A.
No person shall overdrive, overload, deprive of necessary
sustenance, torture, cruelly beat, mutilate or cruelly kill nor cause,
procure or authorize these acts nor, having the charge or custody
of the animal, either as owner or otherwise, inflict unnecessary suffering
or pain upon the animal or unnecessarily fail to provide the animal
with nutritious food in sufficient quantities, necessary veterinary
care, proper drink, air, space, shelter or protection from the weather.
B.
No one within the boundaries of Harford County may
own, keep or use any dog, cock or other animal for the purpose of
fighting, baiting or serving as a target. No person may knowingly
permit any building, shed, room, yard or other premises to be used
for the purpose of exhibiting or housing the fighting, baiting or
use as a target any dog, cock or other animal. No person shall attend
any exhibition of dogs, cocks or other animals for the purpose of
fighting, baiting or serving as a target, nor shall such person knowingly
be present at such time as preparations are made for such an exhibition.
All animals, equipment, devices and money involved in a violation
of this Article shall be forfeited to the County. The Sheriff has
the responsibility for recording information for purposes of surveillance
and conducting an investigation when determined to be appropriate
with regard to enforcement of this Article. The Sheriff shall impound
animals after a raid.
[Amended by Bill No. 15-011]
No person shall abandon any animal on property
within the boundaries of Harford County.
[Amended by Bill No. 15-011]
A.
No person shall leave any animal unattended in a motor vehicle when
the temperature 70° F., except the Sheriff, a police K-9 officer,
or within any vehicle equipped with a safety climate control system
designed for animal transport.
[Amended by Bill No. 19-008]
B.
Any law enforcement officer or agent of the Humane
Society of Harford County, Inc., who determines that an animal has
been left in a motor vehicle in violation of this Article shall have
the right to take such reasonable steps to free the animal from the
vehicle as he deems necessary to protect the animal from serious injury
or death.
[Amended by Bill No. 91-62]
No person shall give away any live animal, fish,
amphibian, reptile or bird as a prize or as an inducement to enter
into any business agreement whereby the offer was for the purpose
of attracting trade.
A.
Any dog or cat which is kept outside or in an unheated
enclosure shall be provided with:
(1)
A moisture-proof structure, made of durable building
material with no metal interior surface, which shall be suitable in
size to accommodate the dog or cat and to allow for the retention
of body heat, shall include a solid floor raised at least 4 inches
off the ground, shall have an entrance covered by a suitable covering
or be designed in such a way as to prevent the elements from blowing
directly into the shelter.
[Amended by Bill No. 15-011]
(2)
A sufficient quantity of bedding material suitable
to provide insulation and protection against cold and dampness and
to promote the retention of body heat.
(3)
A sufficient supply of food and potable water for
daily consumption.
[Amended by Bill No. 15-011]
Any chain, rope or other restraining line used
to tether any animal shall be of sufficient length to permit the animal
to exercise and shall, in no event, be less than 15 feet in length
with a swivel at both ends.
