Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3913, sub-§4, ¶B, as amended by PL 1997, c. 690, §11, is further amended to read:

B. Otherwise dispose of the dog humanely in accordance with Title 17, chapter 42, subchapter IV 4. Except as provided in this section, an animal shelter must hold a dog at least 8 days before euthanasia.

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA c. 720 is amended by repealing the chapter headnote and enacting the following in its place:

CHAPTER 720

RABIES PREVENTION FOR CATS AND SHELTER PROVISIONS

Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §3919-A, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 363, §3, is amended to read:

§3919-A. Procedure for acceptance and disposition of cats by

animal shelter

An animal shelter to which a cat is taken may accept the cat unless the shelter is in quarantine. An animal shelter accepting a cat shall comply with the provisions of this section.

1. Cats with identification. An animal shelter that accepts a cat with cat identification shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner by telephone or by sending a written notice within 24 hours of accepting the cat. Except as provided in subsections 4 and 5, the animal shelter shall hold the cat for a period of 6 days beginning on and including the day of acceptance. If the owner claims the cat within the 6-day period, the animal shelter shall release the cat to the owner upon payment of any municipal impoundment fee and actual fees incurred for food, shelter and veterinary care. Upon expiration of the 6-day period, ownership of the cat is vested with the animal shelter and the animal shelter may then handle the cat as a homeless cat for disposition in accordance with subsection 2.

2. Homeless cats. When an animal shelter accepts a cat under section 3919 and that cat does not have cat identification, the animal shelter shall hold the cat for not less than 24 hours. After the 24-hour period, the animal shelter may treat the cat as a homeless cat and may:

A. Offer the cat for adoption, sell or give away the cat; or