The Animal Control Commission for Queen Anne's County ("the
Commission") shall exercise such powers and perform such functions
as specifically provided in this chapter. Additionally, the Commission
shall advise the County Commissioners on all questions of general
policy relating to animal control in the County, and, when appropriate,
shall bring matters of public interest within its jurisdiction to
the attention of the County Administrator.
[Amended 5-26-2015 by Ord. No. 15-01]
A. Appointment.
The County Commissioners shall appoint seven individuals to serve
as members of the Commission. One nonvoting member shall be the County
Health Officer or his/her designee, and one nonvoting member shall
be the Director of Emergency Services for Queen Anne's County or his/her
designee. The other members shall be voting members of the general
public. These membership requirements may be phased in as the terms
of members serving on the date of adoption of these requirements shall
expire.
B. Terms.
The County Commissioners shall set the term of each member of the
Commission. Terms may be staggered, and all terms need not be of equal
duration.
C. Compensation.
(1) Members of the Commission may not receive remuneration for their
service.
(2) The County Commissioners may reimburse members of the Commission
for expenses in accordance with the current fiscal budget.
D. Removal.
The County Commissioners may, with or without cause, remove a member
of the Commission prior to the expiration of the member's term.
[Amended 5-26-2015 by Ord. No. 15-01]
A. Chairperson;
Vice Chairperson. The members of the Animal Control Commission shall
designate one member to serve as Chairperson of the Animal Control
Commission subject to the approval of the County Commissioners of
Queen Anne's County. The members of the Commission shall also designate
one member to serve as Vice Chairperson.
B. Secretary.
The Commission may appoint an individual other than a Commission member
to serve as a nonvoting, recording secretary.
[Amended 5-26-2015 by Ord. No. 15-01]
A. Meetings,
in general. The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson
or on the request of two voting members.
B. Quorum.
A quorum shall consist of three voting members.
C. Missed
meetings. The Chairperson shall notify the County Commissioners if
a member of the Commission misses three regularly scheduled meetings
during a calendar year.
D. Office
facilities; supplies. The County Commissioners may provide the Commission
with office space, supplies, and equipment as may be required by the
Commission in accordance with the current fiscal budget.
[Amended 5-26-2015 by Ord. No. 15-01]
A. The
Manager of Animal Control (the "Manager") shall be appointed by the
County Commissioners of Queen Anne's County and shall administer any
laws and regulations pertaining to animal control in the County.
B. The
Manager, as well as any Animal Control Officer, shall operate under
the authority and oversight of the County Commissioners of Queen Anne's
County Office.
C. The
Manager:
(1) Is the Chief Animal Control Officer; and
(2) Shall serve as an advisor to the Animal Control Commission.
D. Operational
responsibility. The Manager has operational responsibility for carrying
out duties prescribed in this chapter and enforcing its provisions,
as well as regulations duly promulgated by the Commission, including
(but not necessarily limited to) provisions concerning public safety,
public nuisances, prevention, cruelty to animals, and minimum standards
for animal care.
E. Patrols;
complaint investigations. The Manager shall implement a program of
patrols and response to citizen complaints for the purpose of enforcing
this chapter and Maryland State Law regarding animal control.
F. Emergencies.
The Manager shall provide a twenty-four-hour, seven-day-a-week animal
emergency service to respond to any complaint concerning matters deemed
an emergency by the Manager.
G. Inspection
of animal establishments. The Manager shall implement a program of
inspections of all animal establishments required to have a license
under this chapter.
H. Recordkeeping.
The Manager or the Manager's designee is responsible for maintaining
accurate records of licenses, impoundments, dispositions, animal bites,
and all enforcement actions taken by Animal Control Officers.
I. Public
information. The Manager shall make available to the general public
information concerning the enforcement of this chapter as it pertains
to animal control.
[Amended 5-26-2015 by Ord. No. 15-01]
A. Authority,
in general. Animal Control Officers employed by the County Commissioners
are authorized to exercise the authority necessary to enforce the
provisions of this chapter and Maryland State Law relating to animal
control.
B. Impoundment/seizure.
Animal Control Officers shall:
(1) Humanely impound/seize an observed animal whose owner or custodian is in violation of this chapter and/or provisions of the Maryland Annotated Code relating to animal control, including impoundment/seizure from private or public property in accordance with Subsection
J of this section; or
(2) Impound an injured domestic animal found on a road or public land
in the County or on private property if the owner of the property
is not the owner or custodian of the animal.
C. Notice.
An Animal Control Officer shall make a prompt and reasonable effort
to locate and notify the owner or custodian of an impounded animal.
The effort shall include coordination with the Animal Services Center
staff.
D. Citations.
An Animal Control Officer may issue a citation to the owner or custodian
of an animal when the animal is observed in violation of this chapter
or Maryland State Law relating to animal control.
E. Emergency
assistance.
(1) An Animal Control Officer shall promptly respond to administer emergency
assistance, first aid, or qualified medical assistance to an injured
or diseased stray animal that comes into the custody of the County
without the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal.
(2) In carrying out Subsection
E (1) of this section, the Animal Control Officer administering assistance, Queen Anne's County, or any of its employees or agents, may not be held liable for acts committed or omitted while rendering assistance, unless the act or omission constitutes gross negligence or malice.
F. Animal
bite investigations. An Animal Control Officer may conduct investigations
according to department policy or assist the Department of Environmental
Health in the investigation of animal bites concerning potential rabies
exposures.
G. Animals at large; discharge on property of others; dangerous animals; public nuisance animals; dangerous animals. See §§
9-17 through
9-20 of this chapter.
H. Inspection
of commercial animal establishments. An Animal Control Officer shall
conduct prelicensing and/or renewal inspections of commercial animal
establishments as provided in this chapter or regulations adopted
pursuant to this chapter.
I. Enforcement
actions.
(1) If the owner or custodian of an animal is in violation of any requirements
that the Commission establishes, an Animal Control Officer may order
the violation immediately corrected and cite the owner or custodian
for the violation.
(2) Subject to Subsection
I(3) of this section, an Animal Control Officer may initiate a complaint or other form of enforcement of this chapter or Maryland State Law.
(3) Before an Animal Control Officer files a complaint in a court of
competent jurisdiction or before the Commission, the Animal Control
Officer shall have probable cause to believe that a violation of this
chapter or Maryland State Law has taken place.
J. Access
to private property. An Animal Control Officer may enter upon private
property to verify compliance with orders of the Animal Control Commission
and/or to investigate any observed or reported violations of this
chapter and or Maryland State Law. This access is limited to unenclosed
places and structures which are open and the interior of which is
readily visible to the Animal Control Officer.