An Act To Strengthen the Laws Regarding Dangerous Dogs
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0755
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: FOSSEL, RECTOR, DOW, MALABY, SANDERSON, TRAHAN
Amends: 7 MRSA §3952

Legislative Document 
No. 755 
H.P. 562 
House of Representatives, March 1, 2011 
An Act To Strengthen the Laws Regarding Dangerous Dogs 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative FOSSEL of Alna. 
Cosponsored by Senator RECTOR of Knox and 
Representatives: DOW of Waldoboro, MALABY of Hancock, SANDERSON of Chelsea, 
Senator: TRAHAN of Lincoln. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §3952, sub-§1, as corrected by RR 2009, c. 1, §9, is amended to 
read: 
1.  Procedure.  Any person who is assaulted or threatened with imminent bodily 
injury by a dog or any person witnessing an assault or threatened assault against a person 
or domesticated animal or a person with knowledge of an assault or threatened assault 
against a minor, within 30 days of the assault or threatened assault, may make written 
complaint to the sheriff, local law enforcement officer or animal control officer that the 
dog is a dangerous dog.  For the purposes of this chapter, "domesticated animal" includes, 
but is not limited to, livestock as defined in section 3907, subsection 18-A. 
Upon investigation of the complaint, the sheriff, local law enforcement officer or animal 
control officer may issue a civil violation summons for keeping a dangerous dog. 
If, upon hearing, the court finds that the dog is a dangerous dog as defined in section 
3907, subsection 12-D, the court shall impose a fine and shall: 
A.  Order the dog confined in a secure enclosure except as provided in subsection 8.  
For the purposes of this paragraph, "secure enclosure" means a fence or structure of 
at least 6 feet in height forming or making an enclosure suitable to prevent the entry 
of young children and suitable to confine a dangerous dog in conjunction with other 
measures that may be taken by the owner or keeper, such as tethering the dangerous 
dog. The secure enclosure must be locked, be designed with secure top, bottom and 
sides and be designed to prevent the animal from escaping from the enclosure.  The 
court shall specify the length of the period of confinement and may order permanent 
confinement; or 
B.  Order the dog to be euthanized if it has killed, maimed or inflicted serious bodily 
injury upon a person or has a history of a prior assault.; or 
C.  Order the dog to be securely muzzled, restricted by a tether not more than 3 feet 
in length with a minimum tensile strength of 300 pounds and under the direct control 
of the dog’s owner or keeper whenever the dog is outside of a secure enclosure as 
defined in paragraph A. 
The court may order restitution in accordance with Title 17-A, chapter 54 for any 
damages inflicted upon a person or a person's property. 
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA §3952, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 170, §4, is amended to 
read: 
8.  Restriction of movement outside of a secure enclosure.  An owner or keeper of 
a dog confined to a secure enclosure by a court under subsection 1, paragraph A or 
subsection 1-A, paragraph C may not allow the dog outside of the secure enclosure 
unless: 
A.  It is necessary to obtain veterinary care for the dog or to comply with orders of 
the court; and 
B.  The dog is securely muzzled, restrained by a tether not more than 3 feet in length 
with a minimum tensile strength of 300 pounds and under the direct control of the 
dog's owner or keeper. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires the court to specify the length of confinement if confinement is 
ordered in the case of a dangerous dog and specifies that the court may order permanent 
confinement in such  a case.  It also allows the court to order the dog to be securely 
muzzled, restricted by a tether not more than 3 feet in length with a minimum tensile 
strength of 300 pounds and under the direct control of the dog’s owner or keeper 
whenever the dog is outside.