2528

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 482

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, except
that animals in the possession of medical and scientific research
facilities may not be removed therefrom without the prior review
and recommendation of the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene, Division of Veterinary Medicine. The Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene shall conduct an investigation within
24 hours of the receipt of a complaint and shall, within 24 hours
of the investigation, report to the State's Attorney of the
county in which the facilities are situated. 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 OR BY AN ORGANIZATION APPROVED BY THE BALTIMORE
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

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