More Information

Board of Directors

Nancy Daniels, President
Penobscot Valley Kennel Club

Colette Thompson, Secretary
Central Aroostook Kennel Club

Sharon Saint John, Treasurer
Penobscot Valley Kennel Club

Sue Westlake, Director-at-Large
Maine Retriever Trial Club

Gary Anderson, Past President
Central Maine Brittany Club

Responsible Dog Ownership

The joy of dog ownership also brings responsibility. Responsible dog owners are easy to recognize because they:

• Make careful decisions about getting a dog by spending time learning about different breed characteristics and then choosing a dog suited to their home, lifestyle and personality.
• Obey local ordinances including licensing and leash requirements. They protect and control their dog for its own safety and the safety of others.
• Provide their dog with a pleasant and safe environment, adequate food, water and shelter; proper identification, plenty of exercise, training, companionship and LOTS OF LOVE.
• Provide regular health care as recommended by their vet, including rabies and distemper vaccinations and heartworm prevention. They provide regular maintenance checks for fleas and other parasites as well as a regular bathing and grooming schedule.
• Are always alert to weather changes that could affect their animals. Summer's humid heat and winter's cold winds are equally dangerous. They leave no dog unattended in a car on a warm day, nor outside without shade and water in the summer and full protection from the cold winds and wet snow in winter.
• Know the importance of teaching compassion and respect for animals early in life and begin by teaching their own children these values.
• Have their dog spayed or neutered, and encourage other owners to do the same. They are not responsible for producing dogs that will find themselves unwanted and uncared for in this world.

Dog Licensing Laws in Maine

• Specific dog laws can be found at:
  www.maine.gov
• Specific definitions can be found at:
  www.mainelegislature.org
• Puppy Lemon Laws:
  legislature.maine.gov/statutes
• Maine Municipal Kennel Inspection Report:
  www.maine.gov/kennel-inspection.pdf
• State of Maine Animal Welfare Law and Regulations:
  www.maine.gov/awp-lawbook.pdf
• USDA commercial licensing for commercial dog breeders:
  www.aphis.usda.gov/animalwelfare
• Introductory Course for Commercial Dog Breeders:
  www.aphis.usda.gov/commercial-breeders.pdf

Dog Safety in the Home

It's best to be prepared for an accident or emergency before it happens. Have you ever considered: Who would take care of your dog if you were hurt and unable to do so? What would your family do if your dog was hurt? What will happen to your dog should you have a fatal accident? A little work in advance will provide your dog with the proper care no matter what happens.

Poisonous Products

There are many household products that are dangerous to dogs. If your dog ingests harmful chemicals, contact a poison control center or vet immediately! Make sure you dog doesn't eat food laying on the ground or out of trash cans. It could be poisoned or infected with bacteria.

Note to Parents:

DO NOT leave young children alone with dogs. Dogs do not understand the squeals of children and could get frightened. Also, smaller, more fragile breeds may be unintentionally hurt by overeager toddlers who think the dogs are toys.

Emergency Information

Make sure all vital information regarding your dog is easily accessible. Take a few moments to fill out a card and put it on your refrigerator, in your wallet and/or other prominent spots. This card should include the pet's name, sex, date of birth, license number, veterinarian, vet's phone number, allergies, diet, special instructions.

You may also want your attorney to draft a written statement which gives immediate custody of your dog to a designated individual and put that person's name/number on your emergency information list. Make sure an emergency contact person has keys to your house!

Recommended Vaccinations

Vaccinations Can Prevent These Diseases:

• Distemper - A widespread, and often fatal disease, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia and severe brain damage.
• Adenovirus - The cause of infectious hepatitis and respiratory infections, respectively, CAV-1 virus produces serve damage to the cells of the liver. CAV-2 virus is part of the kennel cough complex in dogs.
• Leptospirosis - A bacterial infection which often leads to permanent kidney damage. It is very contagious and spreads through contact with nasal secretions, urine, or saliva of infected animals.
• Parainfluenza - Another part of the kennel cough complex. It is often a mild respiratory infection, but can be more severe in puppies and debilitated dogs.
• Parovirus - A widespread and potentially fatal disease which may cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. It is especially dangerous in young dogs and individuals susceptible to the effects of dehydration.
• Coronovirus - A highly contagious viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract which causes vomiting and diarrhea. Young puppies are particularly susceptible to this disease.
• Rabies - A fatal viral infection of the central nervous system that can affect all mammals, including man. The virus is transmitted from animal to animal to man primarily through the bite of an infected animal. Routine vaccination is the key to controlling this dreaded disease.
• Bordetella - A bacteria that infects the upper respiratory tract. It is one of the many important contributing infectious agents in the kennel/canine cough complex.
• Lyme Disease - A disease carried by ticks which infects both man and dogs. The disease can damage many of the dog's body systems, but most often causes fear, loss of appetite and lameness.

