# Subtitle 55 – Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## § 55-1 Definitions.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-1 (2026)

(a) In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Advisory Commission” means the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission established under this subtitle.

*History: Ord. 10-369*

## § 55-2 Commission established.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-2 (2026)

There is a Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission.

*History: Ord. 10-369*

## § 55-3 Advisory Commission membership.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-3 (2026)

(a)

  (1) The Advisory Commission consists of 15 members.

  (2) Of these:

    (i) 7 members are appointed by the Mayor in accordance with <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">Article IV, § 6 of the Baltimore City Charter</cite>; and

    (ii) 8 members are ex-officio members.

(b) The 7 appointed members of the Advisory Commission are as follows:

  (1) 2 members representing:

    (i) animal rescue groups; or

    (ii) animal advocacy organizations;

  (2) 2 at-large members, nominated by the Mayor;

  (3) 1 member of the City Council, nomimated by the President of the City Council, and;

  (4) 2 at-large members, nominated by the President of the City Council.

(c) The 8 ex-officio members are the following, or their designated representatives:

  (1) the Mayor;

  (2) the President of the City Council;

  (3) the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City;

  (4) the Baltimore City Sheriff;

  (5) the Police Commissioner;

  (6) the Health Commissioner;

  (7) the Director of the Bureau of Animal Control; and

  (8) the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director, or Director of an animal shelter operating within the boundaries of the City.

(d) The appointment of members must be made without regard to political affiliation.

*History: Ord. 10-369*

*History: Ord. 12-060*

*History: *

## § 55-4 Terms, compensation, vacancies.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-4 (2026)

(a)

  (1) Advisory Commission members serve for a term of 4 years, concurrent with the terms of the Mayor and the City Council.

  (2) At the end of a term, an Advisory Commission member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

  (3) Advisory Commission members may be reappointed, but may not serve more than 3 terms.

(b) The members of the Advisory Commission:

  (1) serve without compensation; but

  (2) are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.

(c) A member appointed to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term serves only for the remainder of that term.

*History: Ord. 10-369*

*History: Ord. 12-060*

*History: Ord. 16-503*

## § 55-5 Chair; committees.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-5 (2026)

(a) The Mayor must designate a member of the Advisory Commission to serve as its Chair.

(b)

  (1) The Chair may appoint committees to assist the Advisory Commission in carrying out its functions and duties.

  (2) Non-members of the Commission may be designated by the Chair, with the consent of the Commission, to participate as members of committees of the Commission.

*History: Ord. 10-369*

*History: Ord. 12-060*

## § 55-6 Meetings; quorum.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-6 (2026)

(a)

  (1) The Advisory Commission shall meet at least 2 times each calendar year.

  (2) The Advisory Commission may hold additional meetings, at the call of the Chair, as frequently as required to perform its duties.

  (3) A majority of the members of the Advisory Commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

  (4) An affirmative vote by the majority of a quorum is needed for any official action.

(b) The Advisory Commission may adopt rules of procedure to govern its meetings and procedures.

(c) If any member is absent from regularly scheduled meetings more than 1 time in 1 year, not counting absences excused by the Chair:

  (1) the member is considered to have resigned; and

  (2) the Chair must request that the member’s appointing authority fill the resultant vacancy.

*History: Ord. 10-369*

*History: *

## § 55-7 Personnel; Budget.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-7 (2026)

(a) The City Health Department shall provide adequate staff for the Advisory Commission to carry out its duties.

(b) The Advisory Commission may engage the services of volunteer workers, without salary.

(c) The Advisory Commission may expend funds as authorised in the Ordinance of Estimates.

*History: *

## § 55-8 Powers and duties.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-8 (2026)

(a) The Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission may undertake the activities described in this section.

(b) The Advisory Commission may research best practices in the following areas and provide recommendations to City agencies on each topic:

  (1) ways to eradicate animal abuse in the City of Baltimore, including dogfighting;

  (2) methods of increasing awareness of animal cruelty laws;

  (3) legislation to protect animals and prosecute abusers;

  (4) training techniques for law enforcement officials on how to handle animal cruelty cases humanely and to ensure acquisition of the best evidence to prosecute abusers;

  (5) steps to foster improved responses to incidents of animal cruelty; and

  (6) methods to improve training for animal control officers for their protection as well as the animals.

(c) The Advisory Commission may:

  (1) review and monitor the successes and lessons learned in implementing its recommendations;

  (2) make recommendations for improving the effectiveness of programs targeting animal abuse; and

  (3) review and monitor ongoing animal cruelty calls and provide recommendations to City agencies for  effective and timely investigation by and coordination among City agencies.

(d) The Advisory Commission may review and evaluate the impact of existing and proposed policies, programs, and legislation affecting the effort to eradicate animal abuse in Baltimore.

*History: Ord. 10-369*

*History: *

## § 55-9 Agency assistance.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-9 (2026)

At the request of the Advisory Commission, all City officials and agencies must extend the services and facilities required for the performance of the Advisory Commission’s duties, to the extent that those officials and agencies are able to do so given their personnel and budgets.

*History: Ord. 10-369*

*History: *

## § 55-10 Annual reports.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-10 (2026)

The Advisory Commission must submit an annual report on its activities to the Mayor and City Council.

*History: Ord. 10-369*

*History: *

## § 55-11

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-11 (2026)

Reserved

## § 55-12 Agency assistance.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-12 (2026)

Reserved

Recodified as <cite data-path="1|§55-9">Article 1, § 55-9</cite>.

*History: Ord. 10-369*

## § 55-13 Annual reports.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 55-13 (2026)

Reserved

Recodified as <cite data-path="1|§55-10">Article 1, § 55-10</cite>.

*History: Ord. 10-369*