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Maryland Department of Agriculture

Animal Shelter Standards of Care

About the minimum shelter standards

In 2017, the Maryland General Assembly passed HB 626- Agriculture - Animal Shelters - Standards of Care and Protocol Implementation and Enforcement, which required the department to develop standards of care for dogs and cats kept in: 

  1. A shelter that is owned by a county or municipality; 
  2. A shelter that a county or municipality contracts with for animal control services; or 
  3. A shelter that has received a grant from the Maryland Spay and Neuter Grant Program during the previous year. 

These standards became final April 23, 2018. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is responsible for enforcing these minimum standards. 

Read COMAR 15.01.11 Minimum Standards of Care​​ 

Filing a complaint

If you believe that an animal shelter has not satisfied the minimum standards, you may submit a complaint using the following form and selecting Animal Control Facility. Complaint Form | Maryland OneStop 

Once a complaint has been submitted, the case is a matter between the Department of Agriculture and the animal shelter. The agency may investigate the facility and work with them on a plan to remediate any deficiencies. If the facility fails to correct any deficiencies identified the agency may impose a Civil Penalty up to $500. The agency does not have jurisdiction to close a shelter or address personnel decisions. 

Note: These standards do not apply to private or commercial shelters or kennels unless they receive funding from the State Spay & Neuter Grant Program. 

Resources