Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0204
Committee Amendment CA_A_H484 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §4015, 17 MRSA §1037

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H. P . 155, L.D. 204, Bill, 
Act To Protect Dogs That Are Left Outside" 
"An 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting 
clause and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §4015, sub-§2, 1(B, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
456, §8, is further amended to read: 
B. 
Except as provided in s1:lBsee1:ien subsections 5 and 6, 
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) 
If a dog is tied or confined unattended outdoors 
under 
weather 
conditions 
that adversely affect 
the 
health of the dog, a shelter 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. 
Inadequate 
shel ter may be indicated by the shivering of the dog 
due to cold weather for 
a 
continuous period of 
minutes. 
Page l-LRI296(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to H.P. 155, L.D. 204 
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §4015, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6. 
Dogs confined by tethering for long time periods. 
In 
addition 
to 
the 
requirements 
of 
subsection 
2, 
paragraph 
B, 
subparagraph 
(2), 
when 
tethering 
is 
the 
primary 
means 
of 
confinement for a dog, the standards for shelter and tethering 
are as follows: 
A. 
A shelter must be provided that is fully enclosed except 
for a portal. 
The portal must be of a sufficient size to 
allow 
the 
dog 
unimpeded 
passage 
into 
and 
out 
of 
the 
structure. 
For dogs other than arctic breeds, the portal 
must 
be 
constructed 
in 
a 
manner 
that 
keeps 
wind 
and 
precipitation out of the interior. 
The shelter must have 
clean bedding material sufficient to retain the dog's normal 
body heat; and 
B. 
The chain or tether must be attached to both the dog and 
the anchor using swivels or similar devices that prevent the 
chain or tether from becoming entangled or twisted. 
The 
~bA.i.n or tether must be attached to a well fitted collar or 
b~rness on the dog. 
For dogs other than arctic breeds, the 
chain or tether must be at least 5 times the length of the 
dog measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its 
tail. 
For arctic breeds, the chain or tether must be at 
least 2.5 times the length of the dog measured from the tip 
of its nose to the base of its tail. 
For 
the 
purposes 
of 
this 
subsection, 
"primary 
means 
of 
confinement" means the method used to confine a dog for periods 
of time that exceed 12 hours in a 
24-hour period. 
For the 
purposes 
of this subsection, 
"arctic breeds" 
means 
Siberian 
Huskies, Alaskan Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes and other dogs with a 
double layered coat and bred to live in an arctic climate. 
Sec. 3. 17 MRS A §1037, sub-§2, ,8, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
456, §18, is further amended to read: 
B. 
Except as provided in s1:laseetiea subsections 5 and 7, 
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) 
If a dog is tied or confined unattended outdoors 
under 
weather 
conditions 
that adversely 
affect 
the 
health of the dog, a shelter of suitable size with a 
floor above ground and waterproof roof must be provided 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A .. to H.P. 155, L.D. 204 
to accommodate the dog and protect it from the weather 
and, 
in 
particular, 
from 
severe 
cold. 
Inadequate 
shelter may be indicated by the shivering of the dog 
due to cold weather for 
a 
continuous period of 30 
minutes. 
Sec.4. 17 MRSA §1037, sub-§7 is enacted to read: 
7. 
Dogs cQnfined b~tethering for long time periods. 
In 
addition to 
the 
reguirements 
of 
subsection 
2, 
paragraph 
B, 
subparagraph 
(2), 
when 
tethering 
is 
the 
primary 
means 
of 
confinement for a dog, the standards for shelter and tethering 
are as follows: 
A. 
A shelter must be provided that is fully enclosed except 
for a portal. 
The portal must be of a sufficient size to 
allow 
the 
dog 
unimpeded 
passage 
into 
and 
out 
of 
the 
structure. 
For dogs other than arctic breeds, the portal 
must 
be 
constructed in 
a 
manner 
that 
keeps 
wind 
and 
precipitation out of the interior. 
The shelter must have 
clean bedding material sufficient to retain the dog's normal 
body heat; and 
B. 
The chain or tether must be attached to both the dog and 
the anchor using swivels or similar devices that prevent the 
chain or tether from becoming entangbd or twisted. 
The 
chain or tether must be attached to a well fitted collar or 
harness on the dog. 
For dogs other than arctic breeds, the 
chain or tether must be at least 5 times the length of the 
dog measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its 
tail. 
For arctic breeds, the chain or tether must be at 
least 2.5 times the length of the dog measured from the tip 
of its nose to the base of its tail. 
For 
the 
purposes 
of 
this 
subsection, 
"primary 
means 
of 
confinement" means the method used to confine a dog for periods 
of time that exceed 12 hours in a 
24-hour period. 
For the 
purposes 
of this 
subsection, 
"arctic breeds" 
means 
Siberian 
Huskies, Alaskan Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes and other dogs with a 
double layered coat and bred to live in an arctic climate.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. 
It establishes tethering 
and shelter standards specific to dogs that are confined outside 
on tethers for long periods. 
It establishes standards that are 
appropriately different for arctic breeds. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT