The Anne Arundel County Code: Article 12. Public Safety Title 4. Animal Services
Animal Services
Please refer to all Maryland State laws pertaining to Animals.
Powers, duties, and other information about the Animal Welfare Council can be found in Article 3, Title 27, 3-27-101 of the 2025 Anne Arundel County Code.
The purpose of the Animal Welfare Council is to consider matters for the promotion of the humane treatment of animals in Anne Arundel County and to provide advice to the County Executive and County agencies on such matters.
Anne Arundel County Code § 12-4-305 (2025). Elections available to person who receives citation.
A person who receives a citation may elect to:
(1) pay the fine provided for in the citation to the Department before the date of a hearing or trial;
(2) within 15 days after service of the citation, submit a written request for a hearing before the Commission for dismissal of the citation;
(3) pay the fine if the Commission does not dismiss the citation after the hearing; or
(4) request a trial in the District Court on the citation.
Anne Arundel County Code § 12-4-305 (2025). Elections available to person who receives citation.
Failure to pay the fine or to submit a written request to the Commission within the required time period or to appear for the hearing before the Commission so requested on the date specified for the hearing shall be deemed to be an election of a trial in the District Court.
Anne Arundel County Code § 12-4-402 (2025). Public Safety Threat.
Dangerous. The Department may designate an animal as dangerous if, after consideration of the animal’s demeanor and prior history and any evidence of mitigating circumstances, the Department finds that the animal:
(1) killed or inflicted severe injury on a person or domesticated animal;
(2) has been determined to be potentially dangerous, dangerous, or vicious by another jurisdiction for an action that would subject the animal to a dangerous designation by the Department;
(3) has been documented as killing or inflicting severe injury on a person or domesticated animal in another jurisdiction; or
(4) has been determined to be potentially dangerous by the Department and engages in a second incident that constitutes a public safety threat as described in subsection (a) of this section.
Vicious. The Department may designate an animal as vicious if, after consideration of the animal’s demeanor and prior history and any evidence of mitigating circumstances, the Department finds that the animal cannot be safely maintained without threatening members of the public or other animals and the animal:
(1) killed or inflicted severe injury on a person or domesticated animal;
(2) has been determined to be potentially dangerous or dangerous by the Department and engages in a second incident that constitutes a public safety threat as described in subsection (a) of this section;
(3) has been determined to be dangerous or vicious by another jurisdiction for an action that would subject the animal to a vicious designation by the Department; or
(4) has engaged in documented behavior involving killing or inflicting severe injury on a person or domesticated animal in another jurisdiction.
§ 12-4-403. Potentially dangerous, dangerous, or vicious animals; orders.
Issuance of order. Upon a determination that an animal is potentially dangerous, dangerous, or vicious, the Department shall issue a written order to the owner that explains the reasons for the Department’s determination. For potentially dangerous and dangerous animals, the order shall direct the owner to comply with conditions for maintaining the animal on the owner’s property. Failure of the owner to comply with the conditions may result in temporary or permanent impoundment of the animal. An impounded animal designated as potentially dangerous or dangerous may only be redeemed after the owner presents the Department with satisfactory proof of compliance with the issued order.
(Note: the order may be appealed.)
An owner of an animal designated as potentially dangerous, dangerous, or vicious may appeal that order to the Commission within 10 days of receipt of the order by filing a written request for appeal with the Department.
§ 12-4-404. Authority to dispose of vicious animals.
The Department shall order the humane euthanasia of an animal determined to be vicious.
No person may keep an animal that has been designated as vicious. A vicious animal will be euthanized.
The Department may impound:
(1) a domesticated animal found at large, excluding an eartipped community cat;
(2) a dog or a cat found without a license tag affixed to its collar, excluding an eartipped community cat;
(3) an animal whose owner fails to respond to notice that the animal is in violation of this article;
(4) an animal whose health constitutes an immediate and substantial danger to persons or property or that poses a threat to public safety, as provided in § 12-4-402;
(5) an animal determined to be potentially dangerous, dangerous, or vicious;
(6) an animal placed at risk by its health or environment;
(7) an abandoned or unwanted animal, excluding an eartipped community cat;
(8) an animal involved in an incident that constitutes a public safety threat;
(9) an animal whose owner violates any condition of an administrative order pertaining to that animal;
(10) a community cat, including an eartipped community cat, about which repeated complaints to the Department from residents or business owners remain unresolved;
(11) an animal designated as potentially dangerous or dangerous if at any time the owner fails to comply with the conditions of the potentially dangerous or dangerous order; or
(12) an animal that is kept outdoors if any of the requirements of §§ 12-4-801(a) through (c) or 12-4-802 are not met.
(b) In determining appropriate daily care and shelter for an animal impounded, seized, surrendered, or owned by the Department under Title 4, the Department shall act in the best interest of the animal.
