Bill > S460

This bill aims to prevent animal suffering by addressing irresponsible breeding practices. The key provisions are: 1. Expanding the kennel licensing requirements to include residential properties with one or more dogs bred on the premises. 2. Mandating annual inspections of licensed kennels to ensure safe, sanitary, and humane conditions, and prohibiting the issuance of kennel licenses to individuals convicted of certain animal cruelty offenses. 3. Requiring kennel licenses to be valid for no more than one year and setting a minimum license fee of $100. 4. Requiring pet shops to inform recipients of the responsibility to license their dogs within two weeks of transfer. 5. Increasing penalties for operating a kennel without a license or while a license is suspended, including fines and potential relinquishment of dogs. 6. Prohibiting the sale or transfer of dogs and cats under 8 weeks of age, and limiting the number of litters a dog or cat can produce to 6 over its lifetime.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S460