i72 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 255

upon conviction before a Justice of the Peace of Anne Arun-
del County shall be fined a sum of not to exceed Fifty Dollars
($50. 00).

Excepting as provided under Section 256B paragraph (b),
governing kennel licenses no dog shall be permitted to be at
large without wearing a collar or harness with its individual
license tag attached thereto and it shall constitute a misde-
meanor for any person, except the owner of a dog or his
duly authorized agent, to remove such tag from a dog unless
such removal be necessary because of accident or injury to
the dog, and punishable as hereinafter provided.

256G-. SEIZURE AND DISPOSITION OF UNLICENSED OR UN-
TAGGED DOGS. A peace officer or Warden or other duly au-
thorized officer whenever circumstances make it possible shall
seize any dog reasonably known to be unlicensed either on or
off the owner's premises and any such officer shall seize any
dog found at large not wearing the license tag required by
this Act.

Every dog so seized shall be properly cared for and fed at
the expense of the Dog Pound Fund until disposition is made
thereof as hereinafter directed. Provided, however, that said
officers shall not be required to take to a pound or shelter
any dog suffering from serious injury or wounds or from con-
tagious or infectious disease, and he is hereby given full
authority in his sole discretion immediately to dispose of
such afflicted dogs in, the most humane manner possible
under the circumstances.

The owner of any dog seized as above provided may redeem
it from the Warden within 96 hours from the time of its
apprehension, first, by describing it and in some fair manner,
to the satisfaction of the Warden, proving ownership, and
then by securing a current license and tag and paying a pick
up charge of Fifty Cents (50c) and the board bill at the rate
of Thirty-five Cents (35c) per day for the time the dog is held
at a duly established public pound or shelter.

If not so redeemed within the time stated or while it is
still being held and not actually sold or otherwise disposed of
by the Warden, it shall be the duty of said Warden to dispose
of said dog either by sale for not less than the amount of the
board bill to any person wishing to adopt it, or by destruction
in the most humane manner possible. Provided, however, that
the Warden shall not release to an owner a dog that has a
record or is known to be vicious excepting upon receipt of a
permit for so doing signed by the chief police authority in
said owners home community and this permit shall remain
on file with the Warden and provided further that no stray
or unlicensed dog having an infectious or contagious disease