Department of Agriculture - Regulation of Dog Breeders

HB 1551 requires dog breeders who sell or transfer puppies to the public to register annually with Maryland’s Department of Agriculture starting July 1, 2028, paying a $150 fee. Breeders must also apply for a puppy birth certificate ($50 per puppy) within 30 days of a litter’s birth starting July 1, 2029, and microchip puppies born after July 1, 2030. The bill establishes a Dog Breeder Accountability Fund, funded by these fees, to support animal shelters (50%), administrative costs (30%), and education/enforcement (20%). It prohibits selling puppies without valid registration, a birth certificate (for 2029+ births), and microchipping (for 2030+ births).