5-A. Animal shelter. "Animal shelter" means a facility that includes a physical structure or part of a physical structure that provides temporary or permanent shelter to houses 5 or more weaned animals and operates for the purpose of providing stray, abandoned, abused or owner-surrendered animals with sanctuary or finding the animals temporary or permanent adoptive homes.

Sec. 12. 17 MRSA §1011, sub-§8-A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 690, §56, is further amended to read:

8-A. Breeding kennel. "Breeding kennel" means a facility operated where 5 or more dogs, wolf hybrids or cats are kept in a single location for the purpose of breeding or buying, selling or in any way exchanging dogs, wolf hybrids or cats for value that exchanges more than 16 dogs or 16 cats in a 12-month period.

Sec. 13. 17 MRSA §1039 is enacted to read:

§1039.__Endangerment

1.__Endangerment.__A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a companion animal or companion livestock if that person:

A.__Knowingly or recklessly acts in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical welfare of a companion animal or companion livestock; or

B.__Is an owner or keeper legally charged with the care or custody of a companion animal or companion livestock and fails or refuses to exercise reasonable diligence, care or control in any action that places in jeopardy the physical well-being of the companion animal or companion livestock.

2.__Definitions.__As used in this section, "companion animal" has the same meaning as set out in Title 7, section 3907, subsection 11-A and "companion livestock" has the same meaning as set out in Title 7, section 3907, subsection 11-B.

3.__Husbandry practices excepted.__This section may not be construed to prohibit normal and accepted practices of animal husbandry.

4.__Penalty.__Endangering the welfare of a companion animal or companion livestock is a Class D crime.