§ 10–619
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 10-619 (2026)
Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 6. Crimes Relating to Animals
§ 10–619LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Dangerous dog” means a dog that:
(i)
without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or
(ii)
is determined by the appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation under subsection (c) of this section to be a potentially dangerous dog and, after the determination is made:
(1)
bites a person;
(2)
when not on its owner’s real property, kills or inflicts severe injury on a domestic animal; or
(3)
attacks without provocation.
(3)
(i)
“Owner’s real property” means real property owned or leased by the owner of a dog.
(ii)
“Owner’s real property” does not include a public right-of-way or a common area of a condominium, apartment complex, or townhouse development.
(4)
“Severe injury” means a physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery.
(b)
This section does not apply to a dog owned by and working for a governmental or law enforcement unit.
(c)
An appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation may determine that a dog is potentially dangerous if the unit:
(1)
finds that the dog:
(i)
has inflicted a bite on a person while on public or private real property;
(ii)
when not on its owner’s real property, has killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal; or
(iii)
has attacked without provocation; and
(2)
notifies the dog owner in writing of the reasons for this determination.
(d)
A dog owner may not:
(1)
leave a dangerous dog unattended on the owner’s real property unless the dog is:
(i)
confined indoors;
(ii)
in a securely enclosed and locked pen; or
(iii)
in another structure designed to restrain the dog; or
(2)
allow a dangerous dog to leave the owner’s real property unless the dog is leashed and muzzled, or is otherwise securely restrained and muzzled.
(e)
An owner of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog who sells or gives the dog to another shall notify in writing:
(1)
the authority that made the determination under subsection (c) of this section, of the name and address of the new owner of the dog; and
(2)
the person taking possession of the dog, of the dangerous behavior or potentially dangerous behavior of the dog.
(f)
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $2,500.