AGENCY: 01-001 - Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 701, Rules Governing Animal Welfare: Section VIII, The Spay/Neuter Reimbursement Program
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2010-611
CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING: Norma J. Worley, Agriculture, 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Telephone: (207) 287-5531. E-mail: Norma.J.Worley@Maine.gov .
CONCISE SUMMARY: This amendment will coordinate the holding periods and allow the animal shelters to surgically alter cats in forty-eight (48) hours rather than holding them for six (6) days as the current rule requires.
DETAILED BASIS STATEMENT/SUMMARY: The current rule requires animal shelters to hold stray cats for six (6) days before altering in order to qualify for reimbursement under this Rule. Current statute, 7 MRS §3919-A, requires stray cats to be held only forty-eight (48) hours. This amendment will coordinate the holding periods and allow the shelters to surgically alter the cats in forty-eight (48) hours rather than holding them for six (6) days.
By allowing the animal shelters to surgically altered stray cats in forty-eight (48 hours)it will allow the cats to be adopted much sooner than the current requirement of six (6) days and still be eligible for reimbursement from the Department.
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 5, 2010
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Ned R. Porter, Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources, 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0028. Telephone: (207) 287-7576. E-mail: Ned.R.Porter@Maine.gov .