MONTGOMERY County, MD Animal Services Division
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE 14645 Rothgeb Drive
ANIMAL SERVICES DIVISION Rockville, MD 20850
240 773 5960
The Animal Services Division of the Montgomery County Police Department is responsible for the administration of pet license procedures and the enforcement of pet license regulations.
Which Pets Must be Licensed?
All dogs and cats that are at least four (4) months old must be licensed and continuously vaccinated against rabies.
Why License Your Pet?
It’s the law! You must license your cat or dog if it is four (4) months of age or older. Pets must wear the license tag issued by the County. The rabies tag issued by your veterinarian is NOT a County license. It protects your pet. Animal Services can use the County license tag to notify you or your family if your pet is lost or injured.
If you do not comply with the laws requiring rabies vaccinations and licensing of your pets, the following fines will apply:
Violation of Vaccination Laws $500
Violation of Licensing Laws $100
How to License Your Pet
You can purchase a license for your pet by mail or in person. The licensing office is located at the County Animal Shelter at 14645 Rothgeb Drive in Rockville and is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Whether you apply by mail or in person, you will need to provide the following:
- Completed pet registration application. You can get an application from your veterinarian or call 240-773-5933 to have one mailed to you, or download one from www.montgomerycountymd.gov and click on Departments then Police then Animal Services.
- Current rabies vaccination certificate, which must be good for at least sixty (60) days from the date you apply for a license.
- Proof of spay/neuter if your pet has been altered, or you may sign the spay/neuter affidavit on the front of the application.
- Check or money order for the license fee. Make check or money order payable to: Montgomery County.
Abandoning Domestic Animals
It is unlawful for the owner/custodian of any domestic animal to leave an animal on a street, public place, or on private property, with the intent to abandon it. Penalty for violation is up to $1,000.
Animals that have Bitten or Scratched a Human
All incidents in which an animal has bitten or scratched any person must be promptly reported to the Animal Services Division for proper investigation and quarantine. Dogs or cats must be quarantined for 10 days, subject to the discretion of the division. Owners pay quarantine expenses.
Wild animals that bite people should be captured and confined, if possible, to permit laboratory testing for rabies. Extreme caution should be used. Penalty for violation of quarantine laws is $500.
Animals at Large
An animal is at large if it is outside of the property of its owner and not leashed or otherwise restrained. This law applies only to dogs and unaltered cats. Penalty for violation: $100
Animal Defecation (“Pooper-Scooper” law)
An owner must not allow an animal to damage or defecate on property outside of the owner’s property. An animal may defecate on public property or the common area of property in which the owner shares an interest if the owner immediately removes and disposes of the feces by a sanitary method approved by the Director of the Animal Services Division. Feces may be picked up in a plastic bag. If this bag is placed inside another plastic bag, it may be put out for disposal with normal household trash. Penalty for violation: $100
Animal Trespass
An owner must not allow an animal to enter private property without the property owner’s permission. Penalty for violation: $100
Animal Noise
An owner must not allow an animal to cause noise that is loud enough and persistent enough to disturb another person’s quiet enjoyment. Penalty for violation: $100
Dogs on Schools Grounds and Recreation Areas
An owner must not allow a dog to be on public school grounds on a day when school is in session, or in a public recreation area during an organized activity, unless the dog is controlled by a leash or similar restraining device. This does not apply if the dog is participating in an activity such as obedience or agility training if the owner or sponsor of the activity has permission from the agency controlling the school or recreation area. Penalty for violation: $100
Unsanitary Conditions
An owner must not allow an animal to cause an unsanitary, dangerous, or offensive condition due to size or number of animals kept in one location, or because a facility is not appropriate for the animal or properly maintained. Penalty for violation: $100
Dangerous Animals
A person may not possess any wild animal or any animal that has been declared to be dangerous unless a waiver is granted by the Division. An animal as considered dangerous if it has, without provocation, killed or severely injured a person, if it poses a physical threat to humans because of specific training or demonstrated behavior, or if its bite is poisonous.
An animal is considered potentially dangerous if it has bitten a person either on public or private real property, or has killed or severely injured a domestic animal when not on the owner’s property, or has attacked without provocation.
Animals found to be dangerous must be kept confined in a secure enclosure to prevent direct contact with humans or others animals. They must be leashed and muzzled and under the control of a person at least 18 years old. Penalty for failing to confine a dangerous animal: $500-$2500 and/or impoundment
Proper Dog Shelter and Protection from the Elements
The Montgomery County Code requires that all animals be provided with proper shelter or protection from the elements. The Animal Services Division has established the following guidelines for proper shelter for dogs. Depending on the age, size, general physical conditions of the animal, and weather conditions, additional protection may be required.
The shelter must be weatherproof, made of solid construction with no cracks or openings other than the entrance. (Rainproof openings for ventilation are acceptable in hot weather.) It should be made of wood with no metal surfaces inside.
The floor must be of solid construction and elevated at least 2 inches off the ground. The entrance should be protected to prevent wand, rain and snow from blowing directly on the animal. This can be accomplished by (a) placing a flexible flap over the door; (b) constructing a “U” shaped baffle outside the door; or (c) placing the front of the dog house close to another building, i.e., house, barn, shed, or other solid windbreak.
The shelter should be large enough to allow the animal to stand, turn and lie down comfortably, and small enough to allow the animal to warm the interior with its body heat. Bedding must be dry. Straw, leaves, shredded paper and cedar chips make good bedding material. Rugs, cloth and blankets are not recommended, as they hold wetness and will freeze. During hot weather the animal should have access to a shaded area at all times.
Failure to provide adequate shelter and protection is punishable by a minimum $500 fine.
Investigation of Complaints
Animal Services Officers respond to and investigate public nuisance, cruelty, and vicious animal complaints. Officers enforce county and state animal-related laws.
Obedience Training
Obedience training classes for dogs of all ages are offered through the Department of Recreation. In addition, “help sessions” to correct behavior problems are also available. Call the Department of Recreation at 240-777-6900 for additional information.
Rabies Vaccination Clinics
Rabies clinics are held periodically throughout the year. Please call 240-773-5946 for information.
Emergency Rescue and Lost and Found
Trained drivers pick up sick and injured stray animals 24 hours a day. Central files, updated daily, aid in reuniting lost pets with their owners. Anyone who loses a pet or finds someone else’s pet should call the Animal Shelter.
To reclaim a lost pet, the owner must pay an impoundment and board fee and show proof of a current rabies vaccination and license. In addition, the owner may be subject to fines for noncompliance with county and state laws.
Wildlife Rescue
Office staff can provide advice on how to prevent or eliminate the attraction of nuisance wildlife. Some humane traps may be available for capturing wild animals. For information about this service, call the Department of Natural Resources at 1-877-463-6497. Animals that can be rehabilitated are cared for by trained volunteers until they can be released back into the wild.
For Services, Contact
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES DIVISION
14645 Rothgeb Drive
Rockville, MD Hours: 10AM – 5PM Monday to Saturday
Phone: 240-773-5960 Emergency: 24 hour service – 240-773-5900
