CHAPTER 129
H.P. 584 - L.D. 739
An Act to Require That Wolf Hybrids be Permanently Identified and to Establish Penalties for Releasing Wolf Hybrids from Captivity
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3911-A is enacted to read:
§3911-A. Abandonment of wolf hybrid
A person who abandons a wolf hybrid commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture not to exceed $1,000 may be adjudged. For the purposes of this section "abandon" means to desert. For enforcement purposes a wolf hybrid is abandoned if the animal is found a distance of more than 5 miles from the premises of the owner and is not under the control of any person.
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §3921-A is enacted to read:
§3921-A. Permanent identification of wolf hybrids
The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish methods of identifying wolf hybrids through tattooing, the placement of a microchip under the animal's skin or any other method determined by the commissioner as adequately providing a permanent means of identification on the body of the animal. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A. A person may not own or keep a wolf hybrid unless the animal has identification in compliance with the rules adopted under this section.
Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §3922, sub-§3-B is enacted to read:
3-B. Proof of permanent identification. A municipal clerk may not issue a license for a wolf hybrid until the applicant has filed with the clerk proof that the wolf hybrid has been permanently identified in accordance with section 3921-A.
Sec. 4. 7 MRSA §3931-B is enacted to read:
The requirements of this section apply to a wolf hybrid kennel, as defined in subsection 1. A person maintaining a wolf hybrid kennel that also is a breeding kennel as defined in section 3907, subsection 8-A is also subject to the licensing requirements in section 3931-A.
1. Definition. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "wolf hybrid kennel" means a location where one or more wolf hybrids are kept and bred.
2. Kennel registration required. A person who operates a wolf hybrid kennel must register with the department on a form provided by the department. The form must include the name of the person operating the kennel, the mailing address and road or street address for the kennel and the number of wolf hybrids kept at the time of registration. The person who operates the kennel must submit with the registration form proof that each wolf hybrid has been permanently identified in accordance with section 3921-A.
3. Permanent identification of offspring; record of transfer. A person operating a wolf hybrid kennel shall have the offspring of a wolf hybrid permanently identified prior to transferring ownership or care of the animal. When a wolf hybrid is sold, given away or exchanged or ownership or care of the wolf hybrid is otherwise transferred, the person operating the wolf hybrid kennel must notify the department of the transfer and provide the name and address of the person accepting transfer of the wolf hybrid.
4. Inspection and quarantine. A wolf hybrid kennel is subject to inspection and quarantine in accordance with section 3936, subsection 1.
5. Violation. A person who operates a wolf hybrid kennel who fails to comply with the provisions of this section commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture not to exceed $1,000 may be adjudged.
Effective September 21, 2001, unless otherwise indicated.
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