Prince Georges County Lease Law:

• It is against the law for the owner or custodian of any animal to allow the animal to run at large. Any dog or cat that is found at large may be impounded. A Violation Notice may be issued by a County Police Officer or Animal Control Officer to the owner of an animal found at large.
  Please call 301-780-7200 to report violations.
• 3-135. – Animals at large prohibited
  (a) It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any animal (including, but not limited to, any cattle, horse, mule, swine, sheep, goat, geese, ducks, chickens, dog, cat, or other animals) to permit the animal to run at large or be at large as defined in Section 3-101(7) within Prince George’s County, Maryland. At large shall also include:
• (1) The confinement or securing of an animal by any person at a location other than on the premises of its owner, custodian, or authorized agent;
• (2) Herding such animal or tying it for grazing in any street or other public place; or
• (3) The fastening or tethering of any horse or other animal on public property affixed to any standard (i.e., rail, post, fence), hydrant, shade tree, or to any box or case around such tree, or to any public ornamental tree on any street or public ground.
• (b) Any animal found at large or running at large is declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
• (c) The owner of any animal running at large shall be held strictly liable for a violation of this statute, except as provided in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this Section, and for any damages caused by said animal.
• (d) Any person who is aware of an animal running at large within the County shall report the condition by telephone at 301-780-7200. The identity of an informant under this Section shall not be disclosed except to employees of the Animal Control program and duly authorized law enforcement officers.
• (e) Any Animal Control Officer, police officer, or other agent authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this Subtitle may pursue any animal at large or running at large and may go upon any premises for impounding the animal at large or running at large. If the animal returns to the premises of its owner, the Animal Control Officer may pursue the animal upon the unenclosed exterior premises of the owner. Suppose the owner or custodian takes the animal within the enclosed interior portion of his premises. In that case, the Animal Control Officer or police officer shall direct the owner or custodian to surrender the animal for impoundment. No person, after having been directed by an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer to surrender an animal for impoundment, shall fail to surrender the animal immediately. Failure to surrender an animal for impoundment upon demand by an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer is a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, the violator may be punished by a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days in the County Detention Center, or both. In addition to the criminal penalty hereby imposed, the Commission may impose civil penalties pursuant to Section 3-110 and Section 3-116 herein.
• (f) Any animal is considered at large if it is outside the owner’s premise and not leashed, unless it is a service animal, is in an animal exercise area, or is participating in an approved activity such as undergoing obedience training or engaged in the sport of hunting in authorized areas and supervised by a competent person.
• (g) No animal running at large by accident with a person in immediate pursuit of it shall be deemed to be at large, running at large, or a stray.
• If you wish to report an animal at large, please contact Prince George’s County Animal Control directly at 301-780-7200.

When to call Animal Control

          The Animal Services Division (ASD) responds to calls from citizens and residents regarding the following concerns:

• Cruelty complaints
• Dead animals on County roadways. Deceased animals on State roadways should be reported to (301) 513-7300. For deceased animals on park property, call (301) 627-7755.
• Injured animals
• Nuisance animals or animals running at large
• Sick animals
• Vicious animals

 Note:

• The Animal Services Division does not address concerns with sick or injured wild animals, including deer. Residents should call the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Services, Toll-free in Maryland: 1-877-463-6497 (available Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm). If there is a wildlife emergency outside of these business hours, contact the Natural Resources Police 24-hour dispatch number at 410-260-8888. For more information on what to do if you see a sick or injured wild animal, please access the Department of Natural Resources wildlife resources page here: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/sickorinjured.aspx
• Permission to trap wild animals must be obtained first from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources at 877-463-6497.