Overview
- The council approved a four-bill package in a unanimous vote following a high-profile Halethorpe hoarding case, with the new rules slated to take effect in about two weeks.
- The laws set basic care standards for pets, including required shelter in harsh weather and access to veterinary treatment.
- One bill adopts the Dunbar Bite Scale, a standard way to grade the severity of dog bites so officers and the Animal Hearing Board can better judge risk and act on dangerous animals.
- Another measure creates a reckless animal owner designation, where two violations in two years trigger a four-year ban on owning animals.
- A separate bill speeds up Animal Hearing Board cases that previously could take about 65 days, giving Animal Services faster tools to resolve disputes and protect public safety.