502                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 239

194.

(e) The boards of county commissioners of Allegany, Charles,
St. Mary's and Carroll counties are hereby authorized and em-
powered, in order to safeguard the health, safety and public welfare
of the residents of such counties to pass rules, regulations or reso-
lutions for the purpose of carrying out the powers hereinafter
granted, provided that such rules, regulations or resolutions shall
contain proper standards for the exercise of the discretion con-
tained herein, and shall operate uniformly. The said rules, regu-
lations or resolutions shall provide for the sale of dog licenses in
said county, the keeping of records of all sales, the designation of
persons authorized to sell such licenses, the taking into custody
and disposition of any dogs found running at large within the
limits of such county with power to delegate by written contract
the enforcement of such rules, regulations or resolutions, provided,
however, in any such contract said boards of county commissioners
shall reserve the right to cancel, without notice or recourse, such
delegation for stated cause or on thirty days notice without cause.
Before the county commissioners shall proceed to enforce any rule,
regulation or resolution, passed in pursuance of the provisions of
this section, advertisement of such rule, regulation or resolution
shall be made in some newspaper of general circulation published
in such county once each week for four (4) successive weeks, in
order to provide any person, firm or corporation adversely affected
thereby an opportunity to be heard by the county commissioners
in opposition to the adoption of such rule, regulation or resolution.
The said boards of county commissioners are further authorized
and empowered to enter into a contract with any animal welfare
or humane society of any other individual, association or corpora-
tion specially qualified for the purposes hereinafter set forth, for
the establishment of a dog pound, and for the collection, disposi-
tion and destruction of stray, injured and sick dogs. Notwith-
standing the provisions of Section 195 of this article, said county
commissioners may in their discretion use all or any part of the
dog license tax for the establishment of said pound, and for the
collection or destruction of said dogs.

(i)

(1)  The county commissioners of Charles, St. Mary's and
Washington counties are authorized and empowered by rule, regu-
lation or resolution to provide that owners of dogs in the county
shall not permit the dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to run
at large off the premises of the owner, except when it is under
the control of the owner or an authorized agent of the owner by
leash, cord or chain, provided that the following dogs may be
permitted to run at large when accompanied by the owner or an
authorized agent and when kept within sight or calling distance:

1.  Dogs proved to be obedient, in accordance with any regula-
tion or resolution of the county commissioners.

2.  Dogs being used for hunting, or trained for hunting, and

3.  Dogs being accompanied by the owner on horseback.

(2)  The county commissioners by rule, regulation or resolution
may provide for investigation of reports of violations of para-
graph (1) and for enforcement of the provisions of this subsection.