Commercial sales of dogs or cats -- Prohibited acts.

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    (a)    This section does not apply to:

        (1)    an animal welfare organization or animal control unit displaying dogs or cats for adoption or the adoption of dogs or cats from an animal welfare organization or animal control unit; or

        (2)    a dog breeder and a specific individual purchaser conducting a prearranged sale of a dog if the location of the prearranged sale is not at a regularly scheduled or recurring event.

    (b)    A person may not offer for sale, sell, offer to transfer, transfer, barter, trade, or auction a dog or cat at any public place, including:

        (1)    a street;

        (2)    a highway;

        (3)    a public right–of–way;

        (4)    a public parking lot;

        (5)    a carnival;

        (6)    a boardwalk;

        (7)    a swap meet;

        (8)    a fair; or

        (9)    a flea market.

    (c)    An animal control officer under the jurisdiction of the State or a local governing body and an officer of a society or association, incorporated under the laws of the State for the prevention of cruelty to animals, authorized to make arrests under § 10–609 of the Criminal Law Article may enforce subsection (b) of this section.

    (d)    A person who violates this section is subject to:

        (1)    for a first violation, a civil penalty not exceeding $500;

        (2)    for a second violation, a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000; and

        (3)    for a third or subsequent violation, a civil penalty not exceeding $1,500.


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