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: #28 (Middle Tier)
- +Wide range of care standards/requirements including food, water, shelter, care, and space
- +Veterinarians must report suspected animal cruelty, and have immunity for doing so
- -No provisions for pre-conviction forfeiture of abused animals
- -No felony provisions for negligent or reckless animal neglect or abandonment
- -Social service professionals are not required to report suspected animal cruelty
Animal Protection Laws of Maryland
The Animal Protection Laws of Maryland compendium contains the general animal protection and related statutes for Maryland with an effective date on or before September 1, 2022.
Legislative Session
Active Legislation
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Active Cases
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Take Action
Take action now to help animals in your state.
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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.
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
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
This webinar will focus on passing a local prohibition on animals used in circuses and other traveling shows.
Recent Victories
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
State of Maryland v. Selvin Robin Gnanakkan
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.
Challenging the Treatment of Captive Animals at Deer Haven Mini Zoo
Letter of Intent to Sue Filed
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.
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.
Animal Legal Defense Fund 2022 State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report
See the best and worst states for animal protection laws