Charles County Animal Matters Hearing Board Meeting – August 4, 2026

The Charles County Animal Matters Hearing Board convened on the evening of August 4, 2026, to hear seven enforcement matters brought by Animal Control Services involving dangerous/vicious animal designations, animal-at-large incidents, dog licensing, and rabies vaccination compliance. Board members present were Christine Gonzalez, Acting Chair James Sherman, Dr. Michelle Quigley (veterinarian), Karen Williams, and Marlene Greenleaf, with staff attorneys Mark Potter and Clay Herbie and Clerk Ashley Pickerel. Testimony was limited to three minutes per speaker; the proceedings were audio and video recorded; and decisions are final and may be appealed to circuit court within 30 days under Maryland rules.

Consent Calendar

• Citations 7596 and 7628 (Animal Control vs. Laura Contreras) were resolved and dismissed because Ms. Contreras paid the citations by phone on the morning of the hearing.

Case 7603 – Animal Control vs. Jericho Sage Chorba (Turbo)

• Animal control testified that Turbo, a German Shepherd-type dog at 6997 Oakland Drive, Hughesville, had been deemed potentially dangerous and vicious on November 4, 2025, and that Ms. Chorba was fully compliant with abatements by December 8, 2025. In the new incident, Turbo jumped the fence and bit a garbage truck worker on the right hip.
• Ms. Chorba testified the escape lasted under a minute, the worker declined her offers of help and said the dog had nipped him after he grabbed its collar; she said she called the trash company twice, offered vet records, and was not contacted until a rabies follow-up call. She described prevention measures: a double fence, GPS wireless collar, correction collar, and no unsupervised outdoor time.
• Unanimous board vote: violation of 230-12.5 (dangerous and/or vicious) with a $400 fine, $300 held in abeyance for 12 months; and violation of 230-12.5 (failure to comply with Charles County animal regulations on keeping a dangerous animal) with a $400 fine, $300 held in abeyance for 12 months. Total due: $200 within 45 days.

Cases 7620 & 7621 – Animal Control vs. Carlos Gutierrez (Gucci and Gina)

• Animal control testified that on May 28, 2026, two female pit bull-type dogs, Gucci and Gina, broke through a shared fence at 2007 Wakefield Circle and attacked Silk, a 14-year-old Yorkie. Silk required two veterinary visits, surgical drainage, and drains placed.
• Neighbors Olivia Gillis and Sheila Boyd testified this was the second time the dogs had breached the fence to reach Silk and asked that the dogs be removed or secured if the owner could not be responsible. They confirmed Mr. Gutierrez took responsibility and paid all of Silk's vet bills.
• Mr. Gutierrez testified the dogs are indoor dogs, got out because he accidentally left a door open, crawled under a rotted wire fence rather than chewing through it, and have never bitten anyone. He said he repaired and reinforced the fence and paid all medical bills. He acknowledged the dogs lacked county licenses at the time; rabies vaccinations were given August 2, 2026, after the incident.
• Unanimous votes on both citations: violation of 230-10.A (individual license) $50; 230-12 (animal at large) $50; 230-9A (proof of current rabies vaccination) $0; 230-12.5 (dangerous) $500; all $600 per citation held in abeyance for 12 months; all abatements except F. The board explained the dangerous designation was based on the attack and serious injury to Silk, not on breed.

Case 7622 – Animal Control vs. Alfred A. Harley (Lexi)

• On June 15, 2026, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Lexi, a husky-type dog, ran at large and attacked Serenity, a leashed Shih Tzu being walked by Owen Moore on Tottenham Drive in White Plains. Serenity was humanely euthanized on June 18, 2026, due to her injuries.
• Mr. Moore testified the owners were present and searching for Lexi but did not grab the dog during the attack; he said he pulled Serenity away and later sent the vet bill by certified mail with no payment response.
• Mr. and Ms. Harley testified Lexi slipped past the door, they immediately pursued and warned Mr. Moore to pick up his dog, telling him Lexi was “not good with small animals.” They said they offered to pay the vet bill but never received it, and they obtained a rabies vaccination, county license, and microchip on June 25, 2026.
• Unanimous amended vote: NOT in violation of the animal-at-large charge because the owners were actively in pursuit; violation of 230-10.A ($0), 230-9A ($0), and 230-12.5 dangerous ($500), with the full $500 held in abeyance for 12 months and abatements E1–E8, G, H. The board encouraged the parties to resolve the vet bill privately, noting it could not order restitution.

