It shall be and is unlawful for any person, corporation, legal
entity, or resident to keep, raise maintain, exhibit, or utilize any
farm animal, wild animal, exotic animal, fowl or reptile for either
profit or nonprofit purposes within the limits of the Town of Hancock.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply and be applicable
and enforceable within the corporate limits of the municipality. This
chapter is not to be construed as in derogation of any existing zoning,
health regulations, or any other applicable state or federal statutes
or regulations, except as hereunder set forth.
A. Exceptions:
(1) Section
135-1 of this chapter or any other provision of this chapter does not pertain to any establishment maintained and/or operated by a veterinarian for purposes of treatment.
(2) Section 55, Exemption of Farm Animals, as set forth in the Animal
Control Ordinance for Washington County, Maryland, is not adopted
and is not applicable within the corporate limits of the municipality.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Article of
the Annotated Code of Maryland, § 4-111, the Mayor and Council
of the Town hereby request and authorize the Board of County Commissioners
of Washington County, Maryland, its employees, agents, representatives,
servants and/or contract representatives, to implement, enforce, and
regulate the applicable provisions of this chapter within the corporate
limits of the municipality in accordance with the provisions set forth
herein.
The provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements
to meet the stated purpose and intent of said chapter. Where the provisions
of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those of any federal,
state, county, Town statute, ordinance or regulations, the provisions
of this chapter shall govern. Where the provisions of any federal,
state, county, Town statute, ordinance or regulations impose greater
restrictions than those of this chapter, the provisions of such federal,
state, county, Town statute, ordinance or regulations shall prevail.
Should any section or provision of this chapter be declared
by the court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional,
such decision shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of
the chapter as a whole or any part thereto other than the part so
declared to be invalid or unconstitutional.
The Mayor and/or Town Manager, or their successors in office,
are hereby authorized and directed to enter into any agreements or
memorandums of understanding that may be requisite to consummate the
purposes of this chapter and to execute any documents necessary to
effectuate the purposes thereof.
The effective date of this chapter shall be May 1, 2001.