW).] 2. Municipal procedure for stray livestock. A municipality shall retain custody of stray livestock under subsection 1 for a period of 10 days. The municipality is responsible for ensuring the proper care of the livestock while confined, including providing proper sustenance, shelter and necessary medical care. If ownership of the stray livestock is not claimed by any person, after 10 days, ownership of the livestock vests with the municipality or an animal shelter designated by the municipality, and the municipality or designated animal shelter may sell, adopt, give away or humanely euthanize the stray livestock. A municipality may reimburse a farm, holding facility or animal shelter for the care and housing of stray livestock pursuant to this section at the same rates as in section 3919‑C. For purposes of this section, "municipality" includes a county under Title 30‑A, section 7501 if the stray livestock has been found in the unorganized territory of that county. [PL 2019, c. 437, §6 (NEW).] For purposes of this section, "livestock" does not include feral swine or domesticated cervids. [PL 2019, c. 437, §6 (NEW).]