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<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 10-702 Dangerous animals.">
  <section prefix="§" num="10-702" heading="Dangerous animals.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="“Dangerous animal” defined.">“Dangerous animal” means any animal that:<para num="(1)">has bitten or attacked a human being or another animal without provocation;</para>
      <para num="(2)">exhibits aggressive or dangerous behavior and is not adequately confined or restrained;</para>
      <para num="(3)">is known or suspected to be an animal exposed to rabies and is not adequately confined or restrained; or</para>
      <para num="(4)">requires confinement or restraints to protect the health, safety, or welfare of the public.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Hearing.">The Animal Hearing Panel must determine  if an animal is a dangerous animal in accordance with the hearing procedures of Subtitle 10 of this title.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Restraints required.">Except as otherwise ordered by the Animal Hearing Panel, every dangerous animal must be:<para num="(1)">maintained in a building or secure enclosure on the premises of its owner or custodian; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">whenever outside of the building or enclosure:<para num="(i)">securely caged;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">securely muzzled and leashed; or</para>
        <para num="(iii)">restrained by any other appropriate method required by the Panel.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Other requirements.">An owner or custodian of an animal found to be a dangerous animal must:<para num="(1)">have the animal microchiped and altered at the owner’s or custodian’s expense;</para>
      <para num="(2)">display a “dangerous animal” sign,  visible to the public, on the property where the animal is kept;</para>
      <para num="(3)">if the animal is kept outside of the dwelling, install a perimeter fence on the property or a portion of the property;</para>
      <para num="(4)">notify the Office if the animal is loose, has bitten another domesticated animal or human being, or has violated any other requirements of this title;</para>
      <para num="(5)">notify the Office if the animal has died or is being relocated to another jurisdiction; and</para>
      <para num="(6)">before transferring ownership or custody of the dangerous animal to another:<para num="(i)">notify the Office in writing of the name and address of the new owner or custodian; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">notify the new owner or custodian of the animal’s dangerous behavior.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Animals determined dangerous by another jurisdiction.">
      <para num="(1)">Animals determined dangerous by another jurisdiction are automatically considered dangerous in the City.</para>
      <para num="(2)">The owner or custodian must immediately notify the Office if any animal determined dangerous in another jurisdiction is transported into the City.</para>
      <para num="(3)">If another jurisdiction defines “dangerous animal” differently than as defined in this section or makes a determination using a term other than “dangerous”, the Animal Hearing Panel must determine if the criteria used in the other jurisdiction is appropriate for the animal to be considered dangerous in the City.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(f)" heading="Exceptions.">This section does not apply to:<para num="(1)">an animal show or zoological park licensed under this title and regulated by a Maryland or federal agency; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">a laboratory where scientific research is carried out under regulation of a Maryland or federal agency.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §§24(29) and (33), 30(d), 33(a)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-548</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-632</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
