An Act to Strengthen Oversight of Kennels by Changing the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1771
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: BAILEY
Amends: 7 MRSA §3906-C, 7 MRSA §3907, 7 MRSA §3923-A, 7 MRSA §3923-C, 7 MRSA §3923-E, 7 MRSA §3931-A, 7 MRSA §3932, 7 MRSA §3932-A, 7 MRSA §3932-B, 7 MRSA §3933, 7 MRSA §3935, 7 MRSA §3936, 7 MRSA §3936-B, 7 MRSA §3938, 7 MRSA §3944, 17 MRSA §1011

Legislative Document
No. 1771
S.P. 689
In Senate, April 24, 2025
An Act to Strengthen Oversight of Kennels by Changing the 
Licensing Authority from Municipalities to the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BAILEY of York.
Cosponsored by Senator: INGWERSEN of York, Representatives: ARFORD of Brunswick, 
COOPER of Windham, DILL of Old Town, HEPLER of Woolwich, ROEDER of Bangor.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §3906-C, sub-§1, ¶N, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 333, §1, is 
amended to read:
N.  One member who holds a kennel license issued under section 3923‑C 3932-B; and
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA §3906-C, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2021, c. 99, §§3 and 4, is 
further amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:
In making the appointment of the veterinarian member, the Governor shall consider 
nominations made by the Maine Veterinary Medical Association.  In making the 
appointment of the person holding a kennel license issued under section 3923‑C 3932-B, 
the Governor shall consider nominations made by state-based dog clubs.
Sec. 3.  7 MRSA §3907, sub-§8-A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 100, §1, is further 
amended to read:
8-A.  Breeding kennel.  "Breeding kennel" means a location where 5 or more adult 
female dogs or cats capable of breeding are kept and some or all of the offspring are offered 
for sale, sold or exchanged for value or a location where more than 16 dogs or cats raised 
on the premises are sold to the public in a 12-month period.  "Breeding kennel" does not 
include a kennel licensed by a municipality under section 3923‑C 3932-B when the dogs 
are kept primarily for hunting, show, training, sledding, competition, field trials or 
exhibition purposes and not more than 16 dogs are offered for sale, sold or exchanged for 
value within a 12-month period.
Sec. 4.  7 MRSA §3923-A, first ¶, as amended by PL 2013, c. 115, §10, is further 
amended to read:
Except as provided in subsection 3 and section 3923‑C, a dog owner or keeper 
obtaining a license from a municipal clerk, dog licensing agent or dog recorder shall pay 
the license and recording fees established in this section.  For purposes of this section, "dog 
licensing agent" means an animal shelter or a veterinarian pursuant to section 3923‑F.
Sec. 5.  7 MRSA §3923-A, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2013, c. 115, §10, is further 
amended to read:
4.  Late fees.  An owner or keeper required to license a dog under section 3922, 
subsection 1 or section 3923‑C, subsection 1 and applying for a license for that dog after 
January 31st shall pay to the municipal clerk, dog licensing agent or dog recorder a late fee 
of $25 in addition to the annual license fee paid in accordance with subsection 1 or 2 and 
section 3923‑C, subsection 1.  The clerk, dog licensing agent or dog recorder shall deposit 
all late fees collected under this subsection into the municipality's animal welfare account 
established in accordance with section 3945.
Sec. 6.  7 MRSA §3923-C, as amended by PL 2009, c. 403, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 7.  7 MRSA §3923-E, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 657, §27, is amended to read:
§3923-E.  Monthly report
Municipal clerks or dog recorders shall receive the license fees in accordance with 
sections section 3923‑A and 3923‑C, pay them to the department and make a monthly 
report to the department on a department-approved form of all licenses issued and fees 
received.
Sec. 8.  7 MRSA §3931-A, sub-§2, as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 403, 
§4, is amended to read:
2.  License fees.  The license fee is $75 $125 for a Category 1 breeding kennel, $100 
$150 for a Category 2 breeding kennel and $150 $200 for a Category 3 breeding kennel.
