This is one of the most common questions I get, and it is a fair one. Animal control, game wardens, humane agents, and local police all handle different things. Calling the wrong one wastes time, especially in an urgent situation. Here is a plain-language breakdown of what falls under animal control in western Maine and what does not.
For any active emergency involving an animal in Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, or the Oxford County Unorganized Territories, call Oxford County Dispatch at 207-743-9554, Option 0. Dispatch routes the call to the right person.
What Animal Control Handles
As your Animal Control Officer, I handle issues involving domestic animals under Maine Title 7 and Title 17. That includes dogs, cats, and other privately owned companion animals. Specifically:
- Dogs running at large or off the owner’s property without control
- Dog bite incidents involving people or other animals
- Animal welfare complaints, including neglect, improper shelter, and lack of food or water
- Stray dogs and cats in my coverage area
- Unlicensed dogs
- Dangerous or nuisance dog complaints
- Animals left in vehicles under dangerous conditions
- Livestock at large on public roads
- Dog-on-livestock attacks
- Quarantine orders following bite incidents
- Welfare checks on animals when an owner is incapacitated or incarcerated
- Community cat issues, including trap-neuter-return coordination
- Animal cruelty investigations under Title 17, Section 1023
If it involves a domestic animal and it is happening in my coverage area, start with dispatch. I will sort out jurisdiction from there if needed.
What Animal Control Does Not Handle
Wildlife
I do not handle wildlife. That means deer, bears, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, bats, birds, and any other wild animal. Wildlife calls go to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. For a rabid or actively dangerous wild animal, call 911.
One exception worth knowing: if a wild animal has bitten a person or a domestic animal, that is a public health issue and dispatch should be notified. Rabies exposure involving people or pets is something I need to know about even when the animal involved is wild.
Criminal Animal Cruelty Prosecution
I investigate animal cruelty complaints and have enforcement authority under Title 7. For cases that may rise to criminal charges under Title 17, I work alongside Maine Humane Agents through the Maine Animal Welfare Program. Humane agents have law enforcement authority and handle criminal prosecution. If I respond to a welfare complaint and find evidence of criminal cruelty, I coordinate with a humane agent. If you are not sure which applies, call dispatch and let me figure it out.
Hunting and Trapping Violations
Illegal hunting, poaching, and trapping violations are handled by Maine Game Wardens through IF&W. I am not a game warden and do not have authority over hunting or trapping activity.
Neighbor Disputes That Do Not Involve Animal Welfare
If a neighbor’s dog barks occasionally or a cat crosses your yard, that is generally not an animal control matter unless it rises to a level that violates state law. I enforce Maine Title 7 and local ordinances. I am not a mediator for neighbor disagreements that do not involve a legal violation.
Dead Animals on Public Roads
Deer and other wildlife on roadways are handled by the Maine DOT or the town road department, depending on the road. If a domestic animal is struck and killed on a road in my coverage area, call dispatch. I can help identify the animal and notify an owner if possible.
Injured or Orphaned Wildlife: Who to Call
If you find an injured, orphaned, or distressed wild animal, the right call depends on the species. MDIFW guidance is: if you find a deer, bear, moose, or turkey showing signs of injury, contact a game warden or MDIFW biologist. For all other species, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Before doing anything, call first. Most rehabbers want to hear what you are seeing before you pick anything up. Moving a wild animal unnecessarily can do more harm than good, and some animals that appear orphaned or injured are not.
Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators in Oxford County
The following three rehabilitators are currently listed for Oxford County in the MDIFW licensed rehabilitator database. Always call ahead before transporting an animal.
- Katrina Carstensen — 47 Mountain View Drive, Otisfield | 207-583-2105 | Large raptors, medium mammals, passerines and other small birds, small mammals, small raptors, turkey, waterbirds, deer.
- Warren Brook Wildlife Rehabilitation (Jacqueline Fanning) — 11 Baldpate Mountain Drive, Waterford | 207-583-6266 | Small mammals, medium mammals, and rabies vector species. No birds.
- Oxford Hills Veterinary Hospital (Dr. Matthew Holden, DVM) — 136 Western Avenue, South Paris | 207-743-9271 | Full service veterinary hospital. Small mammals, medium mammals, passerines and other small birds.
Regional Resources
- Avian Haven (Freedom, ME) — Maine’s largest bird rehabilitation center. Accepts all bird species. 207-382-6761 | avianhaven.org
- Saco River Wildlife Center (Limington, ME) — Small to medium mammals and bats. 207-200-0538 | sacoriverwildlifecenter.org
- Misfits Rehab (Auburn, ME) — Small to medium mammals. 207-212-1039 | misfitsrehab.org
- Center for Wildlife (Cape Neddick, ME) — All birds, reptiles, and mammals. 207-361-1400 | thecenterforwildlife.org
Can’t Reach Anyone? Use Animal Help Now
Animal Help Now (ahnow.org) is a free tool that uses your location to find the nearest licensed wildlife rehabilitator in real time. It works on any smartphone and pulls from current permit data. If you cannot reach anyone on the list above, this is the fastest way to find help.
Quick Reference: Who to Call
| Situation | Who to Call |
|---|---|
| Dog at large, bite, welfare complaint, stray domestic animal | Oxford County Dispatch: 207-743-9554, Option 0 |
| Wildlife issue (injured, aggressive, or acting strangely) | Maine IF&W: 207-287-8000 | Game Warden: 1-800-452-4664 |
| Injured or orphaned wild animal | Carstensen: 207-583-2105 | Warren Brook: 207-583-6266 |
| Injured bird | Avian Haven: 207-382-6761 | Carstensen: 207-583-2105 |
| Rabid or actively dangerous wild animal | 911 |
| Wild animal that has bitten a person or pet | 911 or Oxford County Dispatch: 207-743-9554, Option 0 |
| Hunting or trapping violation | Maine Game Warden: 1-800-452-4664 |
| Criminal animal cruelty | Maine Animal Welfare Program: 207-287-3846 |
| Dead wildlife on a state road | Maine DOT: 511 |
When in Doubt, Call Dispatch
If you are not sure who handles your situation, call Oxford County Dispatch at 207-743-9554, Option 0. Dispatch can reach me directly and can also connect you with the right agency if it falls outside my jurisdiction. Do not wait on an emergency trying to figure out the right number.
For more information on Maine animal laws and your rights as a resident, visit the Animal Control FAQ.
