AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill by Sen. Mike Carpenter, D-Houlton, would require a veterinarian to be present or on call at all agricultural fairs in Maine.
The bill — LD 828, “An Act to Require a Veterinarian to be Present at an Agricultural Fair” — received a public hearing before the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee on Thursday, April 6.
“It makes sense that we have veterinarians on hand at fairs that feature animals, such as the Houlton Agricultural Fair,” said Sen. Carpenter. “This bill is a fix that would help ensure the safety of those animals.”
Last year at the annual Houlton Agricultural Fair, three piglets won at the fair were left in a car on a hot summer day, causing one of them to die.
Katie Hansbury of Maine’s chapter of the Humane Society of the United States and Rep. Chris Johansen, R-Monticello, also spoke in favor of the bill.
LD 828 faces further action in the committee and votes in the House and Senate.
