• Review any achievements made in the past 20 years in combating substandard canine breeding practices;
• Identify and assess current efforts being taken in the State, other states, and the federal government to address substandard canine breeding practices;
• Identify nongovernmental comprehensive standards for canine breeding and tour facilities in full compliance with those standards;
• Determine if any gaps exist between current State, federal, and nongovernmental comprehensive standards for canine breeding;
• Recommend actions necessary to harmonize canine breeding standards in the State with those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); AND
• Recommend any legislative actions necessary to create standards for any person who sells or negotiates the sale or purchase of dogs in the State.
  

Membership

• Senator Benjamin F. Kramer
• Delegate Kathleen Dumais
• Steve Connelly, Assistant Secretary, Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Animal Industries and Consumer Services
• Michael Steadman, Assistant Attorney General, Maryland Department of Agriculture
• Dr. Katie Withowski, Small animal veterinarian with significant experience working with canine breeders
• Susan Sarubin, Expert in canine behavior
• Charley Hall, American Kennel Club
• Sara Yassin, Bailing Out Benji
• Lisa Radov, Maryland Votes for Animals
• Kerry Rod, American Humane
• Kathleen Summers, Humane Society of the United States
• Jeremy Krum, Attorney with a practice concentration in animal welfare law
• Jeff Shepherd, Supervisory Animal Care Specialist, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Animal Care Program
  
• Owner of a small retail pet store​