All animal owners in Columbia are subject to the Howard County Animal Control laws. Here are a few summarized requirements under Section 17.300 of the Howard County Animal Control Law:
- A pet must be on a leash and under control when not on an owner’s property.
- Owners are responsible for removing pet defecation when off their own property.
- Owners must remove an accumulation of pet defecation from their property to prevent annoying odors and rodent infestation (Animal feces is a food source for rats).
- Owners are responsible for preventing their dogs from barking to the extent that it disturbs neighbors.
Residents who have concerns about animal behavior or the care and control of animals are urged to call Animal Control for more information and enforcement of the regulations: 410-313-2780.
Are cats allowed to roam in Howard County.
Cats and dogs must be vaccinated and leashed in Howard County.
That said, there are “community” cats that are fed, fixed, vaccinated and released by community members to help control the feral cat population. Wherever people reside, there will be folks who, for one reason or another, will “dump” cats and kittens to fend for themselves. Community members often step up to get the animals fixed and vaccinated to prevent disease and unwanted pregnancies which can explode the cat population very quickly, leading to fights and unwanted behaviors like howling, spraying, aggression, and diseases like rabies and feline leukemia, etc. The community members who do these activities are often willing to work with neighbors if there are complaints to try and mitigate the concerns. Cats who are cared for in this manner also will keep the feral cat population down through territorial control.
If you would like to discuss this, feel free to contact HCCA’s covenant advisor, Debbie Nix, at 410-730-0770 or covenants@harperschoice.org. Of course, you are free to call animal control who will try to get the cats adopted out, however that is not always possible and cats do get euthanized.
I understand there is a new law being proposed that rescues must obtain a licence to operate and all cats (including community cats), must be contained behind fencing or they will not be able to obtain a licence and will be subject to hefty penalties if the rescue adopts out cats without a licence. How do you expect rescues to comply with this ridiculous modification to leash laws?
Animal control is a function of county government and is enforced under the HoCo Police Department. The Harper’s Choice Community Association has nothing to do with either the passage of animal control laws or how the county police enforces those laws.
My neighbor walks his Miniature Collie every morning at 5:30am. The dog is conditioned to bark 3 barks continuously and constantly as loud as possible at nothing during the walk. This has been a daily routine for over 6 months. It wakes me up and disturbs my sleep.
We both live in The Elms at Falls Run apartments in Ellicott City, Md. Howard County.
Does your jurisdiction have authority here?
Do I have a legal remedy?
Is the dog owner violating a law?
Contact HoCo Animal Control at 410-313-2780
Are Pitbulls allowed in this county?
Please contact HoCo Animal Control at 410-313-2780.
I’m seeing several people walking dogs without leashes on the pathways. This makes me very uncomfortable as my leashed dog is very afraid of bigger dogs. What can be done to get dog owners to abide by the leash laws?
Call the Howard County Police non-emergency number: 410-313-2200
does hoco non-emergency number have a text line?
Here’s the link to HoCo Police website. There are email options, but I don’t see anything about texting.
https://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Police/MM-Contact-Us
How many dogs can I have in my house?
Please contact HoCo Animal Control at 410-313-2780.
Are dogs allowed to be chained outside?
Please contact HoCo Animal Control at 410-313-2780.
Please tell me what is the fine for not picking up pet “poops.” Also how do you prevent and treat deer “poop” all over our yards near Columbia?
Please contact HoCo Animal Control at 410-313-2780.
Is a dog that is trained and under the control/restraint of an electronic collar (collar that has a vibration and stim/shock) in proper accordance with the leash law?
Please contact HoCo Animal Control at 410-313-2780.
Constant barking by neighbors dog,: our neighbor has 2 pit bulls, they are both left in the backyard all day, one of the pit bulls barks all day. We have not seen the owners trying to stop the dog from barking , it has caused a lot annoyance and headache. With work from home situation it has even caused work being impacted as only the dog barking is heard on the calls. In the past we have tried telling the neighbors but does not seem to have any effect. How should we escalate?
Please contact HoCo Animal Control at 410-313-2780.
I have a rude neighbor who lets his dog pee on my expensive Holly Bush. I was standing outside and I pleaded with him not to let dog pee on my plant. He was extremely mean and harassing. He said Lady there are other things for you to worry about. What if I let my dog shit on your lawn?
This person lives in the next Townhouse Community, but walks his dog in my community. The only way I could find out his address is if I follow him home.
He was so rude and harassing that it brought me to tears.
What can I do? What are my rights?
Please contact HoCo Animal Control at 410-313-2780.
I live near the path off of South Entrance road and there is tons of dog poop along the sidewalk. I spotted a person who did not pick up after her dog and captured her on video and in picture. What do I do now?
Contact HoCo Animal Control at 410-313-2780.
I live in Apartment building in Columbia, my below neighbor has 2 dogs and he lets his dogs poop and pee on his balcony and he doesnt clean up. There is a pile of smelly poop on his balcony. Eventhough, this is against lease agreement, Management hasnt done any action against the neighbor in almost 10 months. Dogs are in balcony every hour and keep barking for solid 10 minutes starting at 6.30 am.
Is there anything i can do considering management office has done nothing?
Contact HoCo Animal Control at 410-313-2780.
I have pet daycare and a kennel across the state with 35 dogs barking all day long on weekends and holidays 7 am to 7 pm nothing has been done y animal control, I was told the law has been suspended and awaiting new regulations
If you can’t get anywhere with animal control and laws are being broken, contact your county council representative and see if he/she can intervene on your behalf.