§ 13-115. Calvert County

   (a) Dog and kennel licenses. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Calvert County shall set the fees for dog licenses in Calvert County.

   (2) Before establishing or altering a license fee, the county commissioners shall advertise the proposed fee for 2 successive weeks in at least two newspapers of general circulation in the county.

   (3) A license expires 1, 2, or 3 years after the date of issue, as specified by county law.

(b) Dog tags. --

   (1) In Calvert 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.

   (2) The County Commissioners of Calvert County shall prepare and supply tags to the county tax collector each year.

   (3) The tags shall be:

      (i) composed of metal;

      (ii) imprinted with a serial number corresponding to the number on the license issued to the owner;

      (iii) imprinted with the calendar year for which the tag is issued;

      (iv) 2 inches or less in length; and

      (v) equipped with a substantial metal fastener.

   (4) The county commissioners shall change the general shape of the tags each year.

   (5) Tags supplied to owners of kennels shall contain the word "kennel".

   (6) The county tax collector shall replace a lost tag on:

      (i) application by the person to whom the original license was issued;

      (ii) the production of the license; and

      (iii) payment of a fee of 50 cents.

(c) Regulation and enforcement. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Calvert County may adopt rules and regulations for:

      (i) issuing dog licenses;

      (ii) keeping records of dog licenses;

      (iii) enforcing the rules and regulations; and

      (iv) any other matter concerning dogs the county commissioners consider necessary for the public health, safety, and welfare.

   (2) The county commissioners may:

      (i) by ordinance, provide for the regulation, humane treatment, and keeping of domestic animals;

      (ii) by resolution, provide for the quarantine of all dogs in the county if the county commissioners determine that quarantine is necessary for the public health, safety, and welfare; and

      (iii) by ordinance, provide a penalty for a violation of an ordinance enacted under this subsection of imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or a fine not exceeding $ 1,000 or both.

   (3) A fine imposed in accordance with an ordinance enacted under this subsection shall be paid to the Calvert County Treasurer.

(d) Animal Matters Hearing Board. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Calvert County may create an Animal Matters Hearing Board to resolve disputes and controversies arising under animal control ordinances adopted under subsection (c) of this section.

   (2) The county commissioners may authorize an Animal Matters Hearing Board to:

      (i) issue a subpoena to compel parties in a dispute to appear before the Board;

      (ii) assess a civil penalty not exceeding $ 1,000 for a violation of an ordinance adopted under subsection (c) of this section; and

      (iii) collect a civil penalty imposed under this paragraph.

(e) Animal shelters. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Calvert County may construct or lease, operate, and maintain an animal shelter in the county.

   (2) The county shall pay for the animal shelter and its operation.

   (3) The county commissioners may enter into agreements with adjacent counties to establish an animal shelter to serve the counties.

(f) Dogs at large. --

   (1) (i) A dog running at large in Calvert County without the proper license tag attached is a nuisance and is subject to seizure, detention, and euthanasia.

      (ii) Whenever possible, the animal control officer or deputy animal control officer shall seize and impound a dog found running at large in the county without the proper license tag attached.

      (iii) If an animal control officer or a deputy animal control officer is not able to catch a dog running at large in the county without a proper license tag, the animal control officer or deputy animal control officer may shoot or otherwise kill the dog.

   (2) (i) The County Commissioners of Calvert County, by ordinance, may provide that an owner of a dog may not allow the dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to run at large within a platted subdivision or district zoned residential if:

         1. a petition requesting the ordinance is submitted to the county commissioners and signed by a majority of the residents of the platted subdivision or district zoned residential, with a designation of the boundary limits of the specific area; and

         2. the county commissioners advertise the proposed ordinance and a public hearing on the ordinance for 2 successive weeks in two newspapers of general circulation in the county.

      (ii) The county commissioners shall designate the boundary limits of each area affected as part of any ordinance enacted under this paragraph.

   (3) (i) A dog impounded under this section shall be held for its owner for 72 hours.

      (ii) A dog shall be released to its owner or an agent of the owner during the 72 hours if the owner or agent:

         1. provides satisfactory proof of ownership;

         2. pays the fee that the county commissioners set to cover the costs of seizing and impounding the dog; and

         3. presents a proper license for the dog.

   (4) (i) If a dog impounded under this subsection is not redeemed by its owner within 72 hours:

         1. the owner forfeits all rights of ownership to the dog;

         2. the dog becomes the property of the county; and

         3. the dog shall remain impounded for at least an additional 48 hours.

      (ii) During the additional 48 hours, any person may obtain ownership of the dog by paying the fee for the costs of seizing and impounding the dog and by purchasing a license for the dog.

   (5) An animal control officer or a deputy animal control officer may euthanize, in the most humane manner possible, a dog impounded under this subsection that is not redeemed within 120 hours from the time of its seizure.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 24, § 11-501(b), 11-503(a), (b), 11-504(p), (q), 11-510; 2013, ch. 119, § 2.