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§ 10-607. Aggravated cruelty to animals--Dogfights

West's Annotated Code of MarylandCriminal LawEffective: October 1, 2019

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Criminal Law (Refs & Annos)
Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 6. Crimes Relating to Animals (Refs & Annos)
Effective: October 1, 2019
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 10-607
Formerly cited as MD CODE Art. 27, § 59
§ 10-607. Aggravated cruelty to animals--Dogfights
Currentness
Baiting defined
(a) In this section, “baiting” means using a dog to train a fighting dog or to test the fighting or killing instinct of another dog.
Prohibited
(b) A person may not:
(1) use or allow a dog to be used in a dogfight or for baiting;
(2) arrange or conduct a dogfight;
(3) possess, own, sell, transport, or train a dog with the intent to use the dog in a dogfight or for baiting; or
(4) knowingly allow premises under the person's ownership, charge, or control to be used to conduct a dogfight or for baiting.
Fines and penalties
(c)(1) A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of aggravated cruelty to animals and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.
(2) As a condition of sentencing, the court may:
(i) order a defendant convicted of violating this section to:
1. participate in and pay for psychological counseling; and
2. pay, in addition to any other fines and costs, all reasonable costs incurred in removing, housing, treating, or euthanizing an animal confiscated from the defendant; and
(ii) prohibit a defendant from owning, possessing, or residing with an animal for a specified period of time.

Credits

Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2002. Amended by Acts 2004, c. 120, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2004; Acts 2004, c. 121, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2004; Acts 2013, c. 44, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2013; Acts 2018, c. 238, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2018; Acts 2019, c. 61, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019; Acts 2019, c. 62, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019.
Formerly Art. 27, § 59.
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 10-607, MD CRIM LAW § 10-607
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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