# § 10-404 Cruelty to or abuse of animal.

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

## § 10-404 Cruelty to or abuse of animal.

Balt., Md., Code § 10-404 (2026)

No person may act cruelly to or abuse animals, which includes the following actions:

(1) teasing, torturing, tormenting, beating, killing, deliberately inciting, intentionally injuring, mutilating, intentionally hitting with a vehicle, overdriving, overloading, or otherwise abusing an animal;

(2) subjecting an animal to conditions detrimental to its health and general welfare;

(3) administering poison to an animal or knowingly placing or leaving any poisonous or other harmful substance with the intent to injure or kill any animal other than vermin;

(4) inflicting unnecessary suffering or pain on an animal or causing unnecessary injury, suffering, of death of an animal under the individual’s charge or custody;

(5) leaving any domestic animal unattended in a parked, standing, or stopped vehicle in a manner that endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the animal;

(6) confining, tethering, or allowing an animal to remain in outside areas during period of extreme weather without access to proper shelter;

(7) hoarding, accumulating, or maintaining a number of animals in a single location, if the number of animals overwhelms a person’s ability to provide nutrition, sanitation, and veterinary care or the person fails to acknowledge the deteriorating health of the animal or condition of the dwelling or facility; or

(8) causing, arranging, permitting, or authorizing any of the actions listed in this section.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

*History: Ord. 11-573*