Success! California Poised to Become the First State to Ban Puppy Mills

Over 230 cities and counties across the U.S. have already banned puppy mills, but no legislation outlawing these cruel money-making machines has been approved at the state level. However, the state of California is about to change that.

Assembly Members Matt Dababneh and Patrick O’Donnell introduced the Pet Rescue and Adoption Act (AB 485) to their legislature. The act would require pet stores offering dogs, cats or rabbits for sale to obtain these animals from an animal shelter or rescue group. The California Senate passed AB 485 by a vote of 32 – 0. Governor Jerry Brown now has until October 15 to sign the bill into law.

This legislation could lead to shutting down numerous puppy, kitten and rabbit mills in the U.S.

After AB 485 was introduced, Care2 blogger and animal advocate Alicia Graef created a petition urging California lawmakers to pass the law and protect companion animals.

As she pointed out in her petition:

“Thousands of companion animals are killed in California shelters every year, while commercial breeders continue to mass produce more and more to meet the demand for puppies and kittens. It’s a vicious cycle that pet stores are supporting, but the state could soon end that.”

Her petition has garnered almost 70,000 signatures from Care2 activists.

If Governor Brown signs the bill, California will become the first state to effectively outlaw puppy mills by prohibiting pet stores from selling puppies, kittens and rabbits that don’t come from shelters or rescue organizations. Private breeders would still be permitted to sell directly to individuals.

The law, which would go into effect on January 1, 2019, also requires pet stores to maintain records showing where each animal comes from, and to display that information. A violation would carry a $500 fine.

A summary and fact sheet attached to the bill explained that the law was also intended to address the minimal standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  For example, the federal Animal Welfare Act mandates that breeders selling puppies to pet stores must be licensed and inspected by USDA, but to meet those federal standards breeders have to provide a cage that is a miniscule “six inches larger than the animal it houses and cleaned just once a week.”

Currently, 36 cities in California, including Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Francisco, already have a similar puppy mill ban in place. Numerous pet stores across the state have adopted the proposed business model, teaming up with local rescues and shelters.

As a resident of California, I have adopted all three of my cats, Snowshoe, Jaspar and Sgt. Pepper, from shelters, so I am delighted at the leadership California has shown in the fight for dismantling puppy mills. 

A huge shout-out to all the animal advocates working hard to eliminate puppy mills, including Alicia Graef and all the Care2 members who signed her petition.

Care2 is stepping up efforts to shut down puppy mills across the country. Join other Care2 members to shut down puppy mills in your state or region, or start your own petition campaign. Learn more here. 

Photo Credit: kit [/su_spoiler]