Western Maine has working farms and livestock operations spread across all of my coverage towns. Loose livestock, dog-on-livestock attacks, and livestock welfare complaints are real situations I respond to. This post explains what Maine law says, what your rights are, and what to do when livestock is involved in an animal control incident.
For any active livestock emergency in Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, or the Oxford County Unorganized Territories, including livestock on a public road, call Oxford County Dispatch at 207-743-9554, Option 0 immediately.
Livestock at Large on Public Roads
Livestock on a public road is dangerous for drivers and for the animals. Under Maine law, livestock owners are responsible for keeping their animals confined. If you encounter livestock on a road, slow down, turn on your hazard lights, and call dispatch right away. Do not attempt to chase or herd the animals on your own, especially on a roadway.
I will respond to the scene, help contain the situation, and work to locate the owner. Local law enforcement may also respond depending on the road and the risk level.
Dog Attacks on Livestock
Maine has specific statutes that address dogs killing or injuring livestock, and they give farmers and livestock owners meaningful legal protections.
Civil Penalty and Owner Liability (7 § 3962-A and 7 § 3961)
Under Maine Title 7, Section 3962-A, an animal owner whose animal kills or injures livestock, poultry, domestic rabbits, or pets through the owner’s negligence commits a civil violation. A person who suffers that damage may also pursue a civil action under Section 3961 for the full amount of damages. You do not have to choose one or the other. Both remedies are available.
There is an important exception. Under §3962-A, the owner or keeper is not liable if they can establish that the livestock that was killed or injured provoked the attack, or that the attacking animal was leashed or controlled on the owner’s own property at the time of the attack. Those are the conditions under which liability does not attach.
Document your losses carefully. That means photographs, a written inventory of what was killed or injured, and any veterinary records if an animal survived and required treatment. This documentation supports both a civil claim and any complaint filed through my office.
Right to Protect Livestock During an Active Attack
Maine law under §3961 allows a person to lawfully kill a dog if necessary to protect that person, another person, or a domesticated animal during the course of a sudden, unprovoked assault. This is a recognized legal provision and does not require a court order. The situation must be active. A dog found near your flock after the fact is not the same as a dog caught in the act of attacking. If you are not certain the attack is ongoing, call dispatch rather than taking action you may not be legally protected for.
Joint and Several Liability (7 § 3963)
If two or more dogs from different owners attack your properly enclosed livestock at the same time, those owners are jointly and severally liable for the damage. That means you can pursue the full amount from either owner, and they sort out their share between themselves.
What I Can Do After a Dog-on-Livestock Attack
When I respond to a livestock attack, I investigate and document what happened. I identify the attacking dog and its owner if possible. I check for prior complaints. If the dog meets the threshold for a dangerous dog proceeding under 7 § 3952-A, I can initiate that process. I can also issue a civil violation summons for a dog at large if the animal was off the owner’s property without control at the time of the attack.
Your path to financial recovery for livestock losses runs through civil court. My documentation supports that case, but I cannot order an owner to pay you directly.
Livestock Welfare Complaints
Livestock are covered under Maine’s animal welfare laws. Under 7 § 4015, all animals, including livestock, must be provided with proper shelter, protection from weather, and humane living conditions. Under 7 § 4011, neglect, overworking, abandonment, and cruelty to livestock are violations.
If you have concerns about livestock welfare in my coverage area, call dispatch. I will assess the situation. Serious welfare cases involving possible criminal cruelty may involve the Maine Animal Welfare Program and a humane agent in addition to my response.
What Animal Control Does Not Handle
Wildlife predation on livestock, meaning coyotes, bears, or other wild animals killing your animals, is not an animal control matter. Those situations go to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. IF&W has a depredation program that may be able to help depending on the circumstances. You can reach them at 207-287-8000.
For more on Maine animal laws, see the Animal Control FAQ or the full Maine Laws section.
