§ 10-615.1. Reasonable costs of care for a seized animal
West's Annotated Code of MarylandCriminal LawEffective: October 1, 2022
Effective: October 1, 2022
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 10-615.1
§ 10-615.1. Reasonable costs of care for a seized animal
(a) In this section, “owner” means a person who can prove legal title to or ownership of an animal at issue on the date of the seizure.
(b)(1)(i) If an animal is seized under § 10-615 of this subtitle and the owner has filed a petition for return of the animal, an officer or authorized agent of a humane society, or a police officer or any other public official required to protect animals who represents the seizing person, may file a petition to join a proceeding conducted under § 10-615(d)(2) of this subtitle for the reasonable costs of caring for the animal, including the provision of food, water, shelter, and medical care.
(ii) If livestock, as defined by § 1-101 of the Agriculture Article, is seized under § 10-615 of this subtitle and the owner has not filed a petition for return of the animal, an officer or authorized agent of a humane society, or a police officer or any other public official required to protect animals who represents the seizing person, shall file a petition for the continued possession of the livestock and reasonable costs for caring for the livestock, including the provision of food, water, shelter, and medical care.
(c) On receipt of a petition filed under § 10-615(d)(2) of this subtitle or subsection (b)(1) of this section, the court shall set a date for a hearing to determine:
(e) At the hearing under subsection (c) of this section, the petitioner shall demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence:
(f) During a hearing under subsection (c) of this section, the owner or custodian of the seized animal shall have the opportunity to:
(j) A petitioner shall be immune from civil liability for damages alleged by an owner or a custodian concerning the care provided by the petitioner, except for intentional misconduct or gross negligence resulting in the death of the seized animal.
(k) If the owner or custodian of the seized animal is acquitted of all criminal charges and if all costs ordered to be paid under this section have been timely paid, the owner or custodian of the animal is entitled to:
(l) If the owner or custodian of the seized animal is convicted of any criminal charges brought in relation to a seizure under § 10-615 of this subtitle, any animals seized shall be forfeited.
(m) This section may not be construed to prevent an officer or authorized agent of a humane society, or a police officer or other public official required to protect animals, from seeking restitution as part of sentencing if a person does not seek costs of care under this section.
Credits
Added by Acts 2022, c. 180, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2022.
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 10-615.1, MD CRIM LAW § 10-615.1
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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