ACO Holmes covers West Paris 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. West Paris also has an active TNR program for community cats. For anything urgent, go through dispatch first. It is the fastest way to reach me and it gets the call on record.
📞 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 West Paris.
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. Even a quick sighting can make a real difference in getting an animal home.
📋 West Paris Local Ordinances
West Paris has two local animal ordinances in effect.
Dog Control Ordinance (effective March 4, 2017). This ordinance adds local requirements on top of state law.
- At large. No dog may be off its owner’s premises unless under leash, cord, or chain control, or under auditory or visual command control.
- Nuisance. Owners may not permit a nuisance. Nuisance includes loud, frequent, habitual barking or howling, or destruction of property not belonging to the owner. Dog waste must be promptly removed from any sidewalk, street, or public or private property.
- Dangerous dogs. Owners must maintain continuous control by secure enclosure or leash, and post conspicuous warning signs.
- Impoundment. Dogs at large will be impounded at a town-designated shelter for up to 8 days. Boarding and impoundment fees are set by the shelter. A first-offense citation may be resolved by paying a $50 civil penalty directly to the Town Office within 7 business days.
- Penalties. First violation: $50 to $100 plus costs. Subsequent violations: $100 to $500. Courts may also order restraint, destruction, or other disposition of the dog.
Commercial Breeding Facility Prohibition Ordinance (enacted March 4, 2006). West Paris prohibits the establishment or operation of commercial breeding facilities that maintain 4 or more breeding female dogs or cats and sell 7 or more litters per year directly to the public. Exempt from this ordinance are breeders with 3 or fewer breeding females selling only offspring born on the premises, anyone selling fewer than 25 animals per year born on their property, kennels and shelters licensed by USDA or the State of Maine, and nonprofit rescue groups charging adoption fees.
For more on Maine animal laws, see the Animal Control FAQ or the Maine Laws section.