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<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 10-804 Holding period; Hearing.">
  <section prefix="§" num="10-804" heading="Holding period; Hearing.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">The impounded animal must be kept for at least 72 hours, unless sooner reclaimed by its owner or custodian or otherwise required by law.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Dangerous or vicious animal.">If the Office reasonably believes that the animal is a dangerous or vicious animal, the Office must hold the animal pending a hearing under Subtitle 10 of this title.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Investigations.">
      <para num="(1)">If the Office reasonably believes that the return of an animal prior to the disposition of a case would be detrimental to the animal’s health and welfare, the Office may hold an impounded animal for more than 72 hours while conducting an investigation of:<para num="(i)">possible violations of Federal, State, or local laws or regulations governing the proper care and treatment of animals; or</para>
        <para num="(ii)">a complaint under §10-108 {“Inspections, investigation of complaints, and impoundment”} of this title.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">If the needs of an animal held under this section cannot be provided for at the Office, or the Office determines that it would benefit the animal’s health or welfare to do so, the animal may be temporarily:<para num="(i)">held at a humane organization;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">placed with a foster custodian; or</para>
        <para num="(iii)">housed at another appropriate location.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)">Whenever an animal is being temporarily held at a location other than the Office, as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Office may keep the location confidential if the Office reasonably believes that disclosure of the location could result in harm to either the animal or the temporary custodian.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Request for hearing.">If the owner or custodian is aggrieved by the animal’s impoundment, he or she may request a hearing under Subtitle 10 of this title.</para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-573</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-322</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
