California Introduces New Legislation to Strengthen Its Puppy Mill Ban - National Humane Education Society
Update (9/25/20): Governor Newsom signed AB 2152 on 9/18/20.
Paws Up!
April 23, 2020
To California’s Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell (D) and Assemblyman Todd Gloria (D) for sponsoring additional legislation to help close loopholes in the state’s current puppy mill ban.
California legislators started the process to help put an end to fueling puppy mills back in 2017 by introducing a bill that would prohibit their retailers. This bill states that pet stores are only allowed to acquire their cats, dogs, and rabbits from animal shelters, humane societies, rescue groups, and animal control agencies. It was signed into law October 2017 and went into effect January 2019.
Since its passage, a new problem emerged because of the insatiable greed of puppy mill owners. A puppy mill broker in Iowa evaded California’s ban by masquerading as a rescue group. Last year, Iowa’s Attorney General sued and shut down the suspected puppy laundering ring–Hobo K-9 Rescue in Britt, Iowa, and Rescue Pets Iowa Corp. They were both created and used as a front to carry out selling dogs for J.A.K’s Puppies Inc., a for-profit breeder, located in Britt, Iowa. It is assumed at least 3,600 puppies were transferred to retailers in Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and California from 2016-2019 with the premise that they were from a so-called “rescue.”
In order to combat this new form of deception, California Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell has sponsored Assembly Bill 2117 that would remove humane societies and rescue groups as sources from which retailers could acquire animals. Any retailer found guilty of selling dogs from a puppy mill would face a misdemeanor charge. Additionally, Assemblyman Todd Gloria has gone a step further by sponsoring Assembly Bill 2152. AB 2152 would remove retailers from profiting from the sale of any dog, cat, or rabbit, altogether by only allowing them to provide a space for rescue groups, animal control agencies or shelters, the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, and humane societies so that they can showcase their animals for adoption. Retailers would not receive any monetary funds for this provision and any violation would result in a misdemeanor charge.
Take Action: Californians, if you believe that stricter steps need to be taken to ensure puppy mills are deterred, contact your representative today to help create a more humane world for the many companion animals who are suffering for profit.
