<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="13-119" 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>In Charles County, on or before July 1 of each year, a person owning or keeping a dog shall apply to the county tax collector for a license for the dog if the dog is at least 6 months old.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>At the time of application, the applicant shall pay the fee for a dog or kennel license set by the County Commissioners of Charles County.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Except as provided in § 13–108 of this subtitle, the licenses and fees required under this section are the only licenses and fees required for owning or keeping a dog.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The county commissioners shall prepare and supply the form for a license issued under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A dog license shall contain the date of issuance, a serial number, and a description of the dog licensed.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>A license expires on July 1 of the year after issuance.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In Charles County, the county tax collector shall issue a tag with each dog license to a person owning or keeping a dog when the person pays the license fee for the dog.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The County Commissioners of Charles County shall prepare and supply tags to the county tax collector each year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The tags shall be:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>composed of metal;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>imprinted with a serial number corresponding to the number on the license issued to the owner under subsection (a) of this section;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>imprinted with the calendar year for which the tag is issued;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>1 inch or less in length; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>equipped with a substantial metal fastener.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The county commissioners shall change the general shape of the tags each year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Tags supplied to owners of kennels shall contain the word “kennel”.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>The person owning or keeping a dog shall attach the tag to a substantial collar and keep the collar and tag on the dog for which the license was issued at all times, except when the dog is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>confined in a kennel; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>hunting under the charge of an attendant.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>The county tax collector shall replace a lost tag on:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>application by the person to whom the original license was issued;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the production of the license; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>payment of a fee of 25 cents.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If reasonably applicable, this subsection applies to the regulation and control of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>any domestic animal; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a wild animal kept in captivity.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The County Commissioners of Charles 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 dogs found running at large in the county.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <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="4">
      <text>The rules, regulations, or resolutions shall include standards and shall operate uniformly.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (6) of this subsection, the county commissioners may delegate, by written contract, the enforcement of the rules, regulations, or resolutions.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The county commissioners shall reserve the right to cancel a written contract executed in accordance with paragraph (5) 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 label="7">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The county commissioners may establish penalties for a violation of a rule, regulation, or resolution passed under this subsection.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The penalty established under this paragraph for each violation may not exceed imprisonment for 1 year or a fine of $1,000 or both.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The County Commissioners of Charles 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 (c) 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">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The County Commissioners of Charles County may establish an animal shelter and hire personnel and provide the equipment necessary for the collection, impoundment, care, handling, and disposal of stray, unlicensed, diseased, or vicious dogs.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The initial cost for the building and equipment under this paragraph may not exceed $35,000.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The county commissioners shall determine the number and salary of persons to be employed at the animal shelter.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The county commissioners may enter into agreements with adjacent counties to establish an animal shelter to serve the counties.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The county commissioners 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="5">
      <text>Notwithstanding § 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; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>collect, dispose of, or euthanize stray, injured, or sick dogs.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The County Commissioners of Charles County, by rule, regulation, or resolution, may provide that an owner of a dog may not allow the dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to run at large off the premises of the owner.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A rule, regulation, or resolution passed under this subsection may allow the following dogs to run at large when accompanied by the owner or agent of the owner and when kept within sight or calling distance of the owner or agent:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>dogs proved to be obedient, in accordance with a regulation or resolution of the county;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>dogs being used or trained for hunting; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>dogs accompanied by the owner on horseback.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The county commissioners, by rule, regulation, or resolution, may provide for enforcement and investigation of reports of violations of a rule, regulation, or resolution passed under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>An owner of a dog who fails to comply with a rule, regulation, or resolution passed under this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $25 for each violation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
