# Subdivision 2. Impoundment and Disposition of Animals Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted. ## Subdivision 2. Impoundment and Disposition of Animals ### Sec. 3-121. Notice of violation Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-121 (2026) In addition to or in lieu of impounding an animal found at large, an Animal Control Officer or police officer or other duly appointed law enforcement officer may issue to a known owner of such animal a notice of violation as provided for in Section 3-115 herein. ### Sec. 3-122. Impounding animals; procedure Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-122 (2026) (a) Animals found at large with a license tag, rabies tag, tattoo, microchip, or other indications of ownership shall, except as otherwise provided in this Subtitle, be impounded and taken to the Animal Services and Adoption Center and there confined in a humane manner for a period of not less than five (5) business days, unless sooner claimed and redeemed by its owner. (b) Animals found at large without a license tag or other indications of ownership shall be impounded as above. However, such stray animals will be confined in a humane manner for a period of not less than three (3) business days. (c) In the event an impounded animal shows signs of disease, injury, or severe behavioral maladjustment, the Administrator has discretion to send the animal to be euthanized rather than holding it for three (3) business days, providing he has checked the records to see if the animal has been reported missing, the animal appears to be unlicensed, and, in the case of disease or injury, he has consulted with a veterinarian. The behavioral maladjustment must be of such a nature as to pose a threat to the animal's welfare while confined at the Animal Services and Adoption Center or pose an unreasonable threat to the safety of personnel caring for the animal. (d) Domesticated animals may be impounded when found at large or abandoned, and disposed of in accordance with procedures established pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Director. (e) An ear tipped cat shall be handled according to this subsection, and for ear tipped cats, this subsection shall supersede subsections (c) and (d) of this Section, and Sections 3-132, 3-135, and 3-140 of this Subtitle. An Animal Control Officer who has trapped or responds to a trapped ear tipped cat in the field, shall immediately release the ear tipped cat at the location where it was trapped, unless the ear tipped cat show signs of disease, or injury, or unless the Animal Control Officer has probable cause that the specific cat is the subject of a pending nuisance complaint. An Animal Control Officer shall not trap an ear tipped cat for being at large or, if the ear tipped cat has no owner, for not being under restraint. An ear tipped cat transported to or deposited at the Animal Services and Adoption Center shall be held by the Administrator for at least three (3) working days, unless the cat is suffering from disease or injury. The Administrator shall use all due diligence to provide electronic notification about all ear tipped cats held at the Animal Services and Adoption Center to all local animal rescue organizations and all animal care organizations who have notified the Administrator of their experience with ear tipped cats and shall allow three (3) working days from the time of the electronic notification for an organization to rescue the ear tipped cat at no charge to the organization. An animal care or animal rescue organization shall not return an ear tipped cat to the area where it was trapped if that specific ear tipped cat has been impounded three times to the Animal Services and Adoption Center. If an ear tipped cat is trapped in or brought to the Animal Services and Adoption Center from a municipality located within Prince George's County with a municipal animal control department, the Administrator shall provide the municipality with the same notification and opportunity for rescue. If the Administrator has used all due diligence to notify animal rescue organizations, animal care organizations, and where appropriate, a municipality about an ear tipped cat, and if the ear tipped cat is not retrieved by an organization or municipality within the designated time period, the ear tipped cat shall be treated the same as an impounded cat to the processes of Subtitle 3 of the Prince George's County Code. (f) The Administrator shall make and keep records of individual ear tipped cats handled under this subsection (e), including; the date and location where the ear tipped cat was trapped or captured; the date the ear tipped cat entered the Animal Services and Adoption Center; whether the ear tipped cat suffered from a disease or injury, and the nature of any such disease or injury; whether the ear tipped cat was the subject of nuisance complaint, and the facts and legal basis for any such complaint, all notifications, and notification attempts, to animal rescue or animal care organizations, or to a municipality; and the date and ultimate disposition of the ear tipped cat. The Administrator shall make these records available for public inspection and shall report these records to the Director of the Department of the Environment. (g) The Administrator shall, annually review by December 31st, with consultation with the Director and County Council, the effectiveness of the ear tipped cat program under Section 3-122 of this Subdivision. (h) (1) Prince George's County promotes the responsible practice of trap-neuter-return to include vaccination against rabies and other diseases as an effective method for humanely reducing the population of free-roaming cats. (2) Free-roaming cats shall not be impounded as a public nuisance animal solely for being at large or unlicensed. The Administrator may impound a free-roaming cat if complaints to the Administrator from residents and businesses remain unresolved. (3) An impounded free-roaming cat that has not been ear-tipped may only be redeemed to an animal care organization having experience with trap-neuter-return that has a written agreement with the County. The agreement shall provide for rabies vaccination, sterilization and ear-tipping before the free-roaming cat may be released to the area from which it was impounded. (4) Feeding, sheltering and/or otherwise caring for free-roaming cats shall not be deemed a public nuisance condition unless it disturbs the peace, comfort, or health of any person residing within the County. ### Sec. 3-123. Impounding by private persons Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-123 (2026) Any person may pick up any animal found at large within the County. Any animal picked up while at large shall be turned over to an Animal Control Officer or delivered to the Animal Services and Adoption Center. This Section shall not apply to a person trapping a free-roaming cat as part of Trap-Neuter-Return. ### Sec. 3-124. Notice of impoundment; manner of service Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-124 (2026) Upon impounding an animal, the Administrator shall make a prompt and reasonable effort to locate and notify the animal's owner. A notice under this Division may be served either by delivering it to the last known owner, or by leaving it at the person's usual or last known residence, or at the address given on the animal's collar, or obtained by means of a pet license, microchip or tattoo, forwarding it by mail to that person at his usual or last known residence or the address given on the collar. When convenient, the notice may be given by telephone to the owner. ### Sec. 3-125. Interference with impounding of animals Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-125 (2026) No person shall willfully prevent or obstruct the impounding of any animal in violation of any of the provisions of this Subtitle by an Animal Control Officer or police officer, nor shall any person take or attempt to take any animal out of the Animal Services and Adoption Center without the consent of the Administrator, nor shall any person knowingly impound or attempt to impound any animal not legally liable to impoundment. Any violation of this Section is a misdemeanor punishable pursuant to Section 1-123 of this Code. ### Sec. 3-126. Records of impounded animals Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-126 (2026) (a) The Administrator shall keep complete and accurate records of the breed, color, sex, condition, and location where found of any animal impounded in the Animal Services and Adoption Center, and shall record whether or not the animal is licensed, tattooed, microchipped, or has a rabies tag. (b) If an animal impounded in the Animal Services and Adoption Center is licensed or vaccinated, the Administrator shall record the name and address of the owner and the number of the license or rabies tag. (c) The Administrator shall keep complete and accurate records of the care, feeding, veterinary treatment, and disposition of all animals impounded in the Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center. ### Sec. 3-127. Injured animals; prompt euthanasia Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-127 (2026) When a seriously injured, diseased or suffering animal is taken into custody by an Animal Control Officer, and the owner cannot be promptly identified or contacted, a veterinarian shall be consulted and the animal may be taken to a veterinarian for an examination. The cost of any veterinary examination or consultation shall be an obligation of the owner of the animal. If, after consultation with the veterinarian, the Administrator determines that the animal should be destroyed for humane reasons or to protect the public from imminent danger to persons or property, the Administrator may promptly authorize euthanasia or other humane destruction of the animal without regard to any time limitations established in this Division. For the purpose of this Section, neither the Administrator, nor his designee, nor Prince George's County, Maryland, nor any of its employees or agents shall be liable for acts committed or omitted with regard to a veterinarian consultation and/or euthanizing an animal. ### Sec. 3-128. Redemption; fees and costs Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-128 (2026) (a) The owner of an impounded animal shall be entitled to redeem such animal, except as otherwise provided in this Subtitle, upon compliance with the license provisions of this Subtitle, payment of redemption fees, payment of costs accrued with respect to the animal to be redeemed, and presentation of satisfactory proof of ownership. (b) Redemption fees shall be as follows: (1) A redemption charge of Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) for the first impoundment for altered animals and Sixty Dollars ($60.00) for the first impoundment for unaltered animals and One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for any animal per each subsequent impoundment in a twelve (12) month period. (c) The owner of an impounded animal also shall be liable to Prince George's County, Maryland, for the shelter fees to include the fee for mandatory microchipping if the animal is not already microchipped and the costs of any required veterinary services in accordance with the schedule or tariff of charges promulgated by the Director pursuant to Section 3-106 herein. In addition, when the animal is impounded, it will be mandatory that it is spayed or neutered prior to leaving the Animal Services and Adoption Center. The cost shall be included in the payment of redemption fees not exceed the actual cost of the procedure. (d) Exemptions and Waivers (1) The mandatory spay/neuter requirement may be waived when the owner is able to provide proof that altering subject animal would create a financial loss and/or materially alter the economic value of the animal. (2) Livestock and/or Farm Animals shall be exempt from the provisions of this Section. (3) Any animals employed or owned by the County and/or Federal or State agencies shall be exempt from the provisions of this Section (4) Medical Exceptions outlined in accordance with Section 3-177. ### Sec. 3-129. Property of impounded or surrendered animals Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-129 (2026) Any domesticated animal which is impounded and not reclaimed by its owner as prescribed in Section 3-122 shall be deemed abandoned and shall become the property of Prince George's County, Maryland. Any animal surrendered by its owners to the Animal Services and Adoption Center shall immediately become the property of Prince George's County, Maryland, for final disposition. The Administrator may dispose of abandoned animals by adoption, euthanasia, or other disposition as may be most advantageous to the County and the public interest subject to Section 3-105. ### Sec. 3-130. Euthanasia Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-130 (2026) At the end of the minimum periods provided for in this Subdivision, unredeemed and unadopted animals which have become the property of Prince George's County, Maryland, may be disposed of by euthanasia. Euthanasia shall be administered in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Director pursuant to Section 3-105 herein.