Stray Cats and Small Animals in Maine (7 § 3919)
Maine law under 7§3919 establishes how animal control officers and the public handle stray cats and small animals. Questions about stray felines are very common across Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, and the Oxford County Unorganized Territories. Knowing what the law says helps residents make better decisions before calling dispatch or taking an animal to a shelter.
You can read the full statute at legislature.maine.gov/statutes/7/title7sec3919.html.
What Counts as a Stray Cat Under Maine Law
Maine law defines a stray cat specifically. A stray cat is a cat found on the premises of someone other than its owner, without the consent of the owner or occupant of those premises. Cats on public streets or other public property without the physical control of the owner also qualify as strays. This definition is narrower than most people assume. In rural Maine especially, many cats that appear to be strays are actually owned animals with large home ranges. Before concluding that a cat is a stray, it is worth taking the time to check with neighbors and, if practical, use a neighbor check collar as described in the Neighbor Check Paper Collar post on this site.
What an ACO Can Do with a Stray
An animal control officer may seize or humanely trap a stray cat or small animal. Someone acting in that capacity may also perform this action. After seizure, the ACO must deliver the animal to a designated animal shelter. If the owner is known, the ACO must return the animal to the owner. When ownership cannot be established, the animal may be considered homeless for shelter acceptance. It can then be processed for disposition under 7§3919-A or 7§3919-E.
What the Public Can Do
If you find a stray cat or small animal and cannot identify its owner, you may take the animal to the designated animal shelter. The municipality where the animal was found will specify this shelter. That shelter then assumes responsibility. The public is not required to bring the animal in. However, bringing it in puts it into the official system. There, it can be held, identified, and potentially reunited with its owner.
If you are in my coverage area and unsure what to do with a stray animal you have found, reach out through dispatch at 207-743-9554, option 0, and I can help you figure out the right next step.
Hold Times and Shelter Disposition (7§3919-A)
Maine law sets different hold periods depending on whether the cat has identification and whether it is feral or domestic.
A cat taken in with identification must be held for 6 days from the day of acceptance. Within 24 hours of accepting the cat, the shelter must make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner by phone or written notice. If the owner claims the cat within those 6 days, the shelter releases the animal. The owner must pay any municipal impoundment fee and actual costs for food, shelter, and veterinary care. After the 6-day period, ownership of the cat transfers to the shelter.
A cat brought in without identification is treated as a homeless cat. The shelter must hold that cat for at least 48 hours. After that period the shelter may offer the cat for adoption, sell or give it away, or humanely dispose of it in accordance with Title 17, chapter 42, subchapter 4. An animal shelter may not sell or give a cat to a research facility.
A feral cat brought in without identification has a shorter minimum hold of just 24 hours. After that period the shelter may treat it as a homeless cat and proceed with disposition.
Even after the 6-day hold period expires, an owner may still reacquire their cat at any time before actual disposition by paying all accrued fees.
Emergency Euthanasia
A humane agent or an animal control officer may give written authorization for immediate euthanasia. This applies to a severely sick or injured cat or small animal. Two conditions must be met for this action. First, either the ACO of the municipality where the animal was found has been notified, or, if the animal has identification, the owner has been notified. Second, a veterinarian must state in writing that the animal’s recovery is doubtful given reasonable time and reasonable care. Alternatively, the veterinarian must indicate that the animal presents a danger to the public. A veterinarian may also authorize immediate euthanasia independently if, in their judgment, there is no possibility of recovery.
Veterinarians, humane agents, animal control officers, and animal shelters acting in compliance with this section have civil liability immunity for the loss of the animal.
Small Animals (7§3919-E)
Small animals other than cats follow a slightly different process. When a shelter accepts a small animal without identification, it must hold that animal for at least 48 hours. After that period, the shelter may offer the animal for adoption. It may also sell or give it away. Alternatively, it can transfer it to an appropriate facility or humanely dispose of it. Animals needing permits from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife require special attention. Transferring ownership without permission from the department is not allowed.
When a Pet Owner Is Institutionalized (7§3919-B)
A separate provision covers situations where a pet is brought to a shelter because the owner is incarcerated or hospitalized. In that case, the person bringing the animal must provide the shelter with the owner’s name and address. They must also give the name and address of the facility where the owner is held. Additionally, they should provide their own name, address, and relationship to the owner. The shelter must send written notice by mail to the owner within 24 hours. The owner has 10 days from acceptance to arrange release of the pet. After that, ownership transfers to the shelter.
Practical Notes for Oxford County Residents
Most “stray” felines reported in rural Oxford County are not actually strays. Many are owned outdoor cats with large territories whose owners do not know they are roaming. Before taking a cat to a shelter, check with neighbors. Also, consider using a paper neighbor check collar for a few days before calling dispatch. If the cat is genuinely renowned or feral, that’s a different conversation. The West Paris TNR Program may be relevant, depending on your location.
For questions about a specific stray situation in my coverage area, contact dispatch at 207-743-9554, option 0. You can also visit the Animal Control FAQ for more information.
