How to Report Animal Cruelty in Maryland: Laws, Penalties, and What to Expect
June 23, 2026
Witnessing animal abuse is distressing — and knowing what to do next can feel just as overwhelming. Maryland has a clear legal framework that defines animal cruelty, empowers citizens to report it, and imposes meaningful consequences on those responsible. Whether you’ve seen a neglected dog chained outside without water or suspect something worse, you have options and your report matters.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about animal cruelty reporting in Maryland: what the law covers, who is required to report, how to file a complaint, and what happens after you do.
What Counts as Animal Cruelty in Maryland
Maryland’s anti-cruelty statutes are found under Maryland Criminal Law, §§ 10-601 through 10-627. Under the statute, “animal” means any living creature except a human being, and “cruelty” is defined as the unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering caused or allowed by an act, omission, or neglect — including torture and torment.
Maryland law prohibits a range of cruelty types, including torture (the intentional infliction of pain or suffering on an animal), neglect (the failure to provide food, water, shelter, or medical care), abuse (intentional infliction of pain or suffering), and animal fighting (breeding, training, or fighting animals for sport).
An owner or custodian of an animal may not inflict unnecessary suffering or pain upon the animal, or fail to provide it with nutritious food in sufficient quantity, necessary veterinary care, proper drink, air, space, shelter, or protection from the weather. These baseline care requirements apply to all animal owners in the state.
Not every painful interaction with an animal qualifies as cruelty under Maryland law. Sections 10-601 through 10-608 do not apply to customary and normal veterinary and agricultural husbandry practices including dehorning, castration, tail docking, and limit feeding; research conducted in accordance with protocols approved by an animal care and use committee; or an activity that may cause unavoidable physical pain to an animal, including food processing, pest elimination, animal training, and hunting.
Key Insight: If you’re unsure whether what you’ve witnessed qualifies as cruelty, report it anyway. Animal control officers and law enforcement are trained to make that determination — your job is simply to describe what you observed.
Animal fighting is treated as a particularly serious offense. A person may not knowingly attend a deliberately conducted dogfight as a spectator, and may not knowingly attend as a spectator a deliberately conducted event that uses a fowl, cock, or other bird to fight with another fowl, cock, or other bird. Even attendance at such events carries criminal penalties.
Maryland is also home to wildlife that may be affected by cruelty or neglect. If you’re interested in the broader animal landscape of the state, see our guides on venomous animals in Maryland and endangered animals in Maryland.
Who Can Report Animal Cruelty in Maryland
Any person who witnesses or suspects animal cruelty in Maryland can file a report. There is no requirement that you be a professional, a property owner, or even an adult to make a complaint. You can file an anonymous report if you’re worried about revealing your identity.
Private citizens, neighbors, passersby, and community members all have the standing to contact local animal control or the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Individuals may check the status of an existing animal complaint or report abuse or submit complaints describing what they believe to be a violation of animal laws.
Humane society officers also have enforcement authority in Maryland. If an officer of a humane society sees a person committing a misdemeanor that involves cruelty to an animal, the officer shall arrest and bring before the District Court the person committing the misdemeanor. Organizations like the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County maintain 24-hour answering services for reports of cruelty or neglect and work cooperatively with county Animal Management Divisions.
Who Is Required to Report Animal Cruelty in Maryland
While any citizen may report suspected abuse, Maryland law makes reporting mandatory for one specific group of professionals: licensed veterinarians.
As of October 1, 2017, veterinarians who have reason to believe that an animal they are treating has been subjected to cruelty or animal fighting are required to report it to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. This mandate was established through HB 1463 during the 2017 legislative session.
The report must include the nature and extent of the suspected animal cruelty or animal fighting, including any evidence or information available concerning possible previous instances of animal cruelty or animal fighting, and any other information that would help determine the cause of the cruelty and the identity of any individual responsible.
The law provides immunity from civil liability to veterinarians who report in good faith or who participate in an investigation of suspected animal cruelty or animal fighting. Veterinarians who do not report are subject to disciplinary action by the Board.
The State Board has adopted regulations to protect the identity of veterinarians who make a report and to establish conditions under which the substance of a report may be disclosed. This confidentiality protection encourages reporting without fear of professional retaliation.
Important Note: Maryland does not currently have a general mandatory reporting law that applies to all citizens or other professions (such as teachers or social workers) for animal cruelty. The mandatory requirement is specific to veterinary practitioners under the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s regulations.
How to Report Animal Cruelty in Maryland
Maryland gives you several channels for reporting suspected cruelty, so you can choose the one that fits your situation best. You can call the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Animal Cruelty Hotline at 1-800-628-0310, or file a report online with the MDA. You can also contact your local animal control agency or police department.
If you are witnessing active abuse or the animal is in immediate danger, call 911. To report active abuse, injuries, or if safety is a concern, call 911. If it is not an emergency, call the Public Safety Communications non-emergency dispatch number for your county.
When you make your report, the details you provide directly shape the investigation. Try to be as specific as possible, including details like the location where the cruelty is taking place, the type of cruelty (abuse or neglect), and names of people involved if you know them.
