<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="Part III – Complaint Process">
  <section prefix="§" num="10-114" heading="Initiation of complaint.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">Any person may submit a complaint to the Office if the person knows of:<para num="(1)">a violation of this title or of a rule or regulation adopted under this title; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">a violation of any other animal control or protection law, rule, or regulation of this City or State.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Form.">The complaint must be:<para num="(1)">a written complaint in a form that the Office requires; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">an oral complaint that is recorded in the City’s 311 system.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Minimum contents.">The complaint must:<para num="(1)">describe the animal;</para>
      <para num="(2)">identify where it is located; and</para>
      <para num="(3)">state in clear language how the animal is in violation of any law, rule, or regulation.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="10-115" heading="Investigation of complaint.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">Once a complaint has been submitted and reviewed by the Office, an animal enforcement officer may investigate the complaint to determine its validity.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Action on valid complaint.">If the Office determines the complaint to be valid, the Office may direct an owner or custodian to properly follow any provision of the animal control and protection laws, rules, and regulations of this City and State.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Right to hearing.">If the owner or custodian is aggrieved by the action of the Office, the person may request a hearing under Subtitle 10 of this title.</para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="10-116" heading="Finding animal to be dangerous or vicious.">
    <text>If, on investigation of a complaint, the Office believes that the animal is a dangerous or vicious animal, the Office must:</text>
    <para num="(1)">submit a written investigation report to the Animal Hearing Panel; and</para>
    <para num="(2)">impound the animal pending a hearing by the Animal Hearing Panel.</para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 22-124</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
