If you witness an animal fight in progress, please call the Police Department at 911.

Report any act of cruelty* or neglect* you witness to Baltimore City Animal Control, by dialing 311.

*Neglect/acts of cruelty include, but are not limited to, the following: collars so tight that it causes a neck wound; the chain is too short or heavy for the animal to move around unencumbered, open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds; untreated skin conditions that have caused the loss of hair, extreme thinness or emaciation (bones may be visible); an owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal; animal tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water; animal outside in inclement weather without shelter; is the area littered with feces and garbage; animals caged with other animals in crowded areas and have no room to move around.

For your reference, a portion of the relevant animal Abuse Laws is located below.

Annotated Code Of Maryland 
Criminal Law Article
Subtitle 6. Crimes Relating To Animals

§ 10-601. Definitions.

(a) In general.- In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) Animal.- "Animal" means a living creature except a human being.

(c) Cruelty.-

1. "Cruelty" means unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering caused or allowed by an act, omission, or neglect.
2.  "Cruelty" includes torture and torment.

§ 10-602. Legislative intent.
It is the intent of the General Assembly that each animal in the State is protected from intentional cruelty, including animals that are:

1. privately owned;
2. strays;
3. domesticated;
4. feral;
5. farm animals;
6. corporately or institutionally owned; or
7. used in privately, locally, State, or federally funded scientific or medical activities.

§ 10-604. Abuse or neglect of animals.

(a) Prohibited.- A person may not:

1. overdrive or overload an animal;
2. deprive an animal of necessary sustenance;
3. inflict unnecessary suffering or pain on an animal;
4. cause, procure, or authorize an act prohibited under item (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection; or
5. if the person has charge or custody of an animal, as owner or otherwise, unnecessarily fail to provide the animal with nutritious food in sufficient quantity, necessary veterinary care, a proper drink, air, space, shelter, or protection from the weather.

(b) Penalty.-

1. A person who violates this section 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.
2. As a condition of sentencing, the court may order a defendant convicted of violating this section to participate in and pay for psychological counseling.

§ 10-605. Attending dogfights or cockfights.

(a) Dogfighting.- A person may not knowingly attend a deliberately conducted dogfight as a spectator. 
(b) Cockfighting.- A person 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.

(c) Penalty.-

1. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $2,500 or both.
2. As a condition of sentencing, the court may order a defendant convicted of violating this section to participate in and pay for psychological counseling.

§ 10-606. Aggravated cruelty to animals - In general.

(a) Prohibited.- A person may not:

1.  intentionally mutilate, torture, cruelly beat, or cruelly kill an animal;
2. cause, procure, or authorize an act prohibited under item (1) of this subsection; or
3. except in the case of self-defense, intentionally inflict bodily harm, permanent disability, or death on an animal owned or used by a law enforcement unit.

(b) Penalty.-

1.  A person who violates this section 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.
2. As a condition of sentencing, the court may order a defendant convicted of violating this section to participate in and pay for psychological counseling.

§ 10-607. Aggravated cruelty to animals - Certain activities related to dogfights prohibited.

(a) Prohibited activities.- A person may not:

1. use or allow a dog to be used in a dogfight;
2. arrange or conduct a dogfight;
3. possess, own, sell, transport, or train a dog with the intent to use the dog in a dogfight; or
4. knowingly allow premises under the person's ownership, charge or control to be used to conduct a dogfight.

(b) Penalty.-

1.  A person who violates this section 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.
2. As a condition of sentencing, the court may order a defendant convicted of violating this section to participate in and pay for psychological counseling.

§ 10-612. Abandoning domestic animal.

(a) Prohibited.- A person who owns possesses, or has custody of a domestic animal may not drop or leave the animal on a road, in a public place, or on private property with the intent to abandon the animal.

(b) Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100.

§ 10-618. Poisoning dog.

(a) Prohibited.- A person may not willfully and maliciously give poison or ground glass to a dog, or expose poison or ground glass, with the intent that a dog ingests it.

(b) Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 for each violation.

§ 10-623. Leaving dogs outside and unattended by use of restraints.

(a) Definitions.-

1. In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. "Collar" means a device constructed of nylon, leather, or similar material specifically designed to be used around the neck of a dog.
3. "Restraint" means a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other devices that attach a dog to a stationary object or trolley system.

(b) Prohibited.- A person may not leave a dog outside and unattended by use of restraint:

1.  that unreasonably limits the movement of the dog;
2. that uses a collar that: 
   (i) is made primarily of metal; or 
   (ii) is not at least as large as the circumference of the dog's neck plus 1 inch;
3.  that restricts the access of the dog to suitable and sufficient clean water or appropriate shelter;
4.  in unsafe or unsanitary conditions; or
5. that causes injury to the dog.

(c) Penalties.- A person who violates this section 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.