California Pet Stores Officially Only Allowed To Sell Rescue Animals
California pet stores are now required to only sell animals that come from rescue shelters or nonprofit animal groups.
The Pet Rescue and Adoption Act signed in October 2017 went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, KABC reported.
#AB485, PET RESCUE & ADOPTION ACT SIGNED! Big thanks to @JerryBrownGov & #SocialCompassioninLegislation https://t.co/R3HGn2Cvnw pic.twitter.com/eLKGGKk37Y
— Patrick O’Donnell (@AsmPatODonnell) October 13, 2017
Animals that come from breeders will no longer be allowed in pet stores.
Dogs, cats and rabbits can come from public animal control agencies, prevention of cruelty shelters, humane societies or rescue groups.
Under the law, pet stores must also post where the animal was obtained from by hanging a sign on the cage.
The law also requires pet stores to keep public records of each animal they plan to sell.
Pet stores must also provide space for the animal for at least one year, making sure they have time to find a forever home.
Until now, 36 cities in the state had similar shelter requirements including Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Pet stores who violate the law will be fined $500 for each violation, giving plenty of reason to only sell animals from the approved organizations.
“Californians spend more than $250 million a year to house and euthanize animals in our shelters,” Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell told the Associated Press.
“Protecting the pets that make our house a home is an effort that makes us all proud,” he added.
O’Donnell championed the bill that has now gone into effect throughout the state saying it is a win against “puppy mills and kitten factories,” according to KRDO.
Pet owners, however, still have the option to buy a dog, cat or rabbit from a private breeder under the law — just not from a pet store.
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