An Act To Prohibit the Sale of Dogs and Cats in Pet Shops
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §4164 is enacted to read:
§ 4164. Prohibition of sale in pet shops
1. Prohibition of sale in pet shops. Except as provided in subsection 2, a pet shop may not sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction or otherwise dispose of a cat or dog.
2. Exceptions. The following are exceptions to the provisions of subsection 1:
A. A public or private charitable nonprofit animal shelter, humane society or animal rescue organization. For purposes of this paragraph, "humane society" has the same meaning as in Title 17, section 1011, subsection 15-A;
B. A pet shop offering a cat or dog owned by an entity in paragraph A for purposes of adoption of the cat or dog by a member of the public; or
C. A pet shop offering for sale a cat or dog that was born and raised by the owner of the pet shop in a separate facility.
3. Penalties. A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of $2,500 must be adjudged and is subject to the penalties under section 4162, subsection 2.
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits a pet shop from selling cats or dogs that have not been born and raised in the pet shop. The prohibition does not apply to a public or private charitable nonprofit animal shelter, humane society or animal rescue organization, a pet shop where a dog or cat owned by a public or private organization excepted by the law is being offered for adoption or a pet shop that is selling a cat or dog that was born and raised by the owner of the pet shop in a separate facility. The penalty for violating these provisions is $2,500 and the pet shop's license may be revoked.