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<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="13-129" 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 St. Mary’s County, on or before June 30 of each year, a person owning or keeping a dog shall apply to the Animal Control Division of the Department of Emergency Services and Technology 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 St. Mary’s County.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The county commissioners shall appoint agents to collect dog and kennel license fees that are not paid by August 1 of each year.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A penalty of $1.00 per license shall be assessed against dog owners whose dog or kennel license fees are not paid by August 1 each year.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Except as provided in § 13–108 of this subtitle, the licenses and fees required under this section shall be the only licenses and fees required for owning or keeping a dog.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The county commissioners shall prepare and supply the form for a license issued under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>A dog license shall contain the date of issuance, a serial number, and a description of the dog licensed.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>A license expires on June 30 of the year after issuance.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In St. Mary’s County, the Animal Control Division of the Department of Emergency Services and Technology 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 St. Mary’s County shall prepare and supply tags to the Animal Control Division of the Department of Emergency Services and Technology 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 general shape of the tags shall remain unchanged from year to 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 Animal Control Division of the Department of Emergency Services and Technology 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>The County Commissioners may enact a local law to provide a comprehensive system for the regulation, humane treatment, and keeping of domestic animals and wild animals kept in captivity.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A local law enacted in accordance with this subsection may include a schedule of fines for designated violations.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A violation of a local law enacted in accordance with this subsection is a civil infraction under § 12–804 of this article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may employ an animal control officer.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The county shall determine the annual salary of the animal control officer employed under this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An animal control officer employed under this section:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>has all the powers of a peace officer; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>shall seize and dispose of unlicensed dogs as prescribed by the county commissioners.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may provide an animal shelter for the placement of dogs seized by animal control officers.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The county commissioners may enter into agreements with adjacent counties to establish an animal shelter to serve the counties.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <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="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may pay any expenses arising from the operation of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Notwithstanding § 13–105(d) of this subtitle, the county commissioners may use proceeds from dog license fees to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>establish an animal shelter; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>collect, dispose of, or euthanize stray, injured, or sick dogs.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
