Queen Anne's County, MD Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Section 9-20 of the Queen Anne's County Code names no breed. A dangerous animal is any animal that has engaged in one of five behaviors: inflicted serious physical injury or death to a human without provocation; inflicted injury of any kind on a human being in more than one incident, without provocation, off the property of the owner or custodian; killed a domestic animal, domesticated livestock, or livestock off the property without provocation; attacked and caused injury to a domestic animal, domesticated livestock, or livestock two or more times off the property without provocation; or is owned, trained, or harbored primarily or in part for animal fighting. The label applies to any animal, not only dogs.

The definition excludes an animal that inflicted threat, injury, or damage on a person who was committing a willful trespass or other tort on the premises, was teasing, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the animal, had in the past been observed or reported doing so, was committing or attempting a crime, was injured because the animal was protecting its young or other animals, or was injured because the animal was responding to its own pain or injury.

The Manager can classify an animal allegedly exhibiting dangerous behavior as potentially dangerous and seize it. As soon as practicable the Commission holds a hearing where the owner or custodian appears, and it decides expeditiously, based on all evidence including the nature of the animal. If it finds the animal dangerous, the Commission can set conditions for release, direct that the animal be removed and rehomed, direct that it be held for further evaluation, or direct that it be euthanized. Seized animals are held and redeemed under § 9-23, and a person cannot refuse to surrender a potentially dangerous animal to an Animal Control Officer.

Registration follows. A dangerous animal must be registered with Animal Services before redemption from impoundment, or within five days of the Commission's decision if not impounded, and the registration is renewed annually for not less than five years. Owners who move to the County with an animal deemed dangerous by another jurisdiction must register it, and the owner must immediately notify the Animal Control Office if the animal becomes at large. An owner who fails to provide proof of compliance, misses the hearing, or fails to redeem within 72 hours of notice risks euthanasia upon Commission approval after a hearing.