1356                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                        CH. 680

CHAPTER 680
(House Bill 494)

AN ACT to repeal Section 194(1) of Article 56 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement Volume and 1967 Supple-
ment), title "Licenses," subtitle "Dog Licenses in the Counties"
and to enact new Section 194(1) in lieu thereof, to stand in the
place of the section repealed, amending the dog control laws of
Harford and Cecil Counties COUNTY in order to authorize
the County Commissioners of Cecil County to enact certain
domestic animal control regulations.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 194(1) of Article 56 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1964 Replacement Volume and 1967 Supplement), title "Licenses,"
subtitle "Dog Licenses in the Counties" be and it is hereby repealed
and that new Section 194(1) be and it is hereby enacted in lieu
thereof, to stand in the place of the section repealed and to read as
follows:

194(1).

(1)    In addition to and not in substitution for any powers granted
under this subtitle, the county commissioners of Harford County by
resolution or ordinance enacted according to its usual procedure may
provide for a comprehensive system for regulation of dogs in the
county, including licensing and control of dogs. As a part of such
regulation the county commissioners may establish separate dog con-
trol districts in the county with regulations applicable solely within
the district, provide for the impounding and disposal of dogs found
to be dangerous to persons and property, and provide reasonable
penalties for violations of any regulations applicable to dogs.

(2)    It is unlawful in Harford County for any person to own or
keep a dog which disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood
in an inhabited area, or which is vicious and bites any person. Upon
the sworn complaint before the People's Court of Harford County of
any two or more persons of different households alleging that a dog
disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood in an inhabited
area of Harford County, or upon the sworn complaint of any one or
more persons that a dog is vicious and has bitten any person, a sum-
mons shall issue to the owner or keeper of such dog to appear before
the People's Court in Harford County. Upon proof that the dog dis-
turbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood in an inhabited area,
or is vicious and has bitten any person, the owner or keeper may be
required to. deliver up the offending dog to be killed in the most
humane manner possible unless he removes the dog permanently
from the neighborhood. If the owner or keeper is required to deliver
up the dog to be killed or to remove it as aforesaid, and he refuses or
fails to do so, then it is the duty of any police officer or any duly
empowered agent on behalf of the county to seize the dog wherever
it may be found and to cause it to be killed in the most humane man-
ner possible. The court may order the dog restrained or enter such
other appropriate order as the case may require. Any owner failing
to comply with the provisions of this paragraph or a court order
entered thereunder is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction