§ 10–606.1
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 10-606.1 (2026)
Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 6. Crimes Relating to Animals
§ 10–606.1LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Emergency response animal” means:
(i)
a dog used by a law enforcement unit in the State that is trained for law enforcement work and is subject to the control of a law enforcement officer who has completed handler training in accordance with the policies of the law enforcement unit that employs the officer;
(ii)
a horse used by a law enforcement unit in the State for law enforcement work;
(iii)
a search and rescue dog trained for or engaged in an effort directed by a State agency or a political subdivision of the State to locate or rescue a lost, injured, or deceased individual; or
(iv)
a horse used in a search and rescue effort directed by a State agency or a political subdivision of the State to locate or rescue a lost, injured, or deceased individual.
(3)
“Law enforcement unit” has the meaning stated in § 10–101 of the Criminal Procedure Article.
(4)
“Serious physical injury” means physical injury that causes permanent or protracted:
(i)
disfigurement;
(ii)
loss of the function of any bodily member or organ; or
(iii)
impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
(b)
(1)
A person may not intentionally harass or interfere with an emergency response animal during the lawful performance of the emergency response animal’s duties.
(2)
A person may not intentionally injure an emergency response animal.
(3)
A person may not violate paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection during the commission of a crime.
(4)
A person may not intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to an emergency response animal.
(c)
(1)
A person who violates subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.
(2)
A person who violates subsection (b)(3) or (4) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both.
(d)
(1)
Nothing in this section prohibits a defendant from asserting the defense of necessity or self–defense to a charge of violating this section.
(2)
It is an affirmative defense to a charge of violating this section that the defendant acted reasonably to prevent physical harm resulting from a violation of the Maryland Use of Force Statute under § 3–524 of the Public Safety Article.