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Wicomico County, MD
 
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (18) Index
A. 
A statewide regulatory system regarding rabies, currently specified in Title 18, Subtitle 3, of the Health-General Article of the Maryland Code and COMAR 10.06.02, provides (among other things) that:
(1) 
Each person who owns or keeps a dog, cat or ferret that is at least four months old shall have it vaccinated adequately against rabies. This is a continuing requirement. The certificate described below should state the date by which the next vaccination is due so that the animal is continuously protected against rabies. Under Maryland's criminal law, an owner or other person having charge or custody of an animal who unnecessarily fails to provide the animal with necessary veterinary care is subject to imprisonment and/or fine.
(2) 
The animal must be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian or by a graduate veterinarian at the rabies clinic offered by a county's health department, and it cannot be registered or licensed unless proof of such vaccination is submitted. The state's Public Health Veterinarian shall determine the proof of vaccination that is acceptable.
(3) 
A veterinarian who vaccinates an animal against rabies shall issue to its owner a certificate on the form approved by the State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that the owner or custodian may use as proof of vaccination and which must be provided to police, the Animal Control Authority or health officials upon request. The veterinarian shall also issue a rabies tag having a tag number specified on the certificate.
(4) 
The owner or custodian of a dog, cat or ferret at least four months old brought into the State of Maryland shall (subject to certain exceptions) forward to the state's Public Health Veterinarian or his/her designee within 10 days of the animal's arrival in the state a certificate by a licensed veterinarian that contains certain information specified in COMAR 10.06.02.11 and documents that the animal is vaccinated against rabies. The local Animal Control Authority may accept such certificate as proof of vaccination for licensing or registration purposes for the period specified on the certificate or 12 months, whichever period is shorter.
(5) 
A person immediately must report to the local police or sheriff if he or she knows that a dog, cat or other warm-blooded animal has bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed an individual non-bite contact to a possible rabies infection. In addition, he or she must immediately report to the local police, sheriff or Animal Control Authority if he or she knows that an animal has or is suspected of having rabies or has been bitten by or had non-bite contact with an animal known or suspected to have rabies. Under this reporting requirement, the term "animal" includes any nonhuman species of mammal, including livestock and wild animals.
(6) 
If the Public Health Veterinarian or the local health officer issues an order to surrender an animal that is suspected of having rabies, a person may not hide or secrete the animal. Failure to comply with such an order or to make a report described constitutes a misdemeanor subject to a fine of up to $500.
(7) 
The State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shall pay the cost of any antirabies treatment that an individual requires if the individual is unable to pay for the treatment.
(8) 
An animal that bites a human or otherwise exposes a human to rabies shall be quarantined in a manner designated by the local health officer or the state Public Health Veterinarian, who may order that the animal be monitored for rabies by a licensed veterinarian at the cost of the owner and, under certain circumstances, killed for rabies testing.
B. 
If any provision mentioned in this section conflicts with Maryland law, the latter shall apply.
A. 
A dog older than six months must have a County license, and its owner is required to obtain such license, provided that this requirement does not apply if a dog that is licensed elsewhere has been present in the County for less than 30 days. The County Council may set a fee for the license and provide for exemptions from the license requirement and/or the fee in specific instances.
B. 
In order for the license to be issued, the dog must have a rabies vaccination that is both current and valid under Maryland law. The license shall expire on the date when the dog should be vaccinated again, as noted on the vaccination certificate ("next vaccination due date," etc.). Unless the County Executive shall specify other license documentation, the current vaccination certificate shall serve as the license documentation, provided that if any information thereon (owner's name, etc.) is or becomes incorrect, the correct information must be furnished by the owner to the licensing agent or to the Animal Control Authority.
C. 
As a condition of the license, a tag in the form provided by the Animal Control Authority or such different form as may be specified by the County Executive must be immediately available whenever the dog is in the presence of persons other than its owner. For that purpose, the owner of a licensed dog or person having custody thereof shall attach the tag to a substantial collar and keep the collar and tag on the dog at all times except when it is confined in a kennel, home or building providing secure confinement, being used for hunting under the charge of an attendant or for law enforcement or public safety under the control or supervision of a person duly authorized to perform the particular function. If the tag is lost, a replacement tag may be issued by the Animal Control Authority for a reasonable charge not to exceed the license fee set by the Council.
D. 
The license may be issued by the County, the Animal Control Authority, or by any licensing agent designated by the County Executive or Animal Control Authority, who or which shall (1) obtain from the person requesting the license a legible copy of the dog's current rabies vaccination certificate, together with any more accurate information regarding the owner, and the license fee and (2) provide to the owner or person requesting the license a tag of the kind described in this section unless it has already been provided and such licensing documentation, if any, specified by the County Executive. At least monthly, the licensing agent shall provide to the Animal Control Authority for each dog licensed: a legible copy of the vaccination certificate (and additional information mentioned above), the tag number if it is not listed on the vaccination certificate, and the licensing fee, which shall be paid by cash or check drawn on the agent's bank account.
E. 
Under Maryland Law, currently codified as § 13-107 of the Local Government Article, a lawfully licensed dog whose ownership can be proved is personal property of the owner.