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<section number="3-185.01" name="Pit Bull Terriers" law="code" slug="sec-3-185.01" node_id="PTIITI17PULOLAPRGECOMA_SUBTITLE_3ANCO_DIV6OTRUREST_S3-185.01PIBUTE">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Any person already owning, keeping or harboring a Pit Bull Terrier within the County as of the effective date of this Act shall be exempt from the former Pit Bull Terrier ban subject to associated conditions, provisions and exemptions, as set forth in former Section 3-185.01 (a) through (d). No other provisions of this Act shall be grandfathered. All other provisions of this Act are prospective in effect.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The County shall implement a pilot program for Pit Bull Terriers owned, kept or harbored after the effective date of this Act, as provided below:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person may foster a Pit Bull Terrier through the Administrator in the County.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person may adopt a Pit Bull Terrier through the Administrator in the County under the following conditions:</text>
      <level label="A">
        <text>The Administrator must deem the Pit Bull Terrier adoptable; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="B">
        <text>The person must apply for a permit, within 45 days of enactment of this Act, and shall register the Pit Bull Terrier within six months of enactment of this Act, which includes a signed agreement concerning responsibility for the dog; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="C">
        <text>The person must provide the address of where the Pit Bull Terrier will be located; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="D">
        <text>The person must comply with all other requirements in subsection (4) of this Section; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="E">
        <text>The Administrator must microchip the Pit Bull Terrier and the Pit Bull Terrier except those used for exhibition must be spayed or neutered in accordance with this Section, Section 3-177 and Section 3-185.03 of this Subtitle.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A person in the County owning a Pit Bull Terrier may harbor the animal under the following conditions:</text>
      <level label="A">
        <text>The person must apply for and maintain a permit, within 45 days of enactment of this Act, and shall register the Pit Bull Terrier within six months of enactment of this Act, which includes a signed agreement concerning responsibility for the dog.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="B">
        <text>The permit application and signed agreement must include:</text>
        <level label="i">
          <text>The name of the person who owns the Pit Bull Terrier and the address of where the Pit Bull Terrier will be located; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="ii">
          <text>Proof of rabies vaccination; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="iii">
          <text>Proof of microchip; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="iv">
          <text>A description of the Pit Bull Terrier; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="v">
          <text>A statement that the person agrees to comply with Sections 3-135 of this Subtitle, the County leash law and responsible dog ownership.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Any owner or custodian of a Pit Bull Terrier shall:</text>
      <level label="A">
        <text>Complete pet parenting or animal handling courses as needed or mandated by the Administrator; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="B">
        <text>Notify animal protection in person or by telephone of any of the following occurrences within the scheduled time frames as set forth in this subsection:</text>
        <level label="i">
          <text>Within eight (8) hours after the Pit Bull Terrier has escaped or has otherwise ceased to be in the custody of the owner or keeper for any reason, unless the owner or keeper knows such animal to be physically secured, restrained, or confined and to be in the custody of a competent adult; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="ii">
          <text>Within eight (8) hours after the Pit Bull Terrier has attacked or bitten a person or another domestic animal; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="iii">
          <text>If the Pit Bull Terrier has died, or if the owner or keeper of the Pit Bull Terrier or the address of the Pit Bull Terrier has changed to a person or location outside of the County, the owner or keeper listed on the breed-restricted permit shall notify the Administrator within twenty-four (24) hours of such change, including the name, address, and telephone number of the new owner or keeper. If the owner or keeper or location of the Pit Bull Terrier changes to a person or location at a different address within the County, the owner or keeper listed on the breed-restricted permit shall notify the Administrator under the direction of the Administrator of Animal Control in the County within twenty-four (24) hours of the change, including the name, address, and telephone number of the new owner, and the new owner or keeper may be permitted to modify the breed-restricted permit to reflect the new owner's name in the discretion of the Administrator but such modification must be obtained within five (5) days of the change;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Administrator shall be permitted to contact the owner at reasonable times, upon reasonable notice, and in a reasonable manner and inspect the Pit Bull Terrier and/or the premises where the Pit Bull Terrier is located to assess sanitary and health conditions and compliance with this Section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Violation by an owner or keeper of the conditions of the breed-restricted permit may impact the permit and may result in other criminal or administrative penalties allowed by this Code. A person who fails to obtain a permit for a Pit Bull Terrier shall be fined $300. A person who violates the conditions of the permit as provided in the signed agreement shall be fined $300.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Nothing in this Section shall be construed in any manner as altering any owner or custodian's duties, responsibilities, and/or liabilities under this Subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Administrator will collect, maintain, and review data and findings from inspections and violations and shall report findings to the County Council bimonthly.</text>
  </level>
</section>
