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<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="13-121" 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 governing body of Frederick 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 ordinance 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 governing body:</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 governing body of Frederick County may 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 governing body passes an ordinance in accordance with this subsection, the proposed ordinance 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 ordinance shall include standards and operate uniformly.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, the governing body may delegate, by written contract, the enforcement of the ordinance.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The governing body 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 powers granted to the governing body of Frederick County to regulate dogs are also granted for the regulation of cats.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In Frederick 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.</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 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="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In Frederick 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 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 (d) 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 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="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Frederick 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; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>seize, dispose of, and euthanize stray, injured, or sick dogs.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Notwithstanding § 13–105(d) of this subtitle, the county 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="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In Frederick County, the owner or custodian of a female dog that is in heat:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>may not knowingly allow the dog to run at large; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>shall confine the dog.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $25.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
