Pet Wiki

Dogs in Maine, United States: rules, tax and travel

Dogs 6 months and older are licensed with the town by January 1 each year, owners are strictly liable for injuries off their premises, and towns may not pass breed-specific rules.

Towns issue licences and may add leash rules.

The national rules for United States apply here too. National rules

Breed rules

No breed-specific rule found.

Registration and microchip

Registration

Owners of dogs 6 months or older license them each year on or before January 1 with the municipal clerk, who needs proof of rabies immunization (7 M.R.S. 3922). New dogs are licensed within 10 days.[1]

Other rules

Rabies: dogs within 30 days after reaching 3 months, booster one year later, then at the intervals set by the national public health veterinarians' compendium (7 M.R.S. 3916).[2]

Bite liability: the owner or keeper is liable for injuries to a person who is not on the owner's premises (7 M.R.S. 3961).[3]

Breed rules: municipalities may not adopt breed-specific ordinances (7 M.R.S. 3950).[4]

Not confirmed yet: Leash and muzzle. We only show what an official or named source states.

Laws change: this is general information, not legal advice. The authority linked on each line has the final word.

Sources

  1. legislature.maine.gov/statutes/7/title7sec3922.html (official)
  2. legislature.maine.gov/statutes/7/title7sec3916.html (official)
  3. legislature.maine.gov/statutes/7/title7sec3961.html (official)
  4. legislature.maine.gov/statutes/7/title7sec3950.html (official)