Q: In Baltimore County Md does your yard need to be fenced if you are leaving your dog out unleashed?
My neighbor thinks because the leash law only says that her dog must be leashed only when off of her property she can let it out in an unfenced yard where it isn’t contained and in my opinion not under her control because she doesn’t have it on a leash. Is that accurate??
A:
If the dog does not leave the owner's property, it does not have to be leashed. However, if the dog ventures away from the owner's property, it is a violation if the dog is not leashed.
The Baltimore County Code states:
(c)Animal at large.
(1) (i)"Animal at large" means any animal off the premises of its owner and not under the control, charge, or possession of the owner or other responsible person.
(ii)"Animal at large" includes any dog off the premises of its owner and not under the control of the owner or other responsible person by a leash, cord, or chain.
(2)"Animal at large" does not include:
(i)A dog on the premises of another property owner with the permission of the property owner or lessee;
(ii)A dog being used for hunting or being trained for hunting except within a county owned or Board of Education property;
(iii)A feral cat with an eartip; or
(iv)A dog authorized to be within the fenced area of a designated Baltimore County dog park operated by the Animal Services Division, the Department of Recreation and Parks or any other person authorized by the county.
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