Please Think Before Breeding!

It's a tragedy that there are thousands and thousands of unwanted dogs running as strays in the United States. These include many pure-bred dogs that were acquired and discarded by irresponsible owners. Irresponsible breeders also contribute to the problem by producing more puppies than the market can readily absorb.

Many dogs - probably most - should not be bred. If you're thinking of breeding your dog, check with other breeders. They'll tell you the chances your dog has or producing salable pups. Remember, if you do choose to breed your dog, you have an obligation to see the puppies placed in homes where they will receive the proper attention, training and care for their well-being (which may include taking the dog back if an owner is unable to continue with its care).

For those who do not plan to breed or show their dogs, it is best to have the animal neutered. If you choose not to neuter your dog, you have a responsibility to avoid unplanned litters. Dogs mature early. Generally, bitches come in season for the first time at six months, but some breeds can do this as early as four months. Every bitch must be closely observed when due in season and carefully confined through out her entire season.

DOGS AND BITCHES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN NEUTERED SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO ROAM.

Breeder's Code of Ethics

• To maintain good standards of health and care in my kennels.
• To refuse to sell to wholesalers or retailers, nor to sell to any buyer where I have reason to believe that the puppy or dog will not be properly cared for.
• To keep and pass on to the buyers of puppies or adult dogs accurate health, breeding registration, and pedigree records. Papers may be withheld or breeders' rights retained only by mutual agreement in writing.
• To clearly state, in writing, for the buyer of a puppy or adult dog whether dog is of show or pet quality.
• To urge all buyers to have a puppy or adult dog, sold by me, examined by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of receipt. Said examination to be paid for by buyer as previously agreed.
• To deliver or ship only puppies or adult dogs of sound health and temperament. Where the buyer or his authorized representative did not personally see and choose the puppy or adult dog shipped by me, a period of 24 hours is granted to advise of the final decision and an additional 24 hours is provided if the dog is to be returned.
• To use a sales contract or written agreement to cover any sale or purchase involving a dog, with a signed copy to each party involved. A 4-generation pedigree must be given by the seller to the buyer at time of sale. The buyer should be informed that a certified pedigree may be obtained from the registration body, for a fee.
• To refuse stud service to any bitch I consider of poor quality, poor temperament or in poor health. At the time of breeding an exchange of pedigrees must be made along with a written stud service contract with signed copy going to each party.
• To allow one repeat stud service where a bitch has failed to conceive after being bred to one of my studs, if the stud is in good health and available, and at such a time and place as mutually agreed by the owner of the bitch and myself.
• To educate all buyers on the importance of spay and neutering of pets and to require all dogs sold solely as pets to be spayed or neutered and/or sold with non-breeding papers.
• To abide by the constitution and by-laws of the Federation and by the rules of the American Kennel Club and/or its own governing body.

Veterinary/Animal Sciences Funding Sources

Several new sources of money are now available to students wishing to study veterinary medicine or animal sciences.

Maine Loan Program

The Maine program, "Provides additional ongoing funding for the Maine Veterinary Medicine Loan Program to increase the number of loans awarded annually from 2 to 3 and to increase the maximum loan amount available under the program to each participant from $25,000 to $35,000 per year for a period of 4 years."

This program is administered by FAME (Finance Authority of Maine). The application will open again February 1, 2023 (Or every Feb 1). It is an Online application. The deadline is May 31, 2023 (Or every May 31). The selection process is in June 2023 (Or every June).

The website at FAME has not been updated to show the increases. Updates are expected in the October-November 2022 timeframe.

Maine Veterinary Medicine Loan Program Download MVMLP Brochure

Federal Loan Program

The federal program is run through the Department of Agriculture via the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. From their web site: The VMLRP will pay up to $25,000 each year towards qualified educational loans of eligible veterinarians who agree to serve in a NIFA-designated veterinarian shortage situation for a period of three years.

More information about scholarship information for vet students, animal science majors, and vet technicians is available on their website.

USDA Veterinary Medicine Loan Program Download VMLRP Fact Sheet

Lastly, here is a link to other funding sources that may be of interest.

Veterinary & Animal Science Scholarships