§ 12-2-201. LICENSE - REQUIRED; EXCEPTIONS.

(a)

In general. Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a person who owns a dog or cat shall have the dog or cat licensed as provided in this title when the dog or cat reaches 4 months old.

(b)

Exceptions - In general. This section does not apply to a dog or cat included as part of:

(1)

A commercial kennel, fancier kennel or cattery, or pet shop;

(2)

A research institute where bona fide medical or related dental, veterinarian, pharmaceutical, or biological research is being conducted; or

(3)

Any animal shelter operated by the state or local government, or which is licensed by federal law or which is excluded from holding facility licensing requirements of this article.

(c)

Same - Animal in the county less than 30 days.

(1)

This section does not apply to a dog or cat belonging to a nonresident of the county and kept within the boundaries of the county for 30 days or less.

(2)

A dog authorized to be in the county as provided in this subsection shall at the time of entry into the county have been properly vaccinated against rabies and, while kept within the county, shall meet all of the requirements of this article.

(1988 Code, §§ 6-111, 6-114) (Bill No. 3-00, § 4, 7-1-2004; Bill No. 63-01, § 2, 8-10-2001; Bill No. 7-08, § 3, 3-30-2008)

  Annotation- Section 6 of Bill 63-01 states: "[i]t is the intention of this Act to require the owner or custodian of farm cats to obtain a license for each cat as if the cat were a domestic animal."