318                               Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 248

(1951 Edition), title "Chancery", sub-title "Adoption", be and it is
hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

86. (Legal Effect of Interlocutory Decree of Adoption.) From
and after the entry of an interlocutory decree of adoption or from
and after the entry of a final decree of adoption where no such inter-
locutory decree is entered, the following legal effects shall result:

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this section, the person
adopted shall be, to all intents and purposes, the child of the petitioner
or petitioners; unless and until such interlocutory order of adoption
is revoked the person adopted shall be entitled to all the rights and
privileges and subject to all the obligations of a child born in lawful
wedlock to the petitioner or petitioners.

(b)   The natural parents of the person adopted, if living, shall
after the interlocutory decree be relieved of all legal duties and
obligations due from them to the person adopted, and shall be divested
of all rights with respect to such person; provided, that nothing in
this sub-title shall be construed to prevent the person adopted from
inheriting from his natural parents and relatives under the laws of
this or any other State.

(c)  The term "child", "heir", "issue" or [its] an equivalent in a
deed, grant, will or other written instrument shall be held to include
any adopted person, unless the contrary plainly appears by the terms
thereof, whether such instrument was executed before or after the
entry of the interlocutory decree of adoption, if any, and if none,
before or after the entry of the final decree of adoption.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1957.

Approved March 18, 1957.

CHAPTER 248
(House Bill 174)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 87B of
Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1956 Supplement),
title "Crimes and Punishments", sub-title "Cruelty to Animals",
imposing a penalty for allowing female dogs in heat to run at large
in Harford County.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 87B of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1956 Supplement), title "Crimes and Punishments", sub-title
"Cruelty to Animals", be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted,
with amendments, to read as follows:

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.