Board adopts updated Chapter 7 (animals) after staff review and limited public comment

County public‑safety staff asked the board March 17 to adopt recommended revisions to Chapter 7 of the Calvert County Code, describing changes as an effort to modernize the ordinance, clarify accountability, and align local requirements with current animal‑welfare standards.

Dave McDowell, director of Public Safety, and April Coleman, deputy director (Bridal Services Division per the record), told commissioners that the updates remove ambiguities — for example, by specifying temperature thresholds for required animal care during extreme weather — and add licensing options, including a three‑year license to align with rabies‑vaccination intervals and a consolidated multi‑pet license option to reduce administrative burden for multi‑animal households. McDowell said the public hearing for the revisions had concluded and staff had received three public comments, which were reviewed.

Commissioners asked staff for examples of the weather provisions and how the new licensing categories would work. Coleman said the revisions include clear numeric thresholds (for example, a temperature threshold for cold weather care) and that the three‑year license matches rabies vaccination schedules. Commissioner Grasso confirmed staff had reviewed public comments, was satisfied comments were considered, and noted one comment was submitted anonymously. A motion to close the record and adopt the ordinance repealing and re‑readopting Chapter 7 passed on a vote of the board.

The ordinance adoption directs staff to implement the clarified enforcement and licensing procedures. The public record and staff memo will serve as the basis for enforcement and future outreach to residents about compliance.