2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 7: AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS › Part 9: ANIMAL WELFARE › Chapter 745: SALE OF DOGS AND CATS › 7 §4152. Disclosure

§4152. Disclosure
1.  Required disclosure.
A seller shall deliver to a purchaser of an animal a written disclosure containing the following:
A. An animal history that includes:
(1) For sellers licensed with the United States Department of Agriculture, the name, address and United States Department of Agriculture license number of the breeder and any broker who has had possession of the animal. For sellers licensed with the State, the name, address of the seller and the license number issued under section 3931‑A, 3933 or 4163;
(2) The date of the animal's birth;
(3) The date the seller received the animal if the animal was not born on the seller's premises;
(4) The breed, sex, color and identifying marks of the animal. If the breed is unknown or mixed, that fact must be stated;
(5) The individual identifying tag, tattoo, microchip identification number or collar number;
(6) For pure bred animals that are advertised as eligible for registration, the name and registration number of the sire and dam and, if available, the litter number; and
(7) A record of inoculations, internal or external parasite treatments, medication or any veterinarian examination or treatment received by the animal while in the possession of the seller;   [PL 2009, c. 403, §9 (AMD).]
B. A statement signed by the seller that the animal at time of delivery has no known health problem or a statement disclosing any known health problem.
The statement must include the date at which the seller is aware that the animal was last seen by a veterinarian;   [PL 2007, c. 702, §23 (AMD).]
C. A seller who represents an animal as eligible for registration with an animal pedigree organization shall provide the retail purchaser with a notice stating that pedigree registration does not assure health or quality of an animal; and   [PL 2007, c. 702, §23 (AMD).]
D. The seller shall indicate whether or not, to the seller's knowledge, the animal or its sire or dam is registered with, and whether the animal is certified by any organization that maintains a registry pertaining to congenital or hereditary problems and explain the meaning of these terms.   [PL 2007, c. 702, §23 (AMD).]
[PL 2009, c. 403, §9 (AMD).]
2.  Optional disclosure.
The seller may provide the purchaser with a list of congenital or hereditary problems that are known to affect the breed being purchased and a list of any health problems for which the seller does not warranty the animal.
[PL 2007, c. 702, §23 (AMD).]
3.  Disclosure procedures.
The following disclosure procedures must be followed.
A. The disclosure required by subsection 1 must be made part of the statement of consumer rights set forth in section 4160.   [PL 1995, c. 589, §1 (NEW).]
B. The written disclosure made pursuant to this section must be signed by both the seller certifying the accuracy of the statement and by the purchaser of the animal acknowledging receipt of the statement.   [PL 2007, c. 702, §23 (AMD).]
C. The seller shall make a prospective purchaser aware that the purchaser may see this information prior to purchase.   [PL 2007, c. 702, §23 (AMD).]
[PL 2007, c. 702, §23 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1995, c. 589, §1 (NEW). PL 1997, c. 690, §51 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 702, §23 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 403, §9 (AMD).