ACO Holmes covers Stoneham for all domestic animal issues. That includes loose or stray animals, bite and scratch reports, welfare and neglect concerns, nuisance complaints, and questions about dog licensing and rabies compliance. Stoneham is a rural area with limited road density, so detailed location information when you call makes a real difference in response time. For anything urgent, go through dispatch first.
📞 Emergencies and Urgent Calls
Oxford County Dispatch: 207-743-9554, Option 0
Use dispatch for any situation that needs a response right away — loose animals, bites, welfare emergencies, livestock on a road. This creates an official record and gets me moving.
📧 Non-Emergency Contact
For general questions, follow-ups, or non-urgent concerns: brandon@oxfordaco.com
⚖️ Serious Welfare, Neglect, or Cruelty Concerns
For situations involving active cruelty, hoarding, large-scale neglect, or anything that may require animal seizure, contact the Maine Animal Welfare Program directly. Humane agents are state employees. Their investigations and any resulting animal housing costs are handled at the state level, not by Stoneham.
Maine Animal Welfare Program
📞 207-287-3846 | Toll-free: 1-877-269-9200
📧 animal.welfare@maine.gov
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
After-hours cruelty emergencies: Call the Maine State Police Bangor Barracks at 207-973-3700. They will contact an Animal Welfare Program representative.
⚠️ Lost or Found Animals
If you spot a loose animal, do not chase or call out. Note the location and direction of travel and report it through dispatch. In a rural area like Stoneham, a specific location description — road name, landmarks, direction of travel — helps significantly.
📋 Stoneham Dog Control Ordinance
Stoneham has its own Dog Control Ordinance that adds local requirements on top of state law.
Licensing. All dogs kept in Stoneham must be licensed and tagged in accordance with Maine Title 7, §3921.
Disturbing the peace. It is a violation for an owner to permit a dog to bark, howl, or yelp continuously for 20 minutes or intermittently for one hour or more between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
At large. No dog, licensed or unlicensed, may run at large except when used for hunting.
Confinement of dangerous dogs. Dogs that are fierce, dangerous, vicious, or in heat must be properly confined or tied to prevent harm to the public. Dogs violating this section will be impounded and not released except on ACO approval after all impoundment fees are paid.
Impoundment. The ACO, police officers, and constables may seize any dog violating this ordinance or state law. Owners reclaim their dog by paying a $30 fee to the town plus any shelter costs. All fees are deposited in the town’s separate animal control account as required by state law.
Penalties. Violations are civil violations with fines of $50 to $200, plus the town’s attorney fees and costs, recoverable in District Court in South Paris.
For more on Maine animal laws, see the Animal Control FAQ or the Maine Laws section.