LD 962 – ESTABLISH OFFENSE OF AGGRAVATED OPERATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF A PET – OPPOSE
On Monday, March 31, 2025, starting at 1PM, the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety is scheduled to accept testimony on LD 962. Among other provisions, the bill would create a new, separate crime of aggravated operating under the influence resulting in death of a pet, and would require the court to order non-economic damages up to $3,000 for the owner’s emotional suffering.
There is little doubt that dogs are held in exceedingly high esteem, and providing for the recovery of non-economic damages in cases involving injury to a pet may sound like a good idea. However, non-economic damages are traditionally only allowed in cases involving the close family of people who have died or who have been severely injured. The American Kennel Club (AKC) opposes allowing non-economic damages in pet cases because it will likely result in many harmful unintentional consequences for pet owners and their pets. It is crucial that animals continue to enjoy the protections afforded by their traditional legal treatment as property and not given legal rights reserved for humans. Details on how non-economic damages claims ultimately harm general animal wellbeing can be viewed here.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Maine residents are encouraged to register to testify via zoom or submit your opposition to LD 962.
- Go to the Maine State Legislature website here and select “public hearing”.
- Scroll down to “Choose a committee” and select “Criminal Justice and Public Safety” from the drop-down menu.
- Select date “Mar 31, 2025, 1PM” and choose bill “LD 962 – Establish the Offense of Aggravated Operating Under the Influence Resulting in the Death of a Pet”.
- Select your position as “oppose”. If you wish, you can add comments and/or upload written testimony in a file. You may also check the box allowing you to testify electronically over zoom. (A link will be sent to you.)
- Complete your contact information and hit the “submit/register” button.
You may also speak in person at the 1PM, March 31, 2025, public hearing. Sign in when you arrive at Room 436, Cross Building, 100 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333. Bring 20 copies of any written testimony you wish to submit to committee members.
LD 1057 – AID MUNICIPALITIES, ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS AND OTHERS IN COMPLYING WITH ELECTRONIC DOG LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, starting at 1PM, the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is scheduled to accept public testimony on LD 1057. The bill would (1) prevent the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry from requiring a municipality that has chosen to participate in the electronic dog licensing project to comply for one year; (2) allow these municipalities to use an alternative method for one year; and (3) direct the department to establish a software user group to assist municipalities with the transition to a data management platform.
LD 824 REGARDING PET FEES IN RENTAL HOUSING
Also on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, but starting at 1:15PM, the Committee on Housing and Economic Development is scheduled to accept public testimony on LD 824. This bill would limit the portion of a security deposit charged for maintaining a dog or cat within a rented dwelling to $300. It would also prohibit a landlord from charging a monthly fee for pet rent (separate from the monthly rental charge) that exceeds 1% of the monthly rental charge, regardless of the number of pets that are being housed.
LD 1220 ALLOW CHIROPRACTORS TO TREAT DOGS AND EQUIDS
On April 3, 2025, starting at 1PM, the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services is scheduled to accept public testimony on LD 1220. It would authorize a licensed chiropractor, who successfully completes a 210-hour course of instruction in animal chiropractic care approved by the board of chiropractic medicine and meets other requirements, to provide chiropractic care to dogs and equids.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Maine residents are encouraged to register to testify via zoom or submit your comments after review of these bills.
- Go to the Maine State Legislature website here and select “public hearing”.
- Scroll down to “Choose a committee” and select the appropriate committee from the drop-down menu.
- Select the date of the bill’s hearing and choose the bill number.
- Select your position. If you wish, you can add comments and/or upload written testimony in a file. You may also check the box allowing you to testify electronically over zoom. (A link will be sent to you.)
- Complete your contact information and hit the “submit/register” button.
For more information on these or other legislative issues in Maine, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.