§ 10-619
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/md/criminal-law/10-619A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
§10–619.
(1)In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)“Dangerous dog” means a dog that:
(i)without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or
(ii)is determined by the appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation under subsection
(c)of this section to be a potentially dangerous dog and, after the determination is made:
1. bites a person;
2. when not on its owner’s real property, kills or inflicts severe injury on a domestic animal; or
3. attacks without provocation.
(i)“Owner’s real property” means real property owned or leased by the owner of a dog.
(ii)“Owner’s real property” does not include a public right-of-way or a common area of a condominium, apartment complex, or townhouse development.
(4)“Severe injury” means a physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery.
(b)This section does not apply to a dog owned by and working for a governmental or law enforcement unit.
(c)An appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation may determine that a dog is potentially dangerous if the unit:
(1)finds that the dog:
(i)has inflicted a bite on a person while on public or private real property;
(ii)when not on its owner’s real property, has killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal; or
(iii)has attacked without provocation; and
(2)notifies the dog owner in writing of the reasons for this determination.
(d)A dog owner may not:
(1)leave a dangerous dog unattended on the owner’s real property unless the dog is:
(i)confined indoors;
(ii)in a securely enclosed and locked pen; or
(iii)in another structure designed to restrain the dog; or
(2)allow a dangerous dog to leave the owner’s real property unless the dog is leashed and muzzled, or is otherwise securely restrained and muzzled.
(e)An owner of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog who sells or gives the dog to another shall notify in writing:
(1)the authority that made the determination under subsection
(c)of this section, of the name and address of the new owner of the dog; and
(2)the person taking possession of the dog, of the dangerous behavior or potentially dangerous behavior of the dog.
(f)A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $2,500.