[maryland] - Elderly Unfit To Care For Pets & Failing To Admit So

Location: Frederick County, MD

I am seeking legal advice or options regarding my elderly mother and four cats she is no longer able to adequately care for, though she refuses to acknowledge this.

My mother has a long history of neglecting veterinary care for pets unless it is absolutely unavoidable. As a child, witnessed our family dog suffer and eventually die after she refused for years to follow veterinary recommendations to treat infected teeth due to cost. This pattern is continuing.

She currently has four cats confined to the upper level of a townhouse that I own. Their living conditions are poor: there are only two litter boxes for four cats, the carpet and flooring have been heavily damaged by urine, feces, and vomit, and the area has a persistent ammonia odor. Two of the cats hide constantly and appear stressed.

My mother has COPD and other serious health issues, and I am concerned about the long-term health impact of her breathing in ammonia from accumulated waste. She was recently hospitalized with pneumonia. She also admitted to me that the cats had not been fed in several days and that the litter boxes had not been cleaned in at least a week.

In addition to the significant damage to my property, I am concerned about animal neglect and my mother’s ability to safely care for these pets. She insists she is a fit pet owner and refuses to voluntarily rehome them, despite clear signs that she cannot provide adequate care.

My goal is not to punish my mother, but to ensure the cats are placed in a safe environment where they can receive proper care and to understand what legal steps, if any, I can take to protect the animals, my property, and my mother’s health.