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<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="13-117" title_number="13" title_name="Other Powers of Counties -- Regulatory" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Regulation of Animals">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The County Commissioners of Carroll County, by ordinance, may provide for a comprehensive system for the regulation of domestic animals and wild animals kept in captivity.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The ordinances may provide for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the licensing and control of domestic animals and wild animals kept in captivity;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>seizing and disposing of unlicensed or dangerous dogs;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the regulation of persons who own or keep any vicious animal or an animal that disturbs the peace of a neighborhood; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>reasonable penalties for a violation of an ordinance not exceeding imprisonment for 30 days or a fine of $500 or both.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The county commissioners:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>may regulate animals that are hybrids of domestic and wild animals; but</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>may not regulate or control wild animals that are not owned or kept by individuals.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The County Commissioners of Carroll County may pass rules, regulations, or resolutions to provide for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>issuing dog licenses;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>keeping records of all sales of licenses;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>designating persons authorized to sell licenses; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>seizing and disposing of any dogs found running at large in the county.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Before the county commissioners pass a rule, regulation, or resolution in accordance with this subsection, the proposed rule, regulation, or resolution shall be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the county once each week for 4 successive weeks, to provide any person an opportunity to be heard.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The rules, regulations, or resolutions shall include standards and operate uniformly.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, the county commissioners may delegate, by written contract, the enforcement of the rules, regulations, and resolutions.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The county commissioners shall reserve the right to cancel a written contract executed in accordance with paragraph (4) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A cancellation under this paragraph:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>may be without notice or recourse, if the cancellation is for cause; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>requires notice at least 30 days before cancellation, if the cancellation is without cause.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The County Commissioners of Carroll County shall set the fees, terms, and forms for dog and kennel licenses in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The County Commissioners of Carroll County may appoint animal control officers.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An animal control officer appointed under this subsection:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>has all the powers of a peace officer;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>may sell and issue dog licenses; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>may seize and dispose of stray, injured, or sick dogs in accordance with a rule, regulation, or resolution passed in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The county commissioners may provide for the compensation of an animal control officer appointed under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The County Commissioners of Carroll County may contract with an animal welfare society, a humane society, or any other qualified person to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>establish an animal shelter; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>seize, dispose of, or euthanize stray, injured, or sick dogs.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13–105(d) of this subtitle, the county commissioners may use proceeds from dog license fees to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>establish an animal shelter; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>collect and euthanize stray, injured, or sick dogs.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The County Commissioners of Carroll County may designate persons to assist the county tax collector to collect license fees and issue licenses and tags under this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
</section>
