Hartford Animal Control – 2025 Annual Report

In 2025, the Town of Hartford entered into its first formal Animal Control contract with Brandon E. Holmes. Response to Hartford calls began early in the year, and the contract was formally reviewed and approved at a budget meeting in April. A total of 116 calls for service were logged in Hartford during 2025.

2025 Call Volume

Here is how Hartford’s 116 calls broke down by category:

Stray or loose animals – 54
Bite investigations and quarantine enforcement – 11
Abandonment cases – 10
General animal control and ordinance – 9
Livestock at large – 7
Kennel inspections – 6
Cruelty to animals – 6
Sick or injured animals – 4
Deceased animals – 2
Neglect investigations – 2
Continuing education – 2
Noise complaints – 1
Aggressive behavior – 1
Administrative – 1

Stray and roaming animals make up the largest share of calls. Cruelty, neglect, and abandonment cases require significantly more time per incident due to documentation requirements, coordination with the Maine Animal Welfare Program, and multi-visit follow-up.

Bite Investigations

Eleven bite investigation case activities were documented in Hartford in 2025. These include initial bite reports and required follow-up quarantine visits. Several cases involved unvaccinated animals, which requires additional coordination and documentation before the quarantine can be cleared.

Livestock Response

Seven livestock-at-large calls were handled in Hartford, including loose horses, donkeys, goats, cattle, and rabbits. One situation involved repeated escapes over an extended period and required coordination with the Maine Animal Welfare Program to achieve compliance.

Cruelty and Neglect Cases

A significant multi-visit cruelty and neglect case was handled at a Hartford property in 2025. The situation involved livestock, sheep, rabbits, and chickens kept in unsanitary conditions. A formal Notice to Comply was issued in coordination with the Maine Animal Welfare Program. By the final inspection, major improvements had been made and most animals had been sold or relocated.

Abandonment

Ten abandonment case activities were documented in Hartford. The most involved case centered on felines left in a condemned property with no running water or electricity. Multiple trapping sessions were conducted under hazardous ammonia conditions. All animals were eventually recovered and transported to a shelter.

Community Cat Efforts

A feral cat colony was identified and assessed at a Hartford property in the fall of 2025. In December, eight community cats were trapped and transported to the Animal Welfare Society for spay and neuter procedures, with surgical costs covered by Maine Humane. Animals were returned to their colony after recovery, and remaining cats will be addressed through continued TNR efforts in 2026.

Kennel Inspections

Six kennel-related case activities were documented in Hartford. Annual inspections at Permagrin Kennel, a sled dog facility, resulted in satisfactory ratings on both visits. A separate kennel was determined to no longer meet the threshold requiring a municipal license following recent downsizing.

Training and Continuing Education

The following training was completed in 2025 with Hartford’s proportional share included in billing:

Maine CARES – coordinated community animal response and emergency preparedness
Large Animal Emergency Rescue (LAER) Parts I and II – classroom and hands-on training with horses and donkeys
Maine Humane Conference – three CE credits covering humane handling, community cat programs, and communication

Mileage

1,696.27 miles were logged on Hartford calls in 2025, covering emergency response, shelter transports, compliance visits, kennel inspections, and allocated training travel.