As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings
indicated:
ANIMAL CONTROL LIAISON
The City of Hyattsville representative responsible for collaborating
with various City departments and communicating with Prince George's
County agencies responsible for animal incidents that occur within
the City's municipal boundaries. The liaison will have general
knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and County procedures and
serve as the City point of contact to assist residents with obtaining
information and follow-up when additional support is needed from the
responsible agencies.
BITE
A puncture or tear of the skin caused by the teeth of an
animal.
COUNTY
Prince George's County, Maryland.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL
A designation given by Prince George's County Animal
Services Division for animals who have a history of aggressive behavior.
"Dangerous animals" have restrictions placed upon them by the County,
which may include a confinement order.
PGCASD
Prince George's County Animal Services Division.
PROTOCOL OR STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL
A tool developed by the City to guide appropriate responses
in implementing and responding to the provisions contained within
this chapter concerning animal control.
PUBLIC NUISANCE ANIMAL
Any animal which:
A.
Engages in excessive barking, howling, or other noise;
B.
Creates unsanitary conditions on public property;
C.
Animals that are unleashed in public spaces, except as otherwise
provided herein;
D.
Gives offense to human senses; or
E.
Substantially interferes with the rights of citizens, other
than its owner, to enjoyment of life or property.
PUBLIC THREAT
Any situation in which any animal, without provocation, inflicts
injury on humans or domesticated animals, threatens to inflict injury
on humans or domesticated animals, or any situation involving a "dangerous
animal" or a "potentially dangerous animal" as defined under County
Code § 3-101.
SERVICE ANIMAL
The meaning set forth in the Annotated Code of Maryland,
Human Services Article, § 7-701(g), as amended from time
to time.
SEVERE WEATHER
A weather condition which occurs in the following circumstances:
A.
The effective outdoor wind chill index is 32° F. or lower,
as determined by the National Weather Service;
B.
The heat index is 90° F. or higher, as determined by the
National Weather Service;
C.
During the effective period for a severe weather warning issued
for the area by the National Weather Service, including a hurricane
warning, tropical storm warning, severe thunderstorm warning, or tornado
warning.
TETHERING
Attaching a dog to a stationary object or pulley run by means
of a chain, rope, tether, cable, or similar restraint. Tethering does
not include the use of a leash to walk a dog.
Dogs, cats and other animal pets shall be confined at all times
to the premises of their owners, except when under the immediate and
effective control of a responsible person, specifically on a leash
not to exceed six feet in length.
The owner of any female dog or cat shall confine said dog or
cat in heat within a building or secure enclosed kennel with a top
in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come in contact
with another animal except for planned breeding within the building
or enclosure.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for the owner of any
domestic or kept animal to fail to provide said animal with sufficient
good and wholesome food and water, clean and sanitary surroundings
and shelter and protection from the weather, veterinary care when
needed to prevent suffering or the transmission of communicable disease,
humane care and treatment, and it shall be a violation to abandon
an animal, to beat, ill-treat, torment, overload, overwork or otherwise
abuse any animal or cause or permit any animal to fight or become
engaged in combat between animals or between animals and humans.
The City shall rely on Prince George's County Animal Services
Division (PGCASD) for the primary enforcement of animal control regulations.
The Animal Control Liaison may follow up with PGCASD on animal control
enforcement concerns and maintain communication with PGCASD to help
direct residents for animal-control related services.
A domestic pet found at large without a license tag shall, except
as provided in this chapter, be impounded by the Animal Control Warden
or other agent empowered to enforce this Code and taken to the animal
control shelter.
Upon impounding an animal, the Animal Control Warden or other
agent empowered to enforce this Code shall cause a prompt and reasonable
effort to be made to locate and notify the animal's owner.
It is prohibited to trap, poison, shoot or otherwise kill any
animal, unless trapping in a humanitarian trap for the purposes of
spaying, neutering, or improving the condition of a wild, homeless
or injured animal.
In the event that a public threat category 2 violation occurs,
the City shall issue a public safety alert within 24 hours after the
occurrence, in which the City shall inform City residents of the incident
and the block where the animal resides and where the incident took
place. Addresses of specific properties will not be used in such public
safety alerts, and the City shall issue follow-up public safety alerts
to keep citizens informed, as the situation requires.
Keeping livestock, domestic fowl and/or wild exotic rare animals
is prohibited with in the City. This includes but is not limited to:
cattle, horses, swine, sheep, pigs, goats, turkeys, roosters and other
poultry and game birds, or wild exotic cats, monkeys, venomous snakes
and any endangered species.