§ 13-121. Frederick County

   (a) Comprehensive system for regulation. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Frederick County, by ordinance, may provide for a comprehensive system for the regulation of domestic animals and wild animals kept in captivity.

   (2) The ordinance may provide for:

      (i) the licensing and control of domestic animals and wild animals kept in captivity;

      (ii) seizing and disposing of unlicensed or dangerous dogs;

      (iii) the regulation of persons who own or keep any vicious animal or an animal that disturbs the peace of a neighborhood; and

      (iv) reasonable penalties for a violation of an ordinance not exceeding imprisonment for 30 days or a fine of $ 500 or both.

   (3) The county commissioners:

      (i) may regulate animals that are hybrids of domestic and wild animals; but

      (ii) may not regulate or control wild animals that are not owned or kept by individuals.

(b) Dog licenses and dogs at large. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Frederick County may pass rules, regulations, or resolutions to provide for:

      (i) issuing dog licenses;

      (ii) keeping records of all sales of licenses;

      (iii) designating persons authorized to sell licenses; and

      (iv) seizing and disposing of any dogs found running at large in the county.

   (2) 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.

   (3) The rules, regulations, or resolutions shall include standards and operate uniformly.

   (4) Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, the county commissioners may delegate, by written contract, the enforcement of the rules, regulations, or resolutions.

   (5) (i) The county commissioners shall reserve the right to cancel a written contract executed in accordance with paragraph (4) of this subsection.

      (ii) A cancellation under this paragraph:

         1. may be without notice or recourse, if the cancellation is for cause; or

         2. requires notice at least 30 days before cancellation, if the cancellation is without cause.

(c) Regulation of cats. -- The powers granted to the County Commissioners of Frederick County to regulate dogs are also granted for the regulation of cats.

(d) Dog and kennel licenses. --

   (1) 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.

   (2) At the time of application, the applicant shall pay the fee for a dog or kennel license set by the County Commissioners of Frederick County.

   (3) 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.

   (4) The county commissioners shall prepare and supply the form for a license issued under this subsection.

   (5) A dog license shall contain the date of issuance, a serial number, and a description of the dog licensed.

   (6) A license expires on July 1 of the year after issuance.

(e) Dog tags. --

   (1) 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.

   (2) The County Commissioners of Frederick 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 under subsection (d) of this section;

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

      (iv) 1 inch 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 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:

      (i) confined in a kennel; or

      (ii) hunting under the charge of an attendant.

   (7) 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 25 cents.

(f) Animal shelters. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Frederick County may contract with an animal welfare society, a humane society, or any other qualified person to:

      (i) establish an animal shelter; and

      (ii) seize, dispose of, and euthanize stray, injured, or sick dogs.

   (2) Notwithstanding § 13-105(d) of this subtitle, the county commissioners may use proceeds from dog license fees to:

      (i) establish an animal shelter; and

      (ii) collect and euthanize stray, injured, or sick dogs.

(g) Dogs in heat. --

   (1) In Frederick County, the owner or custodian of a female dog that is in heat:

      (i) may not knowingly allow the dog to run at large; and

      (ii) shall confine the dog.

   (2) A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $ 25.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 24, § 11-501(a), (k), 11-503(a), 11-504(e)(1), (2), 11-511, 11-512; 2013, ch. 119, § 2.