(2) paying all redemption fees;
(3) paying any outstanding fines unless adjudication has been requested;
(4) providing satisfactory proof of ownership; and
(5) complying with the requirements of this section and any other conditions for return of the animal as ordered by the Department.
Redemption fees include:
(1) for a spayed or neutered animal, an impoundment charge of $25 for the first impoundment, $50 for the second impoundment, and $100 for the third or any subsequent impoundment within a 12-month period;
(2) for an animal not spayed or neutered, an impoundment charge of $50 for the first impoundment, $100 for the second impoundment, and $200 for the third or any subsequent impoundment within a 12-month period;
(3) a $5 shelter fee for each day that the animal is held at the Department facility; and
(4) the cost of any required veterinary services.
(c) Waiver of shelter or redemption fees.
(1) Accrued shelter fees shall be waived by the Department when a delay in adjudication at the Commission, Board of Appeals, or Circuit Court occurs due to a contested request for postponement by the County. Fees shall be waived for the time between the request and the next hearing date.
(2) At the request of an animal owner, and upon a showing of good cause, the Department may waive some or all of the redemption fees.
Visit the reclaiming a pet page or contact Animal Services at (410) 222-8900 for more information.
On request of the Department, a person owning or keeping a dog, cat, or ferret in the County shall promptly exhibit a currently valid rabies vaccination certificate indicating that the dog, cat, or ferret has been vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian or approved governmental agency.
A person who fails to provide satisfactory evidence of a current rabies vaccination shall be given a written citation and an order requiring the vaccination within a seven-day period.
If you cannot locate your certificate, contact your rabies vaccination provider immediately.
Dog license:
Yes. Residents are required to have a dog license. Each dog over 6 months of age must be licensed and have a current rabies vaccination certificate. The license can be renewed on a 1 or 3 year basis, depending on the rabies vaccine schedule your animal is on. Rabies information must be updated for each license renewal.
Cat license:
No. Effective July 5, 2025 residents are no longer required to have a cat license.
Note: Licenses for spayed and neutered pets are offered at a lower cost. Senior (65 and older) discounts apply.
§ 12-4-704. Fancier licenses.
(a) Dog fancier license. In addition to meeting the licensing requirements imposed by § 12-4-703, a dog fancier shall annually obtain a dog fancier license from the County. The application for a dog fancier license shall state the name and home address of the dog fancier, the address of the establishment if it differs from the home address of the dog fancier, and the maximum number of dogs to be maintained. A dog fancier shall provide proof that each dog has a current rabies vaccination. The annual fee to be paid to the County for a dog fancier license is $100.
(b) Cat fancier license. A cat fancier shall annually obtain a cat fancier license from the County. The application for a cat fancier license shall state the name and home address of the cat fancier, the address of the establishment if it differs from the home address of the cat fancier, and the maximum number of cats to be maintained. A cat fancier shall provide proof that each cat has a current rabies vaccination. The annual fee to be paid to the County for a cat fancier license is $100.
§ 12-4-705. Commercial kennel license.
(a) When required.
(1) In addition to the licensing requirements under § 12-4-703, the operator of a commercial kennel shall obtain a commercial kennel license.
(2) The following are not considered commercial kennels:
(i) veterinary hospitals or clinics; and
(ii) any research facility regulated by federal law.
(b) Application. The application for a commercial kennel license shall state the name and address of the commercial kennel, the name and home address of operator of the commercial kennel, and the maximum number of dogs or cats or both to be housed in the commercial kennel.
(c) Fee. The annual license fee for a commercial kennel is:
(1) $250 for a commercial kennel authorized to house a combined total of 15 to not more than 50 dogs; and
(2) $500 for a commercial kennel authorized to house a total of more than 50 dogs or cats or both.
(a) Tethering of dogs prohibited; exceptions. A person may not tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain a dog, to a shelter, tree, fence, or any other stationary object, except a dog may be tethered, fastened, chained, or tied with a chain, rope, line, or similar restraint that shall be at least 10 feet long, to allow a person to complete a temporary task that requires the dog to be restrained or to allow the dog to eliminate or exercise. Except for one 15 minute period per day, a dog may not be tethered, fastened, chained, or tied outdoors by any means unless a person, thirteen years of age or older, is outdoors, on the same property, with a direct line of sight to the dog at all times while the dog is tethered, fastened, chained, or tied outdoors. A person may not cause, procure, or authorize an act prohibited under this subsection. A dog may not be tethered, fastened, chained, or tied outdoors by any means if the outdoor temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower or 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This subsection may not be construed to prohibit a person from exercising or otherwise holding a dog with a leash. A person may not tether or connect a dog to a chain, roped, line, or similar restraint in a manner that endangers the health, safety or well being of the dog or allow the restraint to wrap or tangle around a neck or limb of the dog.
