Md. Code, Criminal Law § 10–603

Sections 10–601 through 10–608 and 10–626 of this subtitle do not apply to:

(1) customary and normal veterinary and agricultural husbandry practices including dehorning, castration, tail docking, and limit feeding;

(2) research conducted in accordance with protocols approved by an animal care and use committee, as required under the federal Animal Welfare Act or the federal Health Research Extension Act;

(3) an activity that may cause unavoidable physical pain to an animal if the person performing the activity uses the most humane method reasonably available, including:

(i) food processing;

(ii) pest elimination;

(iii) animal training; and

(iv) any hunting or fishing activity completed in accordance with Title 4 or Title 10 of the Natural Resources Article or any regulations adopted under those titles; or

(4) normal human activities in which the infliction of pain to an animal is purely incidental and unavoidable.