(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "Dangerous dog" means a dog that: (i) without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or (ii) is determined by the appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation under subsection (c) of this section to be a potentially dangerous dog and, after the determination is made: 1. bites a person; 2. when not on its owner's real property, kills or inflicts severe injury on a domestic animal; or 3. attacks without provocation. (3) (i) "Owner's real property" means real property owned or leased by the owner of a dog. (ii) "Owner's real property" does not include a public right-of- way or a common area of a condominium, apartment complex, or townhouse development. (4) "Severe injury" means a physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery. (b) This section does not apply to a dog owned by and working for a governmental or law enforcement unit. (c) An appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation may determine that a dog is potentially dangerous if the unit: (1) finds that the dog: (i) has inflicted a bite on a person while on public or private real property; (ii) when not on its owner's real property, has killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal; or (iii) has attacked without provocation; and (2) notifies the dog owner in writing of the reasons for this determination. (d) A dog owner may not: (1) leave a dangerous dog unattended on the owner's real property unless the dog is: (i) confined indoors; (ii) in a securely enclosed and locked pen; or (iii) in another structure designed to restrain the dog; or (2) allow a dangerous dog to leave the owner's real property unless the dog is leashed and muzzled, or is otherwise securely restrained and muzzled. (e) An owner of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog who sells or gives the dog to another shall notify in writing: (1) the authority that made the determination under subsection (c) of this section, of the name and address of the new owner of the dog; and (2) the person taking possession of the dog, of the dangerous behavior or potentially dangerous behavior of the dog. (f) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $2,500.
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