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You are here: Newsletters > January 2000 > For Your Records
Following is an article from the Maryland Statues that governs treatment of seized animals. ERRI provides this for your information and invites you to visit our facility at any time.
TITLE 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ARTICLE 27. CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT
Cruelty to Animals
67 Care of mistreated and neglected animals.
If the owner or custodian of an animal is convicted of any act of animal cruelty, the judge may use his own discretion in ordering the removal of that animal or animals for their protection at the time of conviction.
Whenever it becomes necessary, in order to protect any animal from neglect or cruelty, any officer or authorized agent of an animal humane society or any police officer or other public officials charged with the protection of animals may take possession of it, except that animals in the possession of medical and scientific research facilities may not be removed therefrom without the prior review and recommendation of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Veterinary Medicine.
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shall conduct an investigation within 24 hours of the receipt of a complaint and shall, within 24 hours of the investigation, report to the State’s Attorney of the county in which the facilities are situated. If an animal is impounded, yarded or confined and continues without necessary food, water or proper attention, or is cruelly treated or neglected, any officer or authorized agent of an animal humane society or any police officer or other public officials charged with the protection of animals may enter into and upon any place in which the animal is impounded, yarded or confined and supply it with necessary food, water and attention so long as it there remains, or, if necessary, for the health of the animal, may remove the animal, and not be liable to any action for that entry.
In all cases the owner or custodian of that animal shall be notified of that action and any administrative remedies which may be available by the person taking possession of the animal. The owner or custodian may file within ten days, if no administrative remedy is available, a petition for return of the animal in the District Court of the county in which the removal occurred.
If the owner or custodian is notified and fails to file the petition within the time prescribed, or if the owner or custodian is unknown and cannot with reasonable effort be ascertained for a period of 20 days, the animal shall be held to be an estray and be dealt with as such, provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting the entry into a private dwelling or as permitting the taking of a farm animal without prior recommendation of a licensed veterinarian.
In Baltimore County, the provisions of this section shall be enforced by the Baltimore County Bureau of Animal Control or by an organization approved by the Baltimore County government.
Fulltext of Maryland Statutes Regarding Animal Cruelty