1806                                    LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 406

CHAPTER 406

(House Bill 988)

AN ACT concerning

Sale of Certain Animals as Household Pets

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from offering for
sale, trade, barter , import, or exchange as a
household pet certain animals; providing that certain
persons may import certain animals; providing a certain
exemption; and generally relating to the sale of these
certain animals.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 70D(a)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1976 Replacement Volume and 1980 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 70D(c)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1976 Replacement Volume and 1980 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

70D.

(a) A person may not IMPORT INTO MARYLAND, offer for
sale, trade, barter or exchange as a household pet any live
fox, [or] skunk, RACCOON, BEAR, ALLIGATOR, CAYMAN,
CROCODILE, POISONOUS SNAKE, OR MEMBER OF THE CAT FAMILY
OTHER THAN THE DOMESTIC CAT, OR RACCOON. However, a person
may offer THESE SPECIES for sale, trade, barter , IMPORT, or
exchange to a public zoo, park, museum, or educational
institution for educational, medical, scientific, or
exhibition purposes [a fox or skunk].

(C) EXEMPTED FROM THIS SUBSECTION ARE THOSE SPECIES OF
WILDLIFE REGULATED NOT BEING KEPT AS HOUSEHOLD PETS AND
WHICH ARE INDIVIDUALLY EXEMPTED BY A PERMIT ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1981.