Md. Code, Criminal Law § 10-603
Md. Code, Criminal Law § 10-603
in effectSections 10–601 through 10–608 and 10–626 of this subtitle do not apply to:
(1) customary and normal veterinary and agricultural husbandry practices including dehorning, castration, tail docking, and limit feeding;
(2) research conducted in accordance with protocols approved by an animal care and use committee, as required under the federal Animal Welfare Act or the federal Health Research Extension Act;
(3) an activity that may cause unavoidable physical pain to an animal if the person performing the activity uses the most humane method reasonably available, including:
(i) food processing;
(ii) pest elimination;
(iii) animal training; and
(iv) any hunting or fishing activity completed in accordance with Title 4 or Title 10 of the Natural Resources Article or any regulations adopted under those titles; or
(4) normal human activities in which the infliction of pain to an animal is purely incidental and unavoidable.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcr§ion=10-603&enactments=falseFetched: 10/16/2026