District of Columbia · D.C. Code — Title 22, Criminal Offenses and Penalties
D.C. Code Title 22 § 22-1012: Abandonment of maimed or diseased animal; destruction of diseased animals; disposition of animal or vehicle on arrest of driver; scientific experiments
What this law says, in plain English
A person who owns or possesses a maimed, diseased, or disabled animal and abandons it or leaves it in a public place for more than 3 hours after notice is guilty of a misdemeanor. Humane officers may destroy such animals and take custody of animals from arrested persons.
Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.
MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.
This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.