{"data":{"id":"us-me/17-m.r.s.-1037-a","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"17 M.R.S. §1037-A","heading":"Affirmative defense","body":"It is an affirmative defense to alleged violations of sections 1035, 1036 and 1037 that the animal is kept as part of an agricultural operation and in compliance with best management practices for animal husbandry as determined by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.","path":["TITLE 17: CRIMES","CHAPTER 42: ANIMAL WELFARE","SUBCHAPTER 3: CRUELTY TO ANIMALS"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/17/title17sec1037-A.html","current_through":"October 1, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:28Z","sha256":"e2a14d548fa6c371c60e27ecd13577ab61c691ef5602c8ddda9459b0c6c1220e","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/17-m.r.s.-1037","next":"us-me/17-m.r.s.-1038"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}