Ch. 250

1994 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 250
(House Bill 265)

AN ACT concerning

Cruelty to Intentional Mutilation of Animals - Penalty

FOR the purpose of increasing the penalty for certain cruelty to animals offenses acts
relating to the intentional mutilation of an animal; and generally relating to the
penalty for cruelty. to intentional mutilation of animals.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments
Section 59

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1992 Replacement Volume and 1993 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

59.

(A)     Any person who (1) overdrives, overloads, deprives of necessary sustenance,
tortures, torments, cruelly beats, mutilates or cruelly kills; or (2) causes, procures or
authorizes these acts; or (3) having the charge or custody of an animal, either as owner or
otherwise, inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon the animal, or unnecessarily fails to
provide the animal with nutritious food in sufficient quantity, necessary veterinary care,
proper drink, air, space, shelter or protection from the weather; or (4) uses or permits to
be used any bird, fowl, or cock for the purpose of fighting with any other animal, which is
commonly known as cockfighting[, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not
exceeding $1,000 or by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both.

(B)     Any person who]; OR (5) (1) INTENTIONALLY MUTILATES AN ANIMAL, OR
CAUSES, PROCURES, OR AUTHORIZES INTENTIONAL MUTILATION OF AN ANIMAL;
OR (2) uses or permits a dog to be used in or. arranges or conducts a dogfight, is guilty of
a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $5,000 or by imprisonment not to
exceed 3 years, or both.

(C)     Customary and normal veterinary and agricultural husbandry practices
including but not limited to dehorning, castration, docking tails, and limit feeding, are not
covered by the provisions of this section. In the case of activities in which physical pain
may unavoidably be caused to animals, such as food processing, pest elimination, animal
training, and hunting, cruelty shall mean a failure to employ the most humane method
reasonably available. It is the intention of the General Assembly that all animals, whether
they be privately owned, strays, domesticated, feral, farm, corporately or institutionally
owned, under private, local, State, or federally funded scientific or medical activities, or

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