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§ 10-617. Disposal of domestic animal

West's Annotated Code of MarylandCriminal LawEffective: October 1, 2016

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, 2016
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 10-617
Formerly cited as MD CODE Art. 27, § 67B; MD CODE Art. 27, § 68
§ 10-617. Disposal of domestic animal
Currentness
“Animal control unit” defined
(a) In this section, “animal control unit” means the local organization or governmental unit that the appropriate local governmental body designates to house, care for, and control domestic animals of unknown ownership.
In general
(b) An animal control unit shall dispose of an unclaimed dog or cat only by:
(1) placing the animal in a suitable home;
(2) retaining the animal in the animal control unit; or
(3) humanely destroying the animal.
Waiting period
(c) A domestic animal that is impounded by an animal control unit may not be sold, placed, or destroyed until the animal has been carefully inspected for a tag, tattoo, microchip, or other identification to ascertain the owner and:
(1) 72 hours have elapsed after notice has been given to the owner;
(2) if the owner cannot be notified, 72 hours have elapsed after the animal is impounded;
(3) the animal is seriously diseased or severely injured; or
(4) the animal is under 3 months of age.
Liability of owner and new owner
(d)(1) An animal control unit shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owner of the location of and the procedure for retrieving an impounded animal.
(2) An owner who retrieves an animal from an animal control unit shall pay all fees, costs, and expenses incurred by the animal control unit.
(3) The necessary expenses for food and attention given to an animal under this section may be collected from the owner, and the animal is not exempt from levy and sale on execution of a judgment for the expenses.
(4) A new owner with whom an animal is placed under subsection (b)(1) of this section may be charged an adoption fee.
Penalty
(e) A person who violates this section:
(1) for a first offense, is subject to a civil fine not exceeding $500; and
(2) for a second or subsequent offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500.

Credits

Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2002. Amended by Acts 2016, c. 248, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2016.
Formerly Art. 27, §§ 67B, 68.
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 10-617, MD CRIM LAW § 10-617
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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