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of an animal by altering that animal's metabolism to the animal's | | detriment as cruelty to animals in both the civil and criminal | | sections of the law. |
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| | | 7. It grants the court the ability to prohibit a defendant | | from owning, possessing or having on the defendant's premises an | | animal, for a period of time up to and including permanent | | relinquishment for committing the civil violation of cruelty to | | animals. This inclusion reflects current law in the Maine | | Revised Statutes, Title 17, concerning criminal violation. |
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| | | 8. It replaces the word "board" with "commissioner," since | | the Animal Welfare Board is no longer in existence. |
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| | | 9. It grants the court the ability to increase an animal | | abuse violation from a Class C crime to a Class D crime if, in | | the opinion of the court, the act of cruelty is so egregious as | | to warrant the greater penalty. |
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