Changes proposed by the Department of Agriculture appropriately add pet adoption services to rules governing the importation of dogs and cats to Maine. Pet adoption agencies are concerned that a quarantine provision – which has applied to pet shops and breeders for nearly a decade – is too stringent. They should work with state regulators to find an alternative that achieves the same health goals.

Currently the rules, which require veterinary inspections and vaccinations before dogs and cats can be brought into Maine, apply only to those who sell the animals. Because adoption services now bring in hundreds of animals per year, they should also be covered by the rules. Many already require that pets be checked by a veterinarian, vaccinated and spayed or neutered. This is an appropriate standard that should apply to all pets brought into Maine to reside here.

The portion of the rule change that has caused the most concern is the proposed strengthening of the required holding period. The law now requires that dogs and cats imported for re-sale be held by the importer for five days. The proposed change would add adoption and require that the animals be held at an isolation facility approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

State veterinarian Don Hoenig says the tougher rules are meant to ensure the health of animals brought into Maine while also protecting the health of animals and pet owners already here. He says veterinarians in different parts of the state have reported cases of distemper and other diseases in dogs brought into the state through adoption agencies. One vet had not seen another case of distemper in 20 years.

Maine’s rules appear stricter than many other states, including some of its neighbors. New Hampshire also has a quarantine requirement for dogs, cats and ferrets offered for resale, but only for 48 hours.

One solution may be to count time animals destined for Maine are held away from other animals in other states toward the holding period. Many pet rescue organizations already quarantine animals for at least 14 days, often in volunteers’ homes, before transporting them to other states to ensure they are not carrying a disease. Another may be to use the current standard, which has been used by pet shops and breeders since 1988, without requiring an isolation facility, since most rescue organizations don’t have shelter facilities in Maine.

The proposed rules are far from final and Dr. Hoenig stresses that the department is looking for new ideas.

A public hearing on the proposed changes is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, July 16, at the Department of Public Safety Building in Augusta. Written public comments are also being collected. The Department of Agriculture is required to review and respond to all comments before making the rule changes final.

Ensuring the health of animals in Maine and those brought here is important, but it can be done in a way that doesn’t impede pet adoptions.