Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 6 - Crimes Relating to Animals
Section 10-619 - Dangerous Dog

(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
        (2)    “Dangerous dog” means a dog that:
            (i)    without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or
            (ii)    is determined by the appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation under subsection (c) of this section to be a potentially dangerous dog and, after the determination is made:
                1.    bites a person;
                2.    when not on its owner’s real property, kills or inflicts severe injury on a domestic animal; or
                3.    attacks without provocation.
        (3)    (i)    “Owner’s real property” means real property owned or leased by the owner of a dog.
            (ii)    “Owner’s real property” does not include a public right-of-way or a common area of a condominium, apartment complex, or townhouse development.
        (4)    “Severe injury” means a physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery.
    (b)    This section does not apply to a dog owned by and working for a governmental or law enforcement unit.
    (c)    An appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation may determine that a dog is potentially dangerous if the unit:
        (1)    finds that the dog:
            (i)    has inflicted a bite on a person while on public or private real property;
            (ii)    when not on its owner’s real property, has killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal; or
            (iii)    has attacked without provocation; and
        (2)    notifies the dog owner in writing of the reasons for this determination.
    (d)    A dog owner may not:
        (1)    leave a dangerous dog unattended on the owner’s real property unless the dog is:
            (i)    confined indoors;
            (ii)    in a securely enclosed and locked pen; or
            (iii)    in another structure designed to restrain the dog; or
        (2)    allow a dangerous dog to leave the owner’s real property unless the dog is leashed and muzzled, or is otherwise securely restrained and muzzled.
    (e)    An owner of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog who sells or gives the dog to another shall notify in writing:
        (1)    the authority that made the determination under subsection (c) of this section, of the name and address of the new owner of the dog; and
        (2)    the person taking possession of the dog, of the dangerous behavior or potentially dangerous behavior of the dog.
    (f)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $2,500.