1990                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 647

for their protection at the time of conviction. Whenever it
becomes necessary, in order to protect any animal from
neglect or cruelty, any officer or authorized agent of an
animal humane society or any police officer or other public
officials charged with the protection of animals may take
possession of it. If an animal is impounded, yarded or
confined and continues without necessary food, water or
proper attention, or is cruelly treated or neglected, any
officer or authorized agent of an animal humane society or
any police officer or other public officials charged with
the protection of animals may enter into and upon any place
in which the animal is impounded, yarded or confined and
supply it with necessary food, water and attention so long
as it there remains, or, if necessary, for the health of the
animal, may remove the animal, and not be liable to any
action for that entry. In all cases the owner or custodian
of that animal shall be notified of that action and any
administrative remedies which may be available by the person
taking possession of the animal. The owner or custodian may
file within ten days, if no administrative remedy is
available, a petition for return of the animal in the
District Court of the county in which the removal occurred.
If the owner or custodian is notified and fails to file the
petition within the time prescribed, or if the owner or
custodian is unknown and cannot with reasonable effort be
ascertained for a period of 20 days, the animal shall be
held to be an estray and be dealt with as such, provided,
however, that nothing in this section shall be construed as
permitting the entry into a private dwelling or as
permitting the taking of a farm animal without prior
recommendation of a licensed veterinarian. IN BALTIMORE
COUNTY, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE ENFORCED BY
THE BALTIMORE COUNTY BUREAU OF ANIMAL CONTROL.

67A.

Any authorized director of a State—chartered humane
society when accompanied by a sheriff or one of his
deputies, after having given prior written notice of the
time and date to the owners or occupants of the premises,
may visit and inspect the premises where any person is
engaged in the business of buying, selling, trading, or
breeding dogs, or the premises of any kennels where
twenty-five or more dogs are kept, for the purpose of
determining if there is inhumane treatment of dogs therein
which is prohibited by this subtitle or any other applicable
law. This section does not apply to any premises (1) on
which the keeping or breeding of dogs is solely for the
purpose of medical or related research or laboratory tests;
(2) operated by a licensed and regularly practicing
veterinarian; or (3) on which hunting dogs, are housed, if
the buying, selling, trading or breeding is incidental to
the main purposes of housing, keeping and using dogs. In
Baltimore City the provisions of this section shall be
enforced by the Baltimore City Health Department. IN
BALTIMORE COUNTY, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE
ENFORCED BY THE BALTIMORE COUNTY BUREAU OF ANIMAL CONTROL.