Sec. 3-178. Adoption contract
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.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-178 (2026)
Sec. 3-178. Adoption contractLinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Administrator shall prepare an adoption contract to be used in connection with the adoption of any animal by any person from the County. The adoption contract shall set forth the obligations of an adopter for the proper care, including veterinary care and neutering or spaying, feeding, maintenance, and disposition of any adopted animal.
(b)
The Administrator shall permit the adoption of an animal in its custody only upon the following conditions:
(1)
The proposed adopter must first complete and execute all adoption forms.
(2)
The Administrator may visit the residence of the proposed adopter to determine the suitability of the adopter and the residence for the animal to be adopted. The Administrator may determine whether the proposed adopter and the residence are suitable.
(3)
The proposed adopter shall pay all required fees and make any deposit required by the adoption contract to secure the adopter's obligations to have the animal inoculated, or spayed or neutered.
(c)
The adopter, if permitted to adopt an animal, shall have the right to possess the animal subject to the requirements of the adoption contract and of this Subtitle. If at any time after the adoption of the animal the Administrator finds that the adopter has violated the provisions of the adoption contract or of this Subtitle with respect to the adopted animal, the adopter may be counseled in an effort to secure compliance, or, in the discretion of the Administrator, required to surrender the animal to the custody of the County.
(d)
No person who adopts an animal from the County shall sell, make a gift of, transfer, destroy, or otherwise dispose of the animal without the prior written permission of the Administrator.
(e)
The Office of Law may bring legal or equitable actions, including actions for mandatory or prohibitive injunctions, to enforce any adoption contract.