Maryland § 13-117

§ 13-117.

    (a)    (1)    The County Commissioners of Carroll County, by ordinance, may provide for a comprehensive system for the regulation of domestic animals and wild animals kept in captivity.

        (2)    The ordinances may provide for:

            (i)    the licensing and control of domestic animals and wild animals kept in captivity;

            (ii)    seizing and disposing of unlicensed or dangerous dogs;

            (iii)    the regulation of persons who own or keep any vicious animal or an animal that disturbs the peace of a neighborhood; and

            (iv)    reasonable penalties for a violation of an ordinance not exceeding imprisonment for 30 days or a fine of $500 or both.

        (3)    The county commissioners:

            (i)    may regulate animals that are hybrids of domestic and wild animals; but

            (ii)    may not regulate or control wild animals that are not owned or kept by individuals.

    (b)    (1)    The County Commissioners of Carroll County may pass rules, regulations, or resolutions to provide for:

            (i)    issuing dog licenses;

            (ii)    keeping records of all sales of licenses;

            (iii)    designating persons authorized to sell licenses; and

            (iv)    seizing and disposing of any dogs found running at large in the county.

        (2)    Before the county commissioners pass a rule, regulation, or resolution in accordance with this subsection, the proposed rule, regulation, or resolution shall be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the county once each week for 4 successive weeks, to provide any person an opportunity to be heard.

        (3)    The rules, regulations, or resolutions shall include standards and operate uniformly.

        (4)    Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, the county commissioners may delegate, by written contract, the enforcement of the rules, regulations, and resolutions.

        (5)    (i)    The county commissioners shall reserve the right to cancel a written contract executed in accordance with paragraph (4) of this subsection.

            (ii)    A cancellation under this paragraph:

                1.    may be without notice or recourse, if the cancellation is for cause; or

                2.    requires notice at least 30 days before cancellation, if the cancellation is without cause.

    (c)    The County Commissioners of Carroll County shall set the fees, terms, and forms for dog and kennel licenses in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.

    (d)    (1)    The County Commissioners of Carroll County may appoint animal control officers.

        (2)    An animal control officer appointed under this subsection:

            (i)    has all the powers of a peace officer;

            (ii)    may sell and issue dog licenses; and

            (iii)    may seize and dispose of stray, injured, or sick dogs in accordance with a rule, regulation, or resolution passed in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

        (3)    The county commissioners may provide for the compensation of an animal control officer appointed under this subsection.

    (e)    (1)    The County Commissioners of Carroll County may contract with an animal welfare society, a humane society, or any other qualified person to:

            (i)    establish an animal shelter; or

            (ii)    seize, dispose of, or euthanize stray, injured, or sick dogs.

        (2)    Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13–105(d) of this subtitle, the county commissioners may use proceeds from dog license fees to:

            (i)    establish an animal shelter; and

            (ii)    collect and euthanize stray, injured, or sick dogs.

    (f)    The County Commissioners of Carroll County may designate persons to assist the county tax collector to collect license fees and issue licenses and tags under this subtitle.