(A) General.
(1) No person shall overdrive, overload, deprive of necessary sustenance, torture, torment, cruelly beat, mutilate or cruelly kill any animal, or cause, procure or authorize these acts, or having the charge or custody of an animal, either as owner or otherwise, inflict unnecessary suffering or pain upon the animal, or fail to provide the animal with nutritious food in sufficient quantity, necessary veterinary care, proper drink, adequate air space, and appropriate shelter or protection from the weather.
(2) No person shall allow any animal to remain in a vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the animal.
(3) No person shall poison any animal other than rodents or mistreat or abandon any animal in such manner as to cause suffering to the animal..
(4) If an Animal Control Officer determines that the health or safety of an animal is in immediate danger because of cruelty or neglect, the officer may remove the animal from any place except the interior of a private residence and impound the animal. For the purpose of this section, an animal control officer may enter upon private property without the consent of the owner. Animal Control Officers may at all times be accompanied and assisted by jurisdictional police officers.
(5) After impounding an animal whose health or safety is endangered because of cruelty or neglect, the Animal Control Officer shall make a prompt and reasonable effort to notify the owner that the animal has been impounded and the reason for impoundment to be confirmed in writing. Written notice shall also be given to the owner indicating the conditions for the release of the animal, if any, and schedule for implementation.
(B) Care and control. All owners of animals shall exercise care and control of their animals so as to prevent the animals from becoming public nuisances.
(C) Euthanasia. Any animal found in critical condition from wounds, injuries or disease may, at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer or a Maryland licensed veterinarian, be euthanized, if the owner cannot be found in a reasonable length of time. If the animal is suffering great pain, it may be destroyed immediately, and the owner notified as soon as possible thereafter. The owner of any such deceased animal shall immediately provide for the disposal of the animal if he or she knows of its death or the location of its carcass. The persons responsible for destroying the animal as herein provided shall not be held liable for the act.
(D) Abandonment.
(1) Any person, partnership or corporation being the owner, possessor or custodian of an animal who abandons the animal or drops or leaves the animal on a street, road, highway, or in a public place or on private property, with intent to abandon it, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. (See Md. Code, Art. 27, § 60, as amended periodically.)
(2) After response to an investigation of an abandonment complaint which results in a finding of suspected abandonment, written notice shall be left on the premises that the animal(s) shall be removed therefrom after 24 hours to the Garrett County Animal Shelter. After the 24 hour period has elapsed and no communication has been received by the Garrett County Animal Control Officer from the owners or occupier of the premises, the animal(s) shall be removed from the premises to the Animal Control Shelter.
(E) Animals chasing other animals. Any owner who allows his or her animal(s) to harass, chase, torment or injure livestock, domestic animals or farm animals shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine as provided herein.
(Ord. —, passed 2-3-2004)