<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="13-124" 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 Howard County, the County Executive, with the approval of the county council, sets the fees for dog and kennel licenses.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A dog license expires as specified by local law.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In Howard 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 governing body of Howard 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;</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 governing body 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 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">
    <text>The County Council of Howard County, by law, shall designate a unit to administer and enforce the laws relating to dog licenses.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In Howard County, the owner or custodian of a female dog that is in heat shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>adequately and securely confine the dog;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>prevent the dog from contacting roaming dogs; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>protect the dog from other dogs that are attracted to the premises.</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 of not less than $10 and not exceeding $50.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
