Animal welfare regulations; keeping of dogs, cats, and rabbits.

Animal welfare regulations; keeping of dogs,cats, and rabbits; Animal Welfare Inspector. Directs the Boardof Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt comprehensive regulationsgoverning (i) the keeping of dogs, cats, and rabbits by any commercialdog breeder, dealer, pet shop, or private or public animal shelterand (ii) the keeping of companion animals by zoos. The regulationsare to require an annual $25 registration by every regulated personor facility and may establish standards that apply only to a particularcategory of regulated entity. The bill creates the position of State Animal Welfare Inspector as an employee of the Commissioner of Agricultureand Consumer Services and directs the Inspector or a representativeto conduct two annual inspections of each regulated facility. Finally,the bill directs the State Veterinarian to convene a technical advisorycommittee that includes representatives of potentially affected breeders,dealers, pet shops, shelters, agencies, zoos, veterinarians, and others, as well as representatives of the Office of the Attorney General,to assist in the development of regulations and guidance requiredby the bill.