Sumner Animal Control – 2025 Annual Report

In 2025, the Town of Sumner had 175 calls for service handled by Animal Control Officer Brandon E. Holmes. Coverage runs 24 hours a day on call, with response focused on public safety, humane enforcement, and responsible animal ownership.

2025 Call Volume

A total of 175 calls were handled in Sumner this year. Here is how those calls broke down:

Stray or loose animals – 99
Neglect investigations – 12
Bite investigations and quarantine enforcement – 9
General animal control complaints – 9
Noise complaints – 8
Cruelty to animals – 6
Sick or injured animals – 5
Welfare checks – 5
Livestock at large – 4
Abandonment cases – 3
Deceased animals – 2
Continuing education – 2
Kennel inspection – 1
Owner surrender – 1
Nuisance complaint – 1
Hoarding investigation – 1

Stray and roaming animals make up the largest share of calls, but neglect, cruelty, and welfare cases take up a disproportionate amount of time. Those cases involve multiple visits, coordination with the Maine Animal Welfare Program, and thorough documentation at each step.

Bite Investigations

Nine bite investigation case activities were documented in Sumner in 2025. These include both initial reports and follow-up visits required under Maine’s rabies quarantine law. Some cases involved multiple contacts before the quarantine could be formally closed.

Cruelty, Neglect, and Welfare Cases

Sumner had a notable number of neglect, cruelty, and welfare investigations in 2025, including one hoarding case. These situations require more time per call than most other incident types. Each case was documented with photos and written records, and coordination with the Maine Animal Welfare Program was part of the process on more complex matters.

Livestock Response

Four livestock-at-large calls were handled in Sumner in 2025. Off-hours livestock calls are common in rural towns, and they require immediate response due to traffic safety concerns.

Mileage

Approximately 3,908 miles were logged on Sumner calls in 2025, including emergency response, shelter and veterinary transports, compliance visits, court-related travel, and welfare rechecks.