Sec. 9.  7 MRSA §3932, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 405, §17, is further 
amended to read:
2.  License fees.  The fee for a boarding kennel license is $75 $125.
Sec. 10.  7 MRSA §3932-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 405, §18, is further 
amended to read:
2.  License fee.  The license fee for an animal shelter is $100 $125.
Sec. 11.  7 MRSA §3932-B is enacted to read:
§3932-B.  Kennel license
1.  License necessary.  A person maintaining a kennel, as defined in section 3907, 
subsection 17, shall annually obtain a kennel license from the department, and that person 
is subject to rules adopted by the department.  Individuals or entities obtaining facility 
licenses under sections 3931-A, 3932, 3932-A and 3933 are not required to obtain a kennel 
license.  A kennel license expires December 31st annually. 
2.  Application.  An individual who is required to obtain a kennel license shall submit 
an application with the department for such a license by January 31st annually or within 30 
days of first being required to obtain a kennel license pursuant to subsection 1.  In order for 
the State to issue a kennel license, the applicant must provide to the department a complete 
application, a signed inspection from an animal control officer appointed by the 
municipality where a kennel is located, or a humane agent if there is no animal control 
officer appointed by the municipality where a kennel is located, that confirms a passed 
inspection in compliance with subsection 5 and current rabies vaccination certificates for 
all animals as required by section 3916.  The initial inspection must be made not more than 
days before filing the first application for a license.  Inspections to renew a kennel 
license must be performed annually. 
3.  License fees.  A kennel owner shall pay a fee to the department for each kennel 
license.  The kennel license fee is $50 for 5 to 10 dogs, $100 for 11 to 20 dogs and $150 
for 21 or more dogs.  The department shall forward 20% of the collected fee to the animal 
welfare account established pursuant to section 3945 for the municipality in which the 
kennel is located and deposit the remainder into the Animal Welfare Fund established 
pursuant to section 3906-B, subsection 2. 
4.  Form of license.  If a kennel license is issued in hard copy, it must be issued in 
triplicate, with the original copy given to the applicant, one copy given to the municipality 
where the applicant is located and one copy kept on file by the department.  The license 
may be issued electronically to all parties. 
5.  Annual inspection.  An animal control officer appointed by the municipality where 
a kennel is located, or a humane agent if there is no animal control officer appointed by the 
municipality where a kennel is located, shall annually inspect the premises of the kennel 
prior to the State's issuing or renewing a kennel license according to rules established by 
the department. 
6.  License tags.  Dogs covered by a kennel license must be furnished suitable 
individual dog license tags indicating the year that the license is issued.  License tags 
furnished pursuant to this subsection must be attached to the collars of the dogs covered by 
the kennel license in the manner prescribed under section 3923-B, subsection 1 and subject 
to the exceptions prescribed under section 3923-B, subsection 3.
Sec. 12.  7 MRSA §3933, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 405, §19, is further 
amended to read:
2.  License fees.  The fee for a pet shop license is $150 $200.
Sec. 13.  7 MRSA §3935, as amended by PL 2009, c. 343, §17, is further amended 
to read:
§3935.  License prohibited
The department may not issue a license to maintain a boarding kennel, breeding kennel, 
animal shelter or pet shop facility required to be licensed under this chapter to a person 
who, within the 10 years previous to the application for the license, has been convicted of 
murder, a Class A or Class B offense, a violation under Title 17‑A, chapter 9, 11, 12 or 13 
or a criminal violation under Title 17, chapter 42 or under a criminal law involving cruelty 
to animals that is no longer in effect or, within 10 years previous to the application for the 
license, has been adjudicated of a civil violation for cruelty to animals under chapter 739 
or has been convicted or adjudicated in any other state, provincial or federal court of a 
violation similar to those specified in this section.
