Animal Matters Hearing Board Meeting – January 20, 2026

The Charles County Animal Matters Hearing Board met on the evening of January 20, 2026, to hear four animal control citations involving dog attacks, an impounded stray, and dangerous/vicious determinations. The board approved the prior meeting's minutes by voice vote, took sworn testimony, and issued orders with fines, abatements, reimbursement obligations, and in one case rejected a proposed euthanasia order.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the previous Animal Matters Hearing Board meeting were approved unanimously by voice vote with no corrections.

Citation 7559 – Animal Control Services v. Gina Avendorf (Taz)

• Animal control officer (badge 536) testified that on January 3, 2026, at about 7:35 p.m., deputies requested a response to an aggressive canine that had broken free from a tether and attacked a person at 4025 Hanson Road in the Indian Head/White Plains area.
• Jennifer Gilliatt testified that Taz, a black-and-white male Pit Bull owned by Avendorf, broke free, grabbed her leg, dragged her down, tried to lunge at her face, and bit her arm. Photos showed a bite to her left calf treated with approximately 11 stitches; Jordan Gilliatt testified he commanded the dog to release and it ran home.
• Avendorf testified the victim knew the dog and the dog was normally friendly with her, but on the day of the attack the victim's large jacket prevented recognition; she called it a freak accident. She said Taz is an indoor dog and she has since replaced the inadequate chain with a thicker chain.
• The board found Avendorf in violation of Section 230-10A (individual license, $50 fine) and Section 230-12.5 (dangerous/vicious, $700 fine), declared Taz dangerous and vicious, suspended the $700 fine for 12 months provided Taz does not return before the board, ordered all abatements except F, and directed animal control to verify compliance. The motion passed by voice vote.

Citation 7563 – Animal Control Services v. Pablo Rojas (Rocky)

• Officer Myra Tamin (badge 533) testified she was called on December 31, 2025, by Waldorf Emergency Care about a seriously injured dog. Tanya Miles-Carvana and Angel Carvana testified their Yorkie, Biscuit, was in their fenced backyard when neighbor's chocolate Labrador Rocky broke through the fence and attacked him.
• Biscuit suffered a severe degloving wound across his back and flank, a torn urethra, and other internal injuries. The owners chose euthanasia after being told initial treatment would cost $4,000-$8,000 and eventual surgery could cost $25,000-$35,000; the neighbor paid for cremation and the initial veterinary visit.
• Pablo Rojas testified he was home at the time, did not know how Rocky escaped, has since reinforced the fence, and now keeps Rocky on a leash or supervised. The officer noted Rocky's license was expired at the time of the attack but had been renewed by the hearing date.
• The board found Rojas in violation of the individual license requirement, animal at large ($50), and dangerous/vicious ($500), with $250 of the $500 held in abeyance for six months. The clerk stated $300 was due within 30 days, Rocky was declared dangerous/vicious, and all abatements except F were ordered. The motion passed.

Citation 7572 – Animal Control Services v. Jose Aguilar (Roski)

• Animal control responded on January 11, 2026, to a stray in the Millstead Court area and identified the dog as Roski, a brown-and-white Chihuahua/Dachshund mix owned by Jose Aguilar. This was Roski's third impoundment within about three months; prior impoundments occurred October 14, 2025, and November 23, 2025.
• Aguilar's son testified with his father's consent and after being sworn as translator that Roski is normally kept inside but slips out when the door is opened; the family usually catches him but did not on the three impounded occasions.
• The board found Aguilar in violation of animal at large ($50) and the third-impoundment provision under Section 230-12.6C, imposed no additional fine for the third impoundment, and ordered the $320 reclaim/boarding fee paid to the Charles County Animal Care Center by noon the next day. The board chair warned that continued escapes could result in Roski being taken and not returned. The motion passed.

Citation 7546 – Animal Control Services v. Francois Fuentes (Diesel)

• Officer Hannah Neal (badge 539) testified that on December 25, 2025, at about 7:15 p.m., she was called to 1709 Temmie Drive in Waldorf after Diesel, an 8-year-old Staffordshire Terrier-type dog, got loose from a friend's home, entered a neighbor's house uninvited, then entered Robert Betha's garage and attacked Betha's 5-year-old husky-type dog, Nargo. Nargo suffered multiple puncture wounds; Betha was bitten on the hand while trying to separate the dogs. Blood was found in the driveway and on the car.
• Diesel was impounded the same day. Fuentes, who lives in Rockville, was cited for animal at large and dangerous/vicious. The officer detailed his prior Montgomery County history: three impoundments, two field returns, multiple citations, a 2019 neuter order upheld by a district court judge, failure to follow that order, and lack of a Frederick County license after he said he rehomed Diesel. Veterinary and shelter bills totaled $806.25 and $435, respectively.
• Fuentes testified he was out of town, apologized, took responsibility, said Diesel had not previously attacked another dog, described him as family-friendly, and asked for the dog back; he offered to have Diesel neutered if required.
• A motion to declare Diesel dangerous/vicious and to require humane euthanasia failed: 3 voted in favor, 4 opposed, 2 abstained.
• A substitute motion passed: Diesel was declared dangerous/vicious; Fuentes was found in violation of animal at large ($50) and dangerous/vicious ($350), totaling $400 in fines; all abatements except F were ordered; Fuentes was ordered to reimburse $806.25 to the emergency veterinary clinic and pay $435 to the animal care center; and animal control was directed to notify Montgomery County/Rockville animal control of the abatements. One board member abstained from the substitute motion.

Key Outcomes

• Previous meeting minutes approved.
• Taz and Rocky were declared dangerous/vicious with abatements; Rocky's $250 fine was suspended for six months and Taz's $700 fine was suspended for 12 months.
• Roski was not declared dangerous/vicious; owner fined $50 and ordered to pay $320 reclaim/boarding fee.
• Diesel was declared dangerous/vicious; euthanasia was rejected; owner must pay $400 in fines plus $1,241.25 in veterinary/shelter costs and comply with abatements, with notification to Montgomery County/Rockville.
• All board decisions are final, subject to appeal to the circuit court within 30 days under Maryland rules.