(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 otherwise being situated in Maryland shall be
protected from intentional cruelty, but that no person shall be liable for criminal
prosecution for normal human activities to which the infliction of pain to an animal is
purely incidental and unavoidable.]

59.

(A)(1) A PERSON MAY NOT:

(I) OVERDRIVE OR OVERLOAD AN ANIMAL;

(II) DEPRIVE AN ANIMAL OF NECESSARY SUSTENANCE;

(III) CAUSE, PROCURE, OR AUTHORIZE AN ACT PROHIBITED IN ITEM
(I) OR (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH;

(IV) WITH THE CHARGE OR CUSTODY OF AN ANIMAL AS OWNER OR
OTHERWISE, INFLICT UNNECESSARY SUFFERING OR PAIN UPON THE ANIMAL, OR
UNNECESSARILY FAIL TO PROVIDE THE ANIMAL WITH NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN
SUFFICIENT QUANTITY, NECESSARY VETERINARY CARE, PROPER DRINK, AIR SPACE,
SHELTER, OR PROTECTION FROM THE WEATHER; OR

(V) KNOWINGLY ATTEND A DELIBERATELY CONDUCTED

DOGFIGHT AS A SPECTATOR.

(2) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SUBSECTION IS GUILTY OF A
MISDEMEANOR AND IS SUBJECT TO:

(I) A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $1,000 OR IMPRISONMENT NOT
EXCEEDING 90 DAYS OR BOTH; AND

(II) AS A CONDITION OF SENTENCE, PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING
THAT IS TO BE PAID FOR BY THE DEFENDANT.

(B) (1) A PERSON MAY NOT:

(I) INTENTIONALLY MUTILATE, TORTURE, CRUELLY BEAT, OR

CRUELLY KILL AN ANIMAL;

(II) CAUSE, PROCURE, OR AUTHORIZE THE CRUEL KILLING OR
INTENTIONAL MUTILATION OF AN ANIMAL;

(III) USE OR ALLOW A DOG TO BE USED IN OR ARRANGE OR

CONDUCT A DOGFIGHT;