Maryland

Updates about legal issues facing animals in the state

The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, state and local levels to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals.

Animal Protection Laws Ranking

Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes its U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report. Each state is ranked based on 20 different categories of animal protection.

Maryland
Overall Rank: #32 (Middle Tier)

Legislative Session

Active Legislation

Traveling Animal Act Ban (Maryland) ​

Traveling Animal Act Ban (Maryland) ​

H.B. 379/S.B. 0547
This bill would prohibit the participation of a bear, cougar, elephant, jaguar, leopard (excluding clouded leopards), lion, nonhuman primate, tiger, or any hybrid of these animals in a traveling act in Maryland.
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Ending the Intensive Confinement of Hens Used in the Egg Industry (Maryland)

S.B. 193/H.B. 357
This bill would require that eggs produced or sold in Maryland meet cage-free standards

Active Cases

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Take Action

Take action now to help animals in your state.

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Maryland: Help protect hens today!

Ask your state representatives to support and co-sponsor legislation to prohibit the surgical declawing of cats in New Jersey. Help end this cruel practice today!
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Stop Ag-Gag Laws

Undercover investigations and whistleblowers have exposed some of the worst aspects of factory farming, but Ag-Gag laws punish people who speak out about cruelty in animal agriculture. Voice your opposition.
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No More Puppy Mills

Puppy mill operators maximize their profits by producing large numbers of puppies as quickly as possible. As a result, unsanitary conditions, disease, and neglect are rampant. Sign our pledge to boycott puppy mills. Together we can end cruel puppy mills.
Passing Local Legislation: Retail Pet Sale Ban

Passing Local Legislation: Retail Pet Sale Ban

In this free webinar, we walk you through the basics of how to pass a retail pet sale bans in your community — a powerful way to fight back against puppy mills.
Passing Local Legislation: Prohibiting Animals in Circuses and Traveling Shows

Passing Local Legislation: Prohibiting Animals in Circuses and Traveling Shows

This webinar will focus on passing a local prohibition on animals used in circuses and other traveling shows.

Recent Victories

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Cat Declawing Ban (Maryland)

SB 67/HB 22
Maryland has become the second U.S. state to ban declawing, a surgical procedure in which all or part of the last bone in a cat’s toes is amputated. Declawing can have lifelong medical implications and adversely affect behavior.
Prosecution for Maryland Dog Freezing to Death

Prosecution for Maryland Dog Freezing to Death

The Animal Legal Defense Fund funded the necropsy of an elderly dog named Oscar, who died sometime between December 30, 2017, and January 1, 2018, when he was kept outside of his owner's home in Baltimore County, Maryland, in 20-degree weather.
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Challenging the Treatment of Captive Animals at Deer Haven Mini Zoo

The Animal Legal Defense Fund announced its intent to sue Deer Haven Mini Zoo in Keymar, Maryland, for violations of the federal Endangered Species Act and state animal cruelty laws.
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Ending Cownose Ray Killing Contests (Maryland)

Cownose Ray Fishery Management Plan and Moratorium on Contests (SB 143/HB 213)
The Animal Legal Defense Fund was a member of a coalition supporting legislation to enact a moratorium on cownose ray killing contests in Maryland.