Sec. 14.  7 MRSA §3936, as amended by PL 2009, c. 343, §18 and c. 403, §7, is 
further amended to read:
§3936.  Inspection and quarantine
1.  Inspection and quarantine.  The commissioner, a state humane agent, a 
veterinarian employed by the State or a licensed veterinarian at the direction of the 
commissioner may, at any reasonable time, enter an animal shelter, kennel, boarding 
kennel, breeding kennel or pet shop a facility required to be licensed under this chapter and 
make examinations and conduct any recognized tests for the existence of contagious or 
infectious diseases or conditions.  If the animal shelter, kennel, boarding kennel, breeding 
kennel or pet shop a facility required to be licensed under this chapter is also used for 
human habitation, the person authorized to make examinations and conduct tests must be 
escorted by the owner, or the owner's agent, of the animal shelter, kennel, boarding kennel, 
breeding kennel or pet shop facility and the examinations and tests may be made only in 
those portions of the premises used as an animal shelter, kennel, boarding kennel, breeding 
kennel or pet shop a facility required to be licensed under this chapter.  The commissioner 
may inspect animal shelters, kennels, boarding kennels, breeding kennels and pet shops a 
facility required to be licensed under this chapter in accordance with the sanitation and 
health rules established by the department and for compliance with laws and rules, 
including licensing and permitting requirements, of the Department of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife pertaining to wildlife importation and possession.  In conducting inspections, 
measures established by the department through rulemaking must be used to prevent the 
spread of infectious and contagious diseases.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are 
major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.  A veterinarian 
employed by the State or any licensed veterinarian may quarantine the animal shelter, 
kennel, boarding kennel, breeding kennel or pet shop a facility required to be licensed under 
this chapter, in person or by registered mail, and the quarantine must be maintained as long 
as the department determines necessary.  The decision and order for this quarantine is not 
considered a licensing or an adjudicatory proceeding as defined by the Maine 
Administrative Procedure Act.  The commissioner shall promptly notify the Department of 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife of violations.
2.  Suspension of license.  The department may, in accordance with Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 5, revoke or suspend a kennel, boarding kennel, breeding kennel, animal 
shelter or pet shop license if a person maintaining the kennel, boarding kennel, breeding 
kennel, animal shelter or pet shop violates any quarantine or maintains animals contrary to 
the rules adopted by the department, fails to keep records required by the department or 
violates any provision of the laws or rules of the Department of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife pertaining to wildlife importation and possession.
Sec. 15.  7 MRSA §3936-B is enacted to read:
§3936-B.  Refuse to issue or renew, suspend or revoke license
The department may, in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 5, refuse to 
issue, refuse to renew, suspend or revoke the license of a facility required to be licensed 
under this chapter if a person maintaining the facility makes a material and deliberate 
misstatement in the application for a license or a license renewal under this chapter, violates 
any provision of this chapter or any rules adopted pursuant to this chapter, violates any 
quarantine, maintains animals in a manner contrary to any provision of the laws enforced 
by the department or rules adopted by the department, fails to keep records required by the 
department or violates any provision of the laws enforced by or rules adopted by the 
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife pertaining to wildlife importation and 
possession.
Sec. 16.  7 MRSA §3938, as amended by PL 1993, c. 657, §36, is further amended 
to read:
§3938.  Violation
A person maintaining an animal shelter, boarding kennel, breeding kennel or pet shop 
a facility required to be licensed under this chapter without having obtained a license, or 
after a license has been revoked or suspended, commits a civil violation for which a 
forfeiture of not less than $50 nor more than $200 a day may be adjudged.
Sec. 17.  7 MRSA §3944, as amended by PL 1997, c. 690, §27, is repealed.
Sec. 18.  17 MRSA §1011, sub-§8-A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 100, §17, is 
further amended to read:
8-A.  Breeding kennel.  "Breeding kennel" means a location where 5 or more adult 
female dogs or cats capable of breeding are kept and some or all of the offspring are offered 
for sale, sold or exchanged for value or a location where more than 16 dogs or cats raised 
on the premises are sold to the public in a 12-month period. "Breeding kennel" does not 
include a kennel licensed by a municipality under Title 7, section 3923‑C 3932-B when the 
dogs are kept primarily for hunting, show, training, sledding, competition, field trials or 
exhibition purposes and not more than 16 dogs are offered for sale, sold or exchanged for 
value within a 12-month period.
SUMMARY
This bill moves the responsibility for the issuance of kennel licenses from 
municipalities to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.  The bill 
enacts criteria regarding the department's authority to refuse to issue or renew, suspend or 
revoke a facility license for an animal shelter, kennel, boarding kennel, breeding kennel or 
pet shop.  The bill also updates certain definitions, licensing and recording fees and cross-
references related to facility licensing.