MFOA organized demonstrations and brought the media’s attention to two high profile cases in 2007 involving cruelty to dogs.

At the Superior court in Alfred, MFOA board member, Ree Gonzalez, organized a peaceful protest and had letters submitted to the court asking for the maximum penalty under the law (aggravated animal cruelty, a felony offense) for an especially senseless and cruel killing of a dog in a domestic dispute. Over 50 people and 20 dogs joined in the demonstration.

In August, the State Animal Welfare Program (AWP) seized over 250 dogs from a puppy mill in Buxton. It was perhaps the worst case ever of a puppy mill in Maine. MFOA supported the AWP and again staged a peaceful demonstration at the Biddeford District Court to alert the press and the public to the fact that Maine has puppy mills and many backyard breeders that are breeding dogs in inhumane conditions, for money only. The court and the legislature need to strengthen the message that needless animal suffering is unacceptable to Maine citizens.