125th Legislative Session - MFOA Sponsored Bills
AN ACT TO IMPROVE THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS PROTECTING DOGS
Sponsor: Sen. Stan Gerzofsky (Brunswick)
This bill is a collection of miscellaneous revisions to existing statutes in an effort to increase the abilities to enforce laws that protect dogs in various ways.
• Providing stronger penalties for dog breeders with vending licenses for failure to post their license numbers such as in Uncle Henry’s, Craigslist.com and on street signs.
• Moving vendor licensing from the Animal Welfare Program to the towns which are better able to oversee compliance while receiving licensing fees.
• Improving portions of existing statutes about dogs in the back of pick-up trucks to now include:
The space is enclosed or has side and tail rails to the height of at least 46 inches extending vertically from the floor; or the dog is cross-tethered; or the dog is protected by a secured
container or cage.
• Increasing the ability to encourage and force municipalities to provide, support and enforce animal control officers in reporting and enforcing animal cruelty laws.
• Specifying entry portal size as part of a four-sided dog house.
• Increasing the ability to forcefully enter an unattended vehicle with a dog in duress.
AN ACT TO PREVENT HORSE SLAUGHTER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
Sponsor: Rep. Gary Knight (Livermore Falls)
Each year approximately 1,500 horses are kept and transported from Maine to Quebec for slaughter for human consumption outside the USA. MFOA believes there is no circumstance to
justify the slaughter of an animal that has served mankind so nobly for so long. Under this statute it is unlawful for any person to posses, to import or export from the state, or to sell, buy,
give away, hold, or accept any horse with the intent of killing, or having another kill, that horse, if that person knows or should have known that any part of that horse will be used for human consumption. Violation incurs a possible felony conviction with imprisonment from 16 months to three years.
A JOINT RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO END ITS SANCTIONING OF THE ANNUAL SEAL PUP HUNT
Sponsor: Rep. Paul Waterhouse (Bridgton)
Every year, more than 330,000 baby harp seals – just months old – are killed in the most barbaric manner for their fur. The Canadian government sanctions this slaughter of infant seals to satisfy the vanity of a few who still want to wear seal fur. The annual kill takes place in the Canadian maritime providences, especially New Brunswick. With this legislative resolution, Maine, being the closest US state to this slaughter, would provide astrong statement that it does not support any industry based upon the needless suffering of animals, and Canada should heed the growing international call to end this barbaric practice.
AN ACT TO BAN RECREATIONAL BEAR TRAPPING
Rep. Alan Casavant (Biddeford)
This bill would prohibit the use of setting a trap to hunt or capture a bear. With the closeness of the 2004 state referendum to ban the hunting of Maine black bears by the use of bait, hounds and traps, public awareness has been greatly enhanced regarding a practice that is inhumane, unnecessary and unsportsmanlike. All three practices have a common thread of having no fair chase component and being noticeably inhumane, but the trapping of a bear at which this bill is directed, is the most egregious. Maine is the only state in the country that still allows this extremely cruel and unethical practice.
NOTE: Maine Friends of Animals often spends as much time working against harmful legislation affecting animals as we do introducing and promoting positive animal protection legislation. As always, we will monitor all legislation affecting companion, farm and wildlife animals. You can follow legislation at the State legislative website www.maine.gov/legis/ or MFOA’s website www.mfoa.net.
