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<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 10-110 Animal enforcement officers.">
  <section prefix="§" num="10-110" heading="Animal enforcement officers.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="“Animal enforcement officer” defined.">In this section, “animal enforcement officer” means any person:<para num="(1)">designated by the Commissioner as an animal enforcement officer;  and</para>
      <para num="(2)">appointed by the Police Commissioner under City Code &lt;cite data-path="|19|§71-1"&gt;Article 19, § 71-1&lt;/cite&gt; for the purpose of enforcing the animal control and protection laws, rules, and regulations of this City and State.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="General duties.">Animal enforcement officers are authorized and empowered to:<para num="(1)">enforce this title by impounding animals found at large, animals injured, ill, or neglected, or found to be diseased;</para>
      <para num="(2)">enforce the license, permit, and inoculation requirements of this title;</para>
      <para num="(3)">enforce the cruelty and neglect provisions of this title by removing and impounding mistreated animals;</para>
      <para num="(4)">administer emergency assistance to injured animals that come into the custody of the City, without need to obtain the consent of the owners or custodians of the animals;</para>
      <para num="(5)">in accordance with &lt;cite data-path="|health|§10-108"&gt;§ 10-108 of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;, conduct inspections of animal facilities and private residences, as directed by the Commissioner;</para>
      <para num="(6)">issue citations to persons who are in violation of this title; and</para>
      <para num="(7)">enforce any requirements of the animal control and protection laws, rules, and regulations of this City and, as authorized by State law, of this State.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Orders to owners, custodians.">An animal enforcement officer may direct an owner or custodian to:<para num="(1)">provide veterinary examination and treatment of an animal;</para>
      <para num="(2)">abate conditions that adversely affect the health and well-being of an animal, including the use or provision of:<para num="(i)">protection from the elements;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">protection from hazardous conditions;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">methods of restraint or confinement;</para>
        <para num="(iv)">wholesome food and potable water; and</para>
        <para num="(v)">sanitary conditions; and</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)">properly comply with any other provision of this title.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Authority to enter premises.">An animal enforcement officer must comply with the requirements of &lt;cite data-path="|health|§2-107"&gt;§ 2-107 {“Right of entry”} of this article&lt;/cite&gt; and § 104.6 {“Right of entry”} of the &lt;cite data-path="|building-codes|II"&gt;Building Code&lt;/cite&gt; when entering any land, structure, or premises in the City.</para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Inspection of  commercial establishments.">
      <para num="(1)">A commercial establishment may not refuse an inspection authorized by &lt;cite data-path="|health|§10-108"&gt;§ 10-108 of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Animal enforcement officers are authorized to inspect commercial establishments:<para num="(i)">to determine if the establishment is operating in compliance with its license or permit requirements;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">to determine that all animals are being treated and kept in compliance with the establishment’s license or permit requirements;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">to determine that all animals within the facility are being treated and kept in compliance with this title; or</para>
        <para num="(iv)">when responding to a complaint that:<para num="A.">an  animal is being treated inhumanely or in violation of this title;</para>
          <para num="B.">the facility is being maintained in an unsanitary manner; or</para>
          <para num="C.">animals are being kept or the establishment is being maintained in violation of any provision of this title.</para>
        </para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(f)" heading="Animal subjected to cruelty or neglect.">
      <para num="(1)">If the Commissioner determines that an animal is being subjected to cruelty or neglect, the animal enforcement officer may refer the matter to the State Attorney’s office for prosecution.</para>
      <para num="(2)">In addition, the Health Commissioner may refer the matter for further criminal investigation to the police officer in the Chief of Patrol’s Office who has been designated by the Police Commissioner as the Police Department’s Animal Cruelty Liaison to the Office.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
