Pet stores cannot sell cats, dogs or rabbits but they may partner with rescues, shelters, and animal control agencies by allowing them to display and adopt out animals.
Image Credit: Pixabay/JACLOU-DL
In a momentous victory for animals, California Governor Gavin Newsom
signed a bill on Friday that prohibits retailers from selling dogs, cats,
and rabbits, effectively ending business dealings between pet stores and
breeding operations, including puppy mills.
Under Assembly Bill 2152, also known as “Bella’s Act,” pet stores may
partner with rescues, shelters, and animal control agencies by allowing them
to display and adopt out animals. An organization’s adoption fees must not
exceed $500, and retailers cannot collect any compensation related to these
events.
Bella’s Act seeks to close a legal loophole that enabled pet stores to
circumvent an existing ban against the retail sale of dogs, cats, and
rabbits by importing commercially-bred animals from out-of-state puppy mills
disguised as rescues and charging exorbitant four-figure “adoption fees” for
them. By requiring rescue organizations to have an on-site presence and
removing any financial incentives for pet stores, the bill makes it
extremely difficult and unprofitable to sell exploited animals from
high-volume breeders.
A.B. 2152 is named after Bella, a corgi who was born in a puppy mill and
falsely labeled as a “rescue” at a San Diego pet store, where someone paid
thousands of dollars for her. Bella endured inhumane treatment, including
being declawed, and developed serious bronchitis, requiring extensive
medical care. Although she physically recovered, Bella suffers from the
effects of severe trauma, including separation anxiety when she’s away from
her current guardian.
The new law prevents innocent dogs like Bella from “slipping through the
cracks” of the legal system by taking business away from commercial
breeders, thereby discouraging the harmful practice of churning out puppies
for profit.
Similar legislation was proposed in Chicago, where pet stores also took
advantage of a legal loophole despite a ban on selling puppy mill dogs by
importing canines disguised as rescue animals from large-scale out-of-state
breeders. At last update, the revamped law was slated to go before the City
Council for a final vote.
Lady Freethinker applauds this move by California and Governor Newsom, and
hopes to see other states and regions follow in its footsteps, including
Chicago.
Return to Companion Animal Care