Some counties, such as Baltimore County, require a formal Affidavit of Complaint for non-emergency situations. The Affidavit must contain a written statement of the writer’s personal experiences with an animal or animal owner, including events witnessed firsthand. A person may not complete an Affidavit of Complaint for another person (unless the witness is under 18 years of age), and the full name and address of the complainant must be provided.
When documenting what you’ve seen, follow these steps to make your report as strong as possible:
- Write down the exact date, time, and address where the abuse occurred.
- Describe the animal in detail — species, breed if known, color, size, and any visible injuries.
- Note the names or descriptions of any people involved, if known.
- Take photographs if you can safely do so. You may include pictures regarding the incidents detailed in your affidavit, provided you are willing to testify that you took the pictures and they have not been altered.
- Avoid confronting the suspected abuser directly — your safety comes first.
Frederick County Animal Control, for example, specifically handles complaints of animal abuse and neglect such as animals without shade, shelter, or fresh water, and allegations of nuisance animals including animals at large or causing noise disturbance. Most counties across Maryland have similar animal control functions — contact your local government to find the right agency for your area.
For comparison on how neighboring states handle the reporting process, see our coverage of animal cruelty laws in Pennsylvania and animal cruelty laws in Virginia, as well as animal cruelty laws in New Jersey.
What Happens After You Report in Maryland
Once you submit a report, the receiving agency reviews the information and determines the appropriate response. Animal Services will review the complaint to determine whether violations have occurred and what civil penalties or other remedies are appropriate. Animal Services, at its sole discretion, may issue a citation for each violation.
Many county organizations work cooperatively with Animal Management Divisions and report cruelty complaints to them. The county AMD handles these calls as appropriate, sending out Animal Control Officers if needed, and in most cases follows up later to make sure the situation has been resolved.
If an animal is found to be in immediate danger during an investigation, officers have the authority to act quickly. Officers authorized to protect animals may seize an animal if necessary to protect the animal from cruelty. Seized animals are typically transported to a shelter or veterinary facility for care.
When a citation is issued, the process moves into a formal legal track. If a citation has been issued, the cited party may either pay the fine within five days or request an appeal hearing in writing within five days. Both parties will be scheduled to appear and testify before the Animal Hearing Board, and in order for the Board to uphold the charges and levy a fine, the complainant must appear.
For serious cases, law enforcement may refer the matter to the State’s Attorney for criminal prosecution. Within 24 hours after completing the investigation, the relevant authority must report to the State’s Attorney for the county in which the incident occurred. From there, charges — misdemeanor or felony — may be filed depending on the severity of the conduct.
Pro Tip: Keep a copy of your report number or any confirmation you receive. If you don’t hear back within a reasonable period and believe the situation is ongoing, you can follow up with the agency directly or contact your local SPCA for assistance.
Penalties for Animal Cruelty in Maryland
Maryland law establishes a tiered penalty structure based on the severity of the offense. Penalties depend on the severity of the crime and whether the abuser is a repeat offender, and typically fall within three categories.
The least serious category covers basic neglect and mistreatment. A person who commits a basic animal cruelty offense is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both. Montgomery County’s anti-cruelty ordinance reflects similar figures, with failing to provide proper veterinary care, food or water, proper space, or proper shelter each carrying fines of $500–$1,000 and up to 90 days imprisonment.
More serious offenses rise to the felony level. A person who commits aggravated cruelty to animals is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.
Animal fighting offenses also carry felony-level consequences. A person who violates the dogfighting statute is guilty of the felony of aggravated cruelty to animals and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both. Even attending a dogfight or cockfight as a spectator is a criminal offense in Maryland.
Maryland’s 2025 legislative session strengthened these penalties further. Legislation passed in 2025 mandates that each animal harmed in a single incident of animal cruelty be treated as a separate offense and allows each animal to be separately considered a “victim,” permitting sentence stacking under Chapter 10 of the Maryland Sentencing Guidelines. This law took effect October 1, 2025. This means a person who harms multiple animals in a single incident can now face compounding charges and consecutive sentences.
Beyond imprisonment and fines, courts have additional tools. As a condition of sentencing, the court may order a defendant convicted of animal cruelty to participate in and pay for psychological counseling, and to pay all reasonable costs incurred in removing, housing, treating, or euthanizing an animal confiscated from the defendant. Courts may also prohibit convicted offenders from owning or residing with animals for a specified period.
| Offense Type | Classification | Maximum Imprisonment | Maximum Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic neglect / mistreatment | Misdemeanor | 90 days | $1,000 |
| Aggravated cruelty | Felony | 3 years | $5,000 |
| Dogfighting / cockfighting (organizing) | Felony | 3 years | $5,000 |
| Attending a dogfight or cockfight | Misdemeanor | 1 year | $2,500 |
Maryland’s approach to animal cruelty enforcement continues to evolve. The 2025 legislative changes signal a clear direction: holding abusers more accountable, case by case and animal by animal. If you’ve seen something, reporting it is the most direct action you can take to protect an animal in need.
To see how Maryland’s laws compare with those of other states, explore our articles on animal cruelty laws in New York, animal cruelty laws in Michigan, animal cruelty laws in Ohio, animal cruelty laws in Georgia, and animal cruelty laws in Texas.