In general, in this chapter, the following words have the meanings
indicated.
Any nonhuman species, whether domestic or wild, excluding
insects and plants.
Any dogfight, cockfight, bullfight, or other combat between
animals or between animals and humans.
A person who breeds or raises dogs or cats to sell, exchange,
or otherwise transfer to the public.
See § 9-13 of this chapter.
A free-roaming cat who may be cared for by one or more residents
of the immediate area who is/are known or unknown; a community cat
may or may not be feral.
A person who, in accordance with a good faith effort to conduct
trap-neuter-return, provides care. This care includes providing food,
shelter, or medical care for a community cat. However, community cat
caregivers are not the owner, custodian, harborer, controller, or
keeper of a community cat.
A person who makes a complaint in a legal or administrative
action or proceeding under this chapter.
Any act that would constitute a violation of § 9-21 of this chapter.
A person who provides food, shelter, and care for an animal
in the absence of the owner.
See § 9-20 of this chapter.
An animal of a species that has been bred and raised to live
in or about the habitation of humans, is dependent on humans for food
and shelter, is kept for pleasure rather than utility, and includes
a bird, cat, dog, fish, hamster, ferret, mouse, reptile, and any other
animals associated with human environment.
Livestock kept, wholly or in part, as a companion animal,
as opposed to those kept solely for their production value as food
or fiber.
The removal of the 1/4-inch tip of a community cat's
left ear, performed while the cat is under anesthesia in compliance
with any applicable federal or state law and under the supervision
of a licensed veterinarian. Eartips are designed to identify a community
cat as being sterilized and lawfully vaccinated for rabies.
To put an animal to death humanely.
Domesticated animal and its descendants that live in the
wild.
A dog that is trained specifically and/or used lawfully to
protect a person, place or property.
A chartered organization that is operating as a tax-exempt
organization in good standing pursuant to the provisions of § 501(c)(3)
of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
To confine and secure at a location determined by an Animal
Control Officer.
An animal kept, raised, used, or intended for use as food
or fiber, or used solely as a work or pack animal.
A person or legal entity that has a superior possessory property
right in an animal. A community cat caregiver shall not be considered
the owner of a community cat.
A person against whom a complaint is filed under this chapter,
including the owner or custodian of an animal that is the subject
of a complaint.
An exercise of control that results in substantial interference
with an individual's possessory interest in the property seized.
An injury that creates a substantial risk of or that causes
death, significant disfigurement, impairment of health or serious
loss and/or impairment of the function of any bodily organ.
A domestic animal, domesticated livestock, or livestock for
which ownership has not been established.
The nonlethal process of humanely trapping, sterilizing,
vaccinating for rabies, eartipping, and returning community cats to
their original location.
An animal that is not included in the definition of "domesticated
livestock," "domestic animal," or "livestock," and includes any offspring
of wild animals crossbred with domestic animals.
The County Commissioners enact this chapter to provide for the safety of the public and the humane care and treatment of animals, and to encourage responsible pet ownership. Animal control functions shall be provided under the direction of the Animal Control Office of Queen Anne's County, as provided in § 9-9 of this chapter. Animal services shall be provided by and under the direction of the Animal Services Center of Queen Anne's County, as provided in § 9-11 of this chapter.
