Allegany County, MD Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 225-7, Dogs running at large, makes it unlawful for an owner to allow a dog to be off the owner's premises unless the dog is "under restraint," a term § 225-1 defines as secured by a leash or lead, confined within a vehicle, or kept within the real property limits of its owner. The only built-in exception covers dogs accompanied by their owner or trainer and actively used or trained for hunting or police work while followed on foot, horseback or by vehicle; § 225-7 lets the Animal Shelter Manager suspend even that exception and require a leash at special crowded events.

Section 225-8 directs Animal Control Personnel to impound any dog found at large, with or without a valid license tag, at the Allegany County Shelter and confine it humanely for not less than 96 hours unless the owner claims and redeems it sooner. Section 225-9 requires the ACP to make a prompt, reasonable effort to notify the owner, and lets the owner redeem the dog by complying with the licensing provisions in §§ 225-17 through 225-19 and paying redemption fees assessed for each calendar day, or portion of a day, the dog was boarded; an owner reached the same day a legally licensed dog is picked up can reclaim it without the impounding fee.