Case 7624 – Animal Control vs. Alison D. Gonzalez (Corey)

• On July 9, 2026, Corey, a chow-type dog, slipped his collar and bit Rocky, a leash-walked white poodle mix, at 310 Carolyn Drive in La Plata; Rocky suffered a puncture to his withers. The victim, Denine Graves, was subpoenaed but did not appear due to a stated medical condition.
• Ms. Gonzalez testified Corey had slipped his collar before but had never attacked another dog; she obtained a Charles County license on August 4, 2026, and said she would use a harness going forward.
• Unanimous vote: violation of 230-10.A (license) $0; violation of 230-12.5 (potentially dangerous) $250, all held in abeyance for 6 months; abatements E3 (secure collar/harness, attended by the owner) and E5C (muzzle when walked).

Cases 7625 & 7626 – Animal Control vs. Janine Marie Tredick (Sully and Skippy)

• On June 25, 2026, Sully, a bloodhound-type dog, and Skippy, a black terrier-type dog, escaped a dilapidated fence at 9 Jenkins Drive in Indian Head. Skippy attacked Goose, a cat owned by Dylan Craven (described in the contact report as an adult male domestic shorthair; Mr. Craven referred to him as a small kitten); Goose died of his injuries.
• Mr. Craven, a former dog trainer and behavior specialist, testified the dogs jumped a four-foot chain-link fence leaning at a 45-degree angle, the fence was not repaired until the day before the hearing, and one of his other cats was also chased.
• Ms. Tredick testified she was not present at the time, apologized, and had since licensed both dogs (licenses issued July 23, 2026) and taken steps to prevent further escapes.
• Citation 7625 (Sully): violation of 230-10.A ($0) and 230-12 animal at large ($50); $50 due within 30 days.
• Citation 7626 (Skippy): violation of 230-10.A ($0), 230-12 ($50), and 230-12.5 ($250) for a total of $300; $150 held in abeyance for 6 months and $150 due within 30 days; all abatements except F. The board confirmed at the close of the case that Skippy's designation was “dangerous.”

Cases 7632, 7633, 7634 – Animal Control vs. Jamal W. Farmer (three dogs)

• On May 28, 2026, three pit bull-type dogs from 220 Gardner Avenue jumped the fence into the yard of 219 Compton Road and attacked Jackal, an Airedale Terrier, in his own yard. Jackal suffered multiple punctures and lacerations requiring over 30 staples, sutures, and a penrose drain (WeCare medical report entered as evidence).
• Mr. Farmer did not appear; the board proceeded in his absence. He had told animal control he was moving the dogs out of the county, and their current whereabouts were unknown.
• For each citation (7632 for Princess, 7633 for Brown Sugar, 7634 for the third dog): violation of 230-9A (failure to provide proof of rabies) $150 and violation of 230-12.5 (dangerous) $250, totaling $400 per citation, payable within 30 days; all abatements except F; each citation referred to the State's Attorney's Office for failure to appear. The board noted the dangerous designation may carry over to the dogs' new jurisdiction, but enforcement would depend on identifying their location.

Key Outcomes

• Six cases were decided on the merits by unanimous votes, and one case (Contreras) was resolved by payment.
• Fines due now: Chorba $200 (45 days); Tredick $50 (Sully) and $150 (Skippy) (30 days); Farmer $1,200 total for three citations (30 days).
• Fines held in abeyance: Chorba $600 (12 months); Gutierrez $1,200 total (12 months); Harley $500 (12 months); Gonzalez $250 (6 months); Tredick $150 for Skippy (6 months).
• Dangerous designations issued for Gucci, Gina, Lexi, Skippy, and Farmer's three dogs; potentially dangerous designation for Corey.
• Abatement packages include microchipping, spay/neuter, secure enclosures, signage, muzzling, and compliance checks by Animal Control.
• The next board meeting was scheduled for August 18, 2026, and the meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote.