{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-13-132","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Local Government § 13–132","heading":"","body":"(a) The County Commissioners of Washington County may designate a\nregular or contract employee to provide animal control services.\n(b) The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt an animal\ncontrol ordinance for:\n(1) licensing dogs, kennels, and pet shops;\n(2) controlling rabid animals; and\n(3) disposing of uncontrolled, vicious, or sick animals.\n(c) The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt an animal\ncontrol ordinance to designate a private agency or unit of county government to:\n(1) enforce the ordinance adopted under subsection (b) of this section;\n(2) maintain records regarding the licensing, impounding, and\ndisposing of animals coming into the custody of the private agency or unit of county\ngovernment; and\n(3) enter into contracts or agreements to provide for the disposal of\nanimals.\n(d) The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt an animal\ncontrol ordinance to provide for the designation of animal control shelters in the\ncounty.\n(e) (1) An animal control officer in Washington County may issue and\ndeliver a citation to a person believed to be committing a violation of an animal control\nordinance.\n(2) (i) The animal control officer shall keep a copy of the citation.\n(ii) The citation shall bear a certification attesting to the truth\nof the matters set forth in the citation.\n(3) The citation shall contain:\n(i) the name and address of the person charged;\n(ii) the nature of the violation;\n(iii) the location and time of the violation;\n(iv) the amount of the fine;\n(v) the manner, location, and time in which the fine may be\npaid; and\n(vi) a notice of the person’s right to elect to stand trial for the\nviolation.\n(f) (1) The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt an\nanimal control ordinance to create a quasi–judicial animal control authority for the\ncounty to hold public hearings to decide citations, complaints, and other controversies\narising under the animal control ordinance, other than those filed with the District\nCourt.\n(2) Hearings held under this subsection are subject to the right of a\nparty to file a petition for judicial review in the circuit court.\n(3) The county commissioners may adopt rules and regulations to\ngovern hearings held under this subsection.\n(g) (1) A person who receives a citation under this section may elect to\nstand trial for the violation by filing with the animal control officer a notice of\nintention to stand trial at least 5 days before the date set forth in the citation for the\npayment of fines.\n(2) After receiving a notice of intention to stand trial, the animal\ncontrol officer shall forward the notice to the District Court, with a copy of the\ncitation.\n(3) After receiving the citation and notice, the District Court shall\nschedule the case for trial and notify the defendant of the trial date.\n(4) All fines, penalties, or forfeitures collected by the District Court\nfor violations of an ordinance adopted under this section shall be remitted to\nWashington County.\n(5) In a proceeding before the District Court, a violation of an\nordinance adopted under this section shall be prosecuted in the same manner as a\nmunicipal infraction under Title 6 of this article.\n(6) The County Commissioners of Washington County may authorize\nthe County Attorney, the State’s Attorney, or another attorney to prosecute a\nviolation of an ordinance adopted under this section.\n(7) If the District Court finds that a person has committed a violation\nof an ordinance adopted under this section, the person is liable for the costs of the\ncourt proceedings.\n(h) (1) The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt an\nanimal control ordinance to provide that each violation of an ordinance adopted under\nthis section is a misdemeanor and on conviction a person is subject to imprisonment\nnot exceeding 30 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.\n(2) The county commissioners may:\n(i) establish a schedule of additional fines for each violation;\nand\n(ii) adopt procedures for the collection of fines.\n(3) (i) If a person who receives a citation under this section for a\nviolation fails to pay the fine by the date of payment set forth on the citation and fails\nto file a notice of intention to stand trial, a notice of the violation shall be sent to the\nperson’s last known address.\n(ii) If the citation is not satisfied within 15 days after the date\nthe notice of violation is mailed, the person is subject to an additional fine not\nexceeding twice the amount of the original fine.\n(iii) If the person who receives the citation does not pay the\ncitation by the 36th day after the notice of violation is mailed, the animal control\nofficer may request the District Court to adjudicate the violation.\n(iv) After the animal control officer requests adjudication, the\nDistrict Court shall schedule the case for trial and summon the defendant to appear.","path":["Article - Local Government"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=glg\u0026section=13-132","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:58Z","sha256":"404291d36543cfa8a8b6db45179f2eaf1eafce26ef50c0eca4b902b03d88c0c6","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-13-131","next":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-13-133"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}