(b) Shelter and separate shade required for dogs outdoors. In accordance with the following provisions, for each dog confined outdoors, an owner shall provide:
(1) a source of natural or artificial shade separate from the shelter and of sufficient size to protect the animal from direct sunlight at all times; and
(2) an accessible shelter that shall:
(i) protect the dog from the wind, snow, rain, heat, cold, and sunlight;
(ii) have a solid and level floor;
(iii) be raised at least two inches off the ground;
(iv) have a waterproof roof and four solid walls, one of which shall contain an entryway sized to allow the dog ease of entry;
(v) be constructed of weather resistant material, except that interior surfaces may not be metal;
(vi) between December 1 and March 15, have an entryway covered to protect the dog from cold temperatures and inclement weather and installed so as to allow movement in and out of the shelter or be offset to act as a windbreak;
(vii) contain no cracks or openings other than the entrance;
(viii) be of sufficient size to allow each dog to stand up, lie down, and turn around without touching the sides or top;
(ix) be equipped with bedding made of non-absorbent material and provided in sufficient quantity for insulation against cold and moisture; and
(x) along with surrounding areas, be kept clean, sanitary, and free of garbage, junk, fecal matter, or similar matter at all times.
(c) Additional area required for dogs outdoors. This subsection does not apply to any pen, run, or enclosure constructed under a potentially dangerous order or dangerous order issued prior to August 4, 2018. In addition to the shelter and separate shade requirements of this section, for each dog confined outdoors within an outdoor enclosure, pen, or enclosed run, an owner shall provide adequate space for exercise consistent with the following requirements.
(1) Dogs less than 80 pounds shall have a minimum of a 10 foot by 10 foot enclosure, or 100 square feet of space.
(2) Dogs 80 pounds or more shall have a minimum of a 10 foot by 15 foot enclosure, or 150 square feet of space.
(3) An additional 50 square feet of space shall be added for each additional dog less than 80 pounds to be kept in the enclosure or pen.
(4) An additional 75 square feet of space shall be added for each additional dog 80 pounds or more to be kept in the enclosure or pen.
(5) The enclosure, run, or pen and the surrounding areas shall be kept clean, sanitary, and free from any garbage, junk, fecal matter, or similar matter.
(36) “Public nuisance” means an act by an animal that substantially interferes with the rights of citizens to enjoyment of life or property and that unreasonably annoys humans, endangers the life or health of other animals or human beings, or offends human senses, including the molesting of pedestrians, the chasing of vehicles, the damaging of property of someone other than the owner of the animal, and continually and repeatedly howling, barking, whining, or otherwise making noise that causes unreasonable annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where a person keeps an animal.
(37) “Public nuisance condition” means an unsanitary, dangerous, or offensive condition caused by the extreme size or number of animals kept on any premises or by the inadequacy of facilities or a continuing or periodically recurring public nuisance.
Creating a public nuisance or public nuisance condition is prohibited by Anne Arundel County Code § 12-4-903 (2025).
Whenever a dog or cat is intact, the owner of the intact animal shall prevent opportunity for reproductive contact with dogs or cats off the owner's property.
Contact Animal Services at (410) 222-8900 to request assistance with a found dead animal.
| Animal Viewing and Administrative Hours: | |
|---|---|
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
| Thursday | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
| Friday | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
| Saturday | 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
| Field Service Hours: | |
|---|---|
| Monday - Friday | 8 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
| Emergency Field Service | 24 hours |
After hours emergency calls to (410) 222-8900 will be connected to the Anne Arundel County Police Department
Due to the significant increase in positive rabies cases experienced in Anne Arundel County, Animal Services is doing its part to help protect all Anne Arundel County pets from the deadly rabies virus. Animal Services holds weekly low cost rabies clinics. Keep your pet continuously vaccinated against rabies. It's the LAW!
Microchip Clinics for Pets:
One way to reunite pets with their owners in a more timely fashion, and with minimal expense to the county and its citizens, is to microchip animals.
Microchipping serves many purposes: It provides an opportunity to reunite pets and owners quickly. Animal Control Officers scan for microchips. If a microchip is located and registered, the owner information can be found. Officers could then return the animal to the owner rather than transporting the animal to the facility.
- In addition to quickly reuniting animals and owners, the ability to identify animals by microchip will also assist Animal Services by saving space, food, time, and effort that are often expended on animals being held in the facility.
- Weather related incidents have demonstrated that animals can be quickly separated from their homes and owners and, often times, at a separation of great distances. Microchipping has helped in some of those scenarios, such as during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, by identifying animals and their owners quickly and reuniting them safely with minimal cost, time and effort.
Learn more about rabies & microchip clinics in Anne Arundel County.
Note: The County holds microchip and rabies clinics at the same time.