By Rebecca Goldfine,Staff Writer

WEST PARIS – A selectman is trying to get an ordinance passed that would ban unlicensed dog and cat kennels in town to prevent animal abuse.

Wayne Theofrastou wants to ban facilities that keep four or more breeder dogs or cats, or sell seven or more litters of puppies per year.

The ordinance exempts U.S. Department of Agriculture or state-licensed kennels and nonprofit animal rescue groups that charge adoption fees.

“These animals love life just as I do,” Theofrastou said. “They need protection.”

He said he will start with the local ordinance, and then try to bring it to the state Legislature.

The facilities that concern him are not currently regulated by the Animal Welfare Act, and through a legal loophole can do business without a license, making it easier for possible abuse of the animals, he said.

“It is a unique request,” Town Manager Don Woodbury said. “It is something that is very deeply felt by the individual who is proposing it, and to others, it might be something they have no interest in.”

Theofrastou said that by his informal survey, West Paris residents support the ordinance by a ratio of 2-to-1.

Residents will vote on warrant articles and the new budget at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 4, in the Agnes Gray School.

The proposed budget this year is $876,937, which is up from last year by about $80,000, according to Woodbury.

The budget increases come from requests by the Fire Department, as well as more expensive fuel costs, which are increasing transportation budgets, Woodbury said.

The Fire Department is trying to establish a four-tier pay scale that would reward firefighters with higher levels of training and proficiency. This is one effort to recruit new firefighters to the team, an increasing hardship for many fire departments in the state.

“For years, all firefighters have received $7.50 an hour. But the new scale will pay juniors $6.50 and more senior officers $10 an hour. The department’s budget has increased accordingly by about $10,000,” Woodbury said.

Two seats are open on the Board of Selectmen, and Wade Rainey and Jeff Shock are running.

Selectman Jim Johnston will have completed his three-year term, and Theofrastou is retiring two years early due to health problems.

“This will be my greatest achievement if it gets passed,” Theofrastou said of his proposed kennel ordinance.