An Act To Require Timely Reporting of Dog Licensing
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1169
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: KNIGHT, MARTIN, AYOTTE, BRIGGS, COTTA, FOSSEL, MAZUREK, PRESCOTT
Amends: 7 MRSA §3924, 7 MRSA §3943, 7 MRSA §3947

Legislative Document 
No. 1169 
H.P. 867 
House of Representatives, March 17, 2011 
An Act To Require Timely Reporting of Dog Licensing 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative KNIGHT of Livermore Falls.  (BY REQUEST) 
Cosponsored by Senator MARTIN of Kennebec and 
Representatives: AYOTTE of Caswell, BRIGGS of Mexico, COTTA of China, FOSSEL of 
Alna, MAZUREK of Rockland, McCABE of Skowhegan, McKANE of Newcastle, 
PRESCOTT of Topsham. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §3924, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 383, §3, is amended to 
read: 
1.  Civil violation.  Any person who violates any section of this chapter, including 
possession of a dog that has never been licensed as required by this chapter, commits a 
civil violation for which a forfeiture fine not to exceed $100 may be adjudged. If the dog 
has never been licensed as required by this chapter, the person is also liable for the 
licensing fee and late fee established in section 3923-A. 
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA §3943, as repealed by PL 2009, c. 343, §19, is reenacted to read: 
§3943.  Municipal warrants 
1.  Procedure.  Between February 1st and April 1st annually, the municipal officers 
of each municipality shall issue a warrant with the names and addresses of all owners or 
keepers of unlicensed dogs to one or more police officers, constables, sheriffs or animal 
control officers, directing them to send a notice of violation to the last known address of 
the owners or keepers or call on the owners or keepers.  The warrant must further direct 
that demand be made on the owners or keepers to obtain a license from the municipal 
clerk within 7 days from the date of demand and remit to the clerk the license and 
recording fees plus a late fee of $25 for each dog that is licensed.  Finally, the warrant 
must direct the police officer, constable, sheriff or animal control officer to enter 
summons and complaint as soon as possible for all owners or keepers so notified who fail 
to comply with the order. 
2.  Returns of warrant.  Each police officer, constable, sheriff or animal control 
officer to whom the warrant is issued shall return the warrant to the municipal clerk on or 
before July lst of each year.  
3.  Payments to officers.  Payment to certain officers must be as follows. 
A.    The municipal clerk shall deposit the late fees collected from all dog owners and 
keepers in a separate account pursuant to section 3945. 
B.    Officers rendering services are entitled to compensation as the municipal officers 
may determine. 
Sec. 3.  7 MRSA §3947, first ¶, as amended by PL 2009, c. 343, §20, is further 
amended to read: 
Each municipality shall appoint one or more animal control officers whose duties are 
enforcement of sections 3911, 3912, 3916, 3921, 3924, 3943, 3948, 3950, 3950-A, 3952 
and 4041 and Title 17, section 1023, responding to reports of animals suspected of having 
rabies in accordance with Title 22, sections 1313 and 1313-A and any other duties to 
control animals as the municipality may require.  A municipality may appoint an 
employee of an animal shelter as an animal control officer as long as the person meets the 
qualifications and training requirements of this section. 
SUMMARY 
Current law requires the licensing of a dog by January 31st annually.  If a person 
acquires a license after January 31st, a late fee of $25 is imposed in addition to the 
licensing fee.  However, there is no specific penalty for failing to ever license a dog; only 
failure to license on time. This bill clarifies that the general penalty imposed for a 
violation of the dog licensing laws, a maximum fine of $100, applies to a person who is 
in possession of a dog that has never been licensed, plus the applicable licensing fee and 
late fee. 
This bill also restores the municipal warrant process, which requires municipal 
officers to compile a list of owners or keepers of dogs that have been previously licensed 
but have not been licensed as of February 1st annually and further requires a law 
enforcement officer or animal control officer to serve those warrants on the owners of 
those dogs.