CA May Become First State To Ban Retail Sale of Puppies, Kittens - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!
September 19, 2017

The the California Legislature for passing a bill to prevent pet stores from selling commercially-bred puppies, kittens, and rabbits.

According to a recent news article,  new bill AB485 in California may stop pet stores in the state from selling commercially bred, mass-produced dogs, cats, and rabbits.  Over 200 cities and counties in the U.S. have passed ordinances to prevent pet stores from selling species of animals that are bred under cruel conditions. These cities include, Miami, Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. If passed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, California will be the first state in the U.S. to pass a statewide law banning pet stores from selling these animals. There is nothing in the law that would prohibit consumers from purchasing an animal directly from a breeder.

There are many reasons why these kinds of laws, collectively known as puppy mill bans are are a good idea. Currently, there is only one law  in the U.S., the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), that sets standards of care for animals in large-scale breeding farms. The provisions of the AWA are scant, and the law is not widely or consistently enforced. Even when USDA inspectors find irrefutable evidence of neglect in a puppy mill, the operations are seldom shut down. The puppy mills continue to sell live “inventory” to pet stores that then sell the animals as retail items to consumers. When the puppies begin to show signs of illness, they are often surrendered to animals shelters at the taxpayer’s expense.

Read a  summary and fact sheet about the bill.

Take action. California residents, contact Governor Jerry Brown and urge him to pass AB485.

Re:  AB485 to combat puppy mills in California

To The Honorable Governor Jerry Brown:

My name is {Your Name} and I am a California resident writing to express my support AB485, a bill to end the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits sourced from commercial breeders.  It is common knowledge that pet stores continue to sell commercially-bred animals sourced  from inhumane breeding operations. Not only do the offspring suffer from health problems, the breeding animals are so often doomed to a life of misery in the breeding mills. In the meantime, taxpayers pay the brunt when sick animals are relinquished to already-overburdened animal shelters. This bill is so common-sense, that over 200 cities across the U.S. have instituted similar ordinances to protect animals, taxpayers, and consumers. Please, pass AB385.

Respectfully,
{Your Name}