LD 1598 An Act To Strengthen the Laws against Illegal "Puppy Mill" Operators

Text and Status of LD 1598

Sponsors: Senator Deborah Simpson of Androscoggin; Senator HOBBINS of York; Representative HUNT of Buxton; Representative KNIGHT of Livermore Falls; Representative SHAW of Standish

The title of LD1598 was misleading and would erroneously elicit sympathy by stating that this call for increased animal cruelty penalty is aimed only at “illegal puppy mill operators.” The bill uses the word “animal” not “dogs” and therefore includes chickens, hamsters, gerbils, ducks, cats, etc. Adding the reimbursement of cost for relocating an animal as included in Sec. 2. 17 MRSA §1031, sub-§3-B, ¶A, is also not specific to “puppy mills” but general for any and all owned animals. LD 1598 attempted to separate a particular class of dog owners, those with 25 animals or more, creating harsher penalties if charged with cruelty, i.e. increasing penalty from Class D crime to Class C crime.

Today, Tuesday March 16, 2010 Maine LD 1598 was reported out of the Maine Joint Standing Committee of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry as amended. The term "puppy mill" has been stricken from the bill. The amendment also removes the provision in the bill that made a Class D violation of animal cruelty involving 25 or more animals a Class C crime. Instead, the bill provides an expedited schedule for hearings when animals have been seized without a court order and specifies evidence that is admissible at a possession hearing.