An Act To Protect Dogs That Are Left Outside
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0204
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: KOFFMAN, NUTTING, CANAVAN, DAVIS, GERZOFSKY, PERCY, PIOTTI, SAMPSON, WALCOTT, COWGER
Amends: 7 MRSA §4015, 17 MRSA §1037

Legislative Document 
No. 204 
H.P.155 
House of Representatives, January 13,2005 
An Act To Protect Dogs That Are Left Outside 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative KOFFMAN of Bar Harbor. 
Cosponsored by Senator NUTTING of Androscoggin and 
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'frJ. 7l/tJ£~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CANAVAN of Waterville, DAVIS of Falmouth, GERZOFSKY of 
Brunswick, PERCY of Phippsburg, PIOTTI of Unity, SAMPSON of Auburn, WALCOTT of 
Lewiston, Senator: COWGER of Kennebec. 
Printeu on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §4015, sub-§2, ,B, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
456, §8, is further amended to read: 
B. 
Except 
as 
provided 
in 
subsection 
5, 
shelter 
from 
inclement weather must be as follows. 
(1) 
An artificial shelter, with a minimum of 3 sides 
and 
a 
waterproof 
roof, 
appropriate 
to 
the 
local 
climatic conditions for the species concerned must be 
provided as necessary for the health of the animal. 
( 2 ) 
I f 
a dog is tied 0 r conf ined unattended ou tdoo r s 
under 
weather 
conditions 
that 
adversely 
affect 
the 
health of the dog, a shelter, consisting of a 4-sided 
structure, of suitable size with a floor above ground 
and waterproof roof must be provided to accommodate the 
dog and protect it from the weather and, in particular, 
from 
severe cold. 
There must 
be 
a 
portal entry of 
sufficient size to allow the animal unimpeded passage 
into and out of the structure. 
The portal entry must 
include a baffle, or the passage of entrance must be 
constructed 
in 
a 
manner 
to 
provide 
a 
sheltered 
entrance. 
The shelter must have clean bedding material 
sufficient to retain the animal's normal body heat. 
Inadequate shelter may be indicated by the shivering of 
the dog due to cold weather for a continuous period o[ 
minutes. 
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §4015. sub-§2. 110 is enacted to read: 
D. 
When an animal is confined by a chain or similar device, 
the chain must be attached to both the animal and the anchor 
by swivels or similar devices to prevent the chain from 
becoming entangled or twisted. 
The chain or similar device 
must be attached to a well-fitting collar or harness that 
does not cut into the animal's flesh or 
impinge 
on the 
animal's circulation or ability to ingest food or water or 
to vocalize. 
The chain must be at least 5 times the length 
of the animal from the tip of its nose to the base of its 
tail. 
Sec. 3. 17 MRSA §1037, sub-§2, 1IB, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
456, §18, is further amended to read: 
B. 
Except 
as 
provided 
in 
subsection 
5, 
shelter 
from 
inclement weather must be as follows. 
(1 ) 
and 
An artificial shelter, with a minimum of 3 
a 
waterproof 
roof, 
appropriate 
to 
the 
Page l-LR1296(1) 
sides 
local 
climatic conditions for the species concerned must be 
provided as necessary for the health of the animal. 
(2) 
If a dog is tied or confined unattended outdoors 
under 
weather 
conditions 
that 
adversely affect 
the 
heal th of the dog, 
a shelter, consisting of a 4-sided 
structure, of suitable size with a floor above ground 
and waterproof roof must be provided to accommodate the 
dog and protect it from the weather and, in particular, 
from 
severe cold. 
There must be 
a 
portal entry of 
sufficient size to allow the animal unimpeded passage 
into and out of the structure. 
The portal entry must 
include a baffle, or the passage of entrance must be 
constructed 
in 
a 
manner 
to 
provide 
a 
sheltered 
entrance. 
The shelter must have clean bedding material 
sufficient to retain the animal's normal body heat. 
Inadequate shelter may be indicated by the shivering of 
the dog due to cold weather for a continuous period of 
minutes. 
Sec. 4. 17 MRSA §1037. sub-§2. ~D is enacted to read: 
D. 
When an animal is confined by a chain or similar device, 
the chain must be attached to both the animal and the anchor 
by swivels or similar devices to prevent the chain from 
becoming entangled or twisted. 
The chain or similar device 
must be attached to a well-fitting collar or harness that 
does 
not cut into the animal's flesh or 
impinge 
on the 
animal's circulation or ability to ingest food or water or 
to vocalize. 
The chain must be at least 5 times the length 
of the animal from the tip of its nose to the base of its 
tail. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the type of shelter that must be available 
for a dog to protect it from inclement weather. 
The bill also 
establishes requirements for the type of device that confines the 
animal.