Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3907, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 1993, c. 657, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §3907, sub-§1-B is enacted to read:

1-B.__Abandoned animal.__"Abandoned animal" means an animal that has been deserted by its owner or keeper and left in or on a private or public place without food, water, shelter or medical attention.

Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §3913, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 690, §11, is further amended to read:

4. Ownership of dog. Upon expiration of the 6-day period, ownership of the dog is vested in the animal shelter. The animal shelter may then:

A. Sell or give away the dog, but not to a research facility, if a license is first obtained in accordance with chapter 721; or

B. Otherwise dispose of the dog humanely in accordance with Title 17, chapter 42, subchapter IV. Except as provided in this section, an animal shelter must hold a dog at least 8 days before euthanasia.

Notwithstanding this subsection, ownership of a dog for the purposes of adoption is immediately vested in an animal shelter if the animal shelter makes a determination that the dog is obviously abandoned. An obviously abandoned dog does not include a dog roaming at large.

An animal shelter shall establish and collect fees for reclaimed or adopted animals to offset costs of keeping a dog beyond 6 days.

None of the proceeds obtained from the sale, donation, adoption or other disposition of the dog may be deducted from the fee claimed.

Notwithstanding subsection 3, paragraph C, the previous owner may reacquire the dog at any time prior to its sale, donation or disposal upon payment of the municipal impoundment fee and actual fees incurred for food, shelter, veterinary care and any other fees required by this chapter for each day that the dog has been sheltered. In this case, no fee may be allowed by the department.

Sec. 4. 7 MRSA §3913, sub-§§6 and 7, as amended by PL 1997, c. 690, §11, are repealed.