Committee backs changing stray‑animal hold from five to three days with clarifying amendments

The Montgomery County Public Safety Committee discussed Bill 27‑24, a committee‑sponsored measure to reduce the period an impounded, unidentifiable (“stray”) animal is held before becoming county property from five days to three days, and agreed to staff recommended clarifying amendments.

Under current county code, an impounded animal becomes county property if not redeemed by its owner within five days of notice. Council staff presented the bill’s changes and the supporting analyses: the fiscal impact statement forecast no change in county revenue or expenditures, and the economic and climate assessments found negligible effects. The racial equity and social justice (RESJ) analysis noted a potential disparate impact on persons of color, who may have less flexible work schedules and less awareness of local legal notice procedures, and recommended additional outreach if the hold period is shortened.

Council staff described two staff amendments discussed at the meeting. First, staff advised against language that would have altered appeal rights tied to seizure notifications; the county attorney’s office said seizure and due‑process pathways are already triggered by separate legal notice once an animal is seized. Staff recommended retaining existing due‑process protections rather than creating a confusing two‑day appeal window. Second, staff proposed defining “stray” and placing the three‑day hold in a separate stray‑animal section so animals whose owners cannot be identified are treated consistently with state law and county practice.

Office of Animal Services staff described administrative updates tied to the bill: owner notification would include first‑class mail to the owner’s last known address, door posting and website posting in lieu of or in addition to newspaper notice. Presenters noted that after three days most animals remain unclaimed in practice and that shortening the stray hold to three days should allow the shelter to move animals more quickly into medical care and adoption processes, potentially reducing average length of stay in the shelter by a small number of days.

Committee members asked whether shortening the hold would trigger due‑process concerns in seizure or dangerous‑animal cases; staff said seizure and cruelty processes follow separate statutory tracks with their own notice and appeal timelines and that the amendments would not alter those existing protections. Committee members also discussed outreach options in response to the RESJ analysis; staff suggested publicizing the change on the Office of Animal Services and Adoption Center website and through other channels.

The committee indicated support for the staff amendments (defining “stray,” keeping seizure due‑process intact and clarifying notifications) and for moving forward with the three‑day hold for animals whose owners cannot be identified. Committee members said they would monitor impacts and revisit the measure if problems arise. No formal roll‑call vote was recorded during the briefing; staff and the department will implement the amended language for the bill packet.