2023 Maryland Statutes › Local Government › Division III - Counties › Title 13 - Other Powers of Counties -- Regulatory › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Animals › Part II - Local Provisions › Section 13-120 - Dorchester County

(a)    (1)    The governing body of Dorchester County, by ordinance, may provide for a comprehensive system for the regulation of dogs and cats.
(2)    The ordinance may provide for:
(i)    the licensing and control of dogs and cats;
(ii)    seizing and disposing of unlicensed or dangerous dogs and cats; and
(iii)    civil or criminal penalties for a violation of an ordinance enacted in accordance with this section.
(3)    The governing body may provide that a violation of an ordinance relating to dogs and cats shall be prosecuted in the same manner as provided for municipal infractions under Title 6 of this article.
(b)    (1)    In Dorchester County, on or before July 1 of each year, a person owning or keeping a dog shall apply to the county tax collector for a license for the dog if the dog is at least 6 months old.
(2)    At the time of application, the applicant shall pay a fee of:
(i)    $1 for a license for a male or spayed female dog;
(ii)    $2 for a license for an unspayed female dog;
(iii)    $10 for a kennel license for a person owning or keeping 25 or fewer dogs; or
(iv)    $20 for a kennel license for a person owning or keeping more than 25 dogs.
(3)    Except as provided in § 13–108 of this subtitle, the licenses and fees required under this section are the only licenses and fees required for owning or keeping a dog.
(4)    The governing body of Dorchester County shall prepare and supply the form for a license issued under this subsection.
(5)    A dog license shall contain the date of issuance, a serial number, and a description of the dog licensed.
(6)    A license expires on July 1 of the year after issuance.
(c)    (1)    In Dorchester County, the county tax collector shall issue a tag with each dog license to a person owning or keeping a dog when the person pays the license fee for the dog.
(2)    The governing body of Dorchester County shall prepare and supply tags to the county tax collector each year.
(3)    The tags shall be:
(i)    composed of metal;
(ii)    imprinted with a serial number corresponding to the number on the license issued to the owner under subsection (b) of this section;
(iii)    imprinted with the calendar year for which the tag is issued;
(iv)    1 inch or less in length; and
(v)    equipped with a substantial metal fastener.
(4)    The governing body shall change the general shape of the tags each year.
(5)    Tags supplied to owners of kennels shall contain the word “kennel”.
(6)    The person owning or keeping a dog shall attach the tag to a substantial collar and keep the collar and tag on the dog for which the license was issued at all times, except when the dog is:
(i)    confined in a kennel; or
(ii)    hunting under the charge of an attendant.
(7)    The county tax collector shall replace a lost tag on:
(i)    application by the person to whom the original license was issued;
(ii)    the production of the license; and
(iii)    payment of a fee of 25 cents.
(d)    (1)    In Dorchester County, the owner or custodian of a female dog that is in heat:
(i)    may not knowingly allow the dog to run at large; and
(ii)    shall confine the dog.
(2)    A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $25.