A.
Under authority contained in the Local Government Article of the
Maryland Code and for the protection and promotion of the health,
safety, comfort, and general welfare of the citizens of Wicomico County,
the following chapter is adopted.
B.
The enforcement and administration of provisions of this chapter
may be delegated, in accordance with § 13-102 of the Local
Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, to any organization
or municipal corporation in Wicomico County by written contract proposed
by the County Executive and approved by the County Council.
C.
This chapter is not intended to restrict the authority or duty of
the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office.
As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings
indicated unless otherwise defined:
An animate being (other than a human being) capable of voluntary
movement.
An employee designated and supervised by the Animal Control
Authority to perform the duties described in this chapter.
A free-roaming cat that is sterilized and ear-tipped.
An animal of a tamed species commonly kept as a pet or livestock,
including cats, dogs, cows, fowl, ferrets, horses, or swine, except
an animal being maintained for the production of food, food products
or fiber, or breeding.
Any nonabsorbent material provided in sufficient quantity
for insulation against cold and moisture. Exterior bedding may consist
of straw, pine shavings, and/or pine needles.
[Added 6-6-2023 by Bill No. 2023-06]
To take possession of an animal by an Animal Control Officer
(or other officer empowered to act by law).
A microchip is an electronic chip embedded in an animal which
contains information for an authorized party to discern the owner
of the animal. A microchip shall not include global positioning system
coordinates.
[Added 6-6-2023 by Bill No. 2023-06]
A person who owns or is the custodian of an animal. An animal
owned by a minor will be considered to be owned by the parents or
guardians with whom the minor resides.
Property of which the animal's owner, as herein defined,
is the actual owner or tenant or present as the guest or licensee
of the owner, but does not include a public right-of-way or common
area of a condominium, apartment complex or townhouse development
or premises when the animal's owner is present as a customer or business
or commercial invitee, including hotels and motels.
Any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform
tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including
a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained,
are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work
or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to
the individual's disability. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's
presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort,
or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes
of this definition.
A program approved in writing by the Animal Control Authority
for humanely trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating for rabies, ear-tipping,
and returning community cats to their original location.
Dwellings, dwelling units, multiple-family dwellings, apartment
houses, boardinghouses, nursing homes, and other structures, including,
among others, garages, sheds, and similar accessory structures, which
are uninhabitated.
[Added 6-6-2023 by Bill No. 2023-06]
