Portland 1927: A boy and a dog during Be Kind to Animals Week

Photo Credit: Maine Historical Society

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How many faithful dogs served their masters well in Maine can never be known.   What is known, is that throughout the years many people in Maine have relied on dogs to assist in everyday life and to provide companionship.

Above and beyond their place as family companions and  in traditional service occupations, dogs in Maine serve in an ever-widening spectrum of therapeutic roles. The physical and emotional benefits to humans that come from relationships with dogs are now recognized and utilized by psychiatric facilities, assisted living centers, hospitals, schools and even prisons.

Today, dogs contribute more to the welfare of individuals and society than perhaps any other time in the history of the human dog bond.  Additionally, increased awareness of the importance of humane care and control of dogs, the enactment and enforcement of leash laws, and dog bite prevention education, have all been instrumental in drastically lowering the number of reported dog-related injuries nationwide.

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The gravesite of the beloved dogs and horse of Maine Gov. Percival Baxter on Mackworth Island. Photo credit: Maine Historical Society

Mackworth Island is the former home of James Phinney Baxter and of his son, Percival, who deeded it to the State of Maine in 1943. Baxter arranged to have his animals' gravesites preserved forever.

Maine Civil War Mascot - "Major"

Major was a mutt belonging to the 10th Maine Infantry Regiment, whose surviving units were later transferred to the 29th Maine Infantry. Major reportedly had a habit of snapping at Confederate bullets in flight. He died when he finally caught one of them. Major would growl and bark during an engagement until the fight was over.

National Canine Research Council

What is a dog bite?

While the question seems simple enough,  the answer is often not what we imagine.

Over the past 3 decades, increased awareness of the importance of humane care and control of dogs, the enactment and enforcement of leash laws, and dog bite prevention education, have all been instrumental in lowering the number of reported dog-related injuries nationwide.

National Canine Research Council

Over the past 45 years (1965-present) there have been three (3) dog bite-related fatalities in Maine.

NCRC's 2011 Preliminary Report on Dog Bite-Related Fatalities illustrates the challenge of accurately reporting on these extremely rare, tragic events. Our mission of preserving the human-canine bond obligates us to be as accurate about these emotionally charged incidents as we can, so that they are calmly, correctly and, therefore, usefully understood. Accuracy takes time.

Different breeds/types of dogs were reported to be involved in these incidents.*

All involved a young child and a single dog.

In 1969, a 22-month-old girl was killed by her family's dog. (Sidney)

In 1999, a 1-year-old child tripped over a sleeping dog. The child received a single, but lethal, bite from the startled dog. (Waterboro)

In 2011, a 7-month-old girl was killed by a dog. (Frankfort)

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*Note: In recent years, scientists have established that visual identification of dogs of unknown origin is extremely unreliable; therefore, while we can be sure these listed incidents involved varied types of dogs, we cannot be certain of the accuracy of most breed identifications.

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Dogs are a negligible cause of mortality in Maine:

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Fact is, people in Maine routinely accept far greater risks from bicycles, ATVs and swimming pools than any that are associated with companion animals.

National Canine Research Council