Tenant Fined $1,000 for Keeping Pets Without Rabies Shots

The DOHMH issued a violation notice to tenant for keeping a mixed-breed pitbull dog and a cat without having the animals immunized against rabies. Tenant argued that they weren’t her pets. The ALJ ruled against tenant and fined her $1,000. Tenant appealed and lost. Tenant claimed that a neighbor left the dog in her care while he was away on a family emergency. She also claimed that she was taking care of her daughter’s cat briefly while the daughter was moving. ECB found that tenant was responsible whether she owned or “harbored” a dog or cat that was at least four months old and didn’t have rabies shots. Tenant presented no proof that either animal had received shots either at the hearing or on appeal.

Matthews: ECB App. No. 1400077 (3/27/14) [1-pg. doc.]