Ha! Have you noticed all the crimes around this place? Do you look around this place? The thugs hanging around the pond? The gunshots? Drive-by shootings? Give me a dog that barks every day instead! Hopefully the dogs will run away from the scum here! “To solve this problem, (the district attorney) had to go back and find the state law that allowed them to do it. There was nothing in the books that allowed us to apply a barking dog or a pesky prescription. “We leave them a little note saying they have a neighbour who has a problem with the barking dog and offer them suggestions to deal with the problem. But there`s nothing at this stage that makes them want to do it if they decide not to fix the problem, and most of them don`t,” Copeland said. The county attorney`s office recently reviewed the existing animal control order and determined that the county did not have the authority to deal with these matters, said Montgomery County District 3 Justice of the Peace Edie Connelly. Montgomery County Animal Control Officer Kelli Copeland said the legislation was deemed necessary after reviews of existing laws failed to find final regulations. Connelly handles civil litigation related to dog barking for Montgomery County. The bill would establish guidelines that would allow the county to fine pet owners whose dogs bark enough to disturb their neighbors. Connelly said the law would make dog barking a Class C offense punishable by a fine of at least $50 or more than $200.
I have the same problem. The neighbor`s dog barks and howls constantly. Lately, they release him at 1:00 or 3:00 in the morning. We tried to get them arrested. We can`t sleep. Even the police have to be called and they can`t do anything. These people are scary and don`t care about the neighbors. I deal with laws against animal harassment.
The bill, which makes dog barking a public nuisance in unincorporated areas of the county, is designed to ensure that animal control officers and public safety officials have the legal authority to act in such cases. “We used to have an order that we were using, and we were quoting people, but the district attorney said our order only defined a nuisance,” Copeland said. New laws aim to silence barking dogs in Montgomery County. “The constant barking of neighboring dogs can sometimes be more than a nuisance. We`re trying to find ways to solve the problem,” said Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, author of the proposed legislation. Any dog is free when outside the owner and not on a leash, unless it is a service dog that is in a dog training area designated by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission or participating in an approved activity. Any other animal (i.e. cat or farm animal) is free if it is outside the owner and is not leashed or does not respond immediately to verbal or non-verbal instructions. H. The term “seizure” means arresting, catching, catching, netting, calming or imprisoning.
M. The owner or custodian of a seized dog or cat may claim and redeem the animal prior to sale, adoption or other disposition during the normal business hours of the seizure facility. No animal can be claimed or taken back without proof of current vaccination or payment of the applicable vaccination fee. Fees for the re-entry of animals may not exceed the fees provided for all purposes in the Schedule of Fees annexed to these Rules and set out in this Regulation; however, such fees may be amended from time to time with the approval of the Court of Commissioners. Community cat sitters are allowed to exchange confiscated community cats without paying a restocking fee. F. Anyone may pick up any stray dog or cat for which the animal control officer is authorized and hand it over to an animal control officer. As it stands, Copeland said his office is handcuffed to respond to numerous complaints. Copeland said the new measures block potential frivolous claims, such as a neighbor filing a fake complaint against someone he doesn`t like. All dogs and cats 4 months of age or older must have an up-to-date rabies vaccine and county license.
The rabies label provided by your veterinarian is NOT a county license – the license must be purchased separately. ($500 fine for violation of the Immunization Act) ($100 fine for violation of the Licence Act) A. “Temporary ownership” means the temporary taking of property for the purpose of preventive vaccination and treatment, including humane emergency euthanasia ordered by a licensed veterinarian in case of suffering, during the period of detention of a stray animal in a garnishment facility. All stray dogs, whether or not vaccination labels are displayed; Community cats wearing earplugs must not be captured or confiscated by an animal control officer unless veterinary care is required. If a cat with ear tips is captured or confiscated by an animal control officer, it must be released immediately to the place where it was caught, unless veterinary care is required. “It can be an emotionally charged situation,” Connelly said. K. All dogs or cats, with the exception of community cats and animals under four months of age, delivered to a confiscation centre in accordance with these rules shall remain confiscated there for a period of four (4) days from the date on which the animal is collected or handed over to the animal control authority or shelter, unless it is claimed and redeemed. At the end of this period, confiscated animals that are not claimed and redeemed by the owner or guardian may be put up for adoption, sold, returned to a rescue group, returned to a foster or care group, or humanely destroyed. Community cats should be referred to return to trap sterilization. All measures regarding the care and disposal of animals seized in the seizure facility must comply with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. §§ 2131 et seq.).
N. “restraint” means the control of an animal in any of the following circumstances: a. If it is directed by a leash, leash or leash attached to a secure object or held by a person capable of controlling and directing the animal concerned (see subsection M. of this Division II.