I’m Brandon E. Holmes, the Animal Control Officer for Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, and the Oxford County Unorganized Territories. I operate as a one-man department, which means when you call, you’re getting me directly. When you meet your ACO for the first time, remember that I am here to assist you personally.
My job is to respond to animal-related concerns. I enforce Maine animal welfare laws. I help residents and animals stay safe across my coverage area. That covers everything from a loose animal on the road to a welfare complaint. It also includes a bite report, which pertains to domestic animals only. Wildlife concerns go to Maine Game Wardens. If you ever have animal questions, meet your ACO to get clear guidance.
I believe enforcement works best when it starts with education. Most situations get resolved without paperwork. When they don’t, I follow the law. Additionally, when you meet your ACO, you’ll often find that education resolves issues quickly.
What I Handle
- Stray, loose, and at-large animals
- Animal bite and scratch reports
- Welfare, neglect, and cruelty investigations
- Nuisance animal complaints
- Dog licensing and rabies compliance questions
- Livestock concerns (cattle, goats, etc.)
- Community cat and TNR coordination in West Paris
If you’re not sure whether your situation falls under animal control, call dispatch anyway. Your call will get to the right place.
How to Reach Me
For anything urgent — loose animals, bites, welfare emergencies, livestock on a road — go through dispatch. That gets the call documented and gets me moving.
📞 Oxford County Dispatch: 207-743-9554, option 0
For non-urgent questions and follow-ups: 📧 brandon@oxfordaco.com
Community Engagement
Every month I publish a summary of activity across my coverage area — call volume, case types, and outcomes. You can track that on the Statistics page.
For real-time updates, lost animal alerts, and community announcements, follow along on Facebook.
Maine Animal Laws
Not sure what the law actually says about licensing, at-large animals, cruelty, or dangerous dogs? The Maine Laws section breaks down the relevant statutes in plain language.