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.
What’s New…
Not before time.
Finally this law is passed. What took so long? I also feel small animals such as hamsters shouldn’t be sold in pet stores. Many children do not take care of them and even harm them, and leave them sitting in dirty smelly ammonia dealing cages because they don’t want to clean the cages. We shouldn’t breed small animals for profit.
Finally this law is passed. What took so long? I also feel small animals such as hamsters shouldn’t be sold in pet stores. Many children do not take care of them and even harm them, and leave them sitting in dirty smelly ammonia dealing cages because they don’t want to clean the cages. We shouldn’t breed small animals for profit.
“Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission — to be of service to them whenever they require it.” — St. Francis of Assisi
It’s about time. Every state, every province should follow and put a major dent in the cruel practice of animal mills.
Congratulations to the politicians who brought this Bill to the Parliament and to the Governor for signing it. About time that the horrific puppy farm business was outlawed and pet shops reverted to selling rescue animals.
Well done! Thank you.
This great news ! More States need to adopt this and eradicate the scourge of puppy mills
Animal cruelty/abuse must not be tokerated.
Yes this is great! I’ve been working to combat puppy mills here in California all my life. I love this legislature!
Congratulations to California
FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS OUT OF CALIFORNIA.
I don’t agree Marcia, although no US states are perfect, California has done more for animals than any other states. Look it up.
i think they meant all the bullcrap in california. Not about animal welfare necessarily.
FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS OUT OF CALIFORNIA.
Thank you California Governor Gavin Newsom for doing the right chioce lets hope more people who are in govt around the world help and protect animals, in uk they kill the usa gray squirrel by shooting with a gun Prince Charles agrees with it and the uk govt and the Usless EU shocking and barbaric its 2020 and Prince William goes shooting for wildlife and takes his son with him you should be ashamed of your seld Prince William and he arees with trothy hunting.
Animal Lives Matter
Love from uk
Good for you California, now everybody else would follow suit…
Every – and I mean EVERY – cat and dog, and rabbit, should be neutered. Period.
There should be no reason to breed more animals when thousands die every day in shelters.
And if you’re caught – penalties should be severe.
Jail time, fine, AND made to give 40 hours community service giving unwanted cats and dogs the needle
Looking into their sad eyes as life slips away. If that doesn’t stop you, you have NO heart.
.
That should show most people the consequences of not being a responsible pet parent.
I ALWAYS ADOPT ANIMALS FROM SHELTERS.
I USED TO HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE SON WAS IN PRISON YEARS AGO
ON DRUG CHARGES. WHEN HE WAS RELEASED HE STARTED A
BUSINESS BREEDING AND SELLING DOGS. I SAID A FEW THINGS TO
MY FRIEND WHICH ANGERED HER AND THAT WAS THE END OF OUR
FRIENDSHIP AFTER ABOUT 25 YEARS.
You didn’t lose a friend you retain your good heart and preserve your conviction.
Enforce tougher laws on animal cruelty. Why shoild any animal suffer. Why should an animal be abused. Why should an animal suffer in the wrong hands.
Thanku Gavin Newsom for striking a blow against puppy mills.
And now forever, no more gruesome creatures profiting from suffering of innocent dogs. Thank you California, you are the best state protecting animals from the cruelty of man.
A good start to end a gruesome, cruel practice!! Now pray that other Governor’s are as pet friendly as Californians!! He has a heart, thank God!! ❤😘😇🌻💋
THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE HAVING CARE AND CONCERN IN THEIR HEARTS FOR ALL OF GOD’S CREATURES
Great!
Great!
Yay!
GOOD FOR YOU GOVERNOR BRAVO!!
It is about time a bill like this goes through as it is long-overdue. Be especially wary as puppy mill breeders will try to find a way to go around this new legislation or get an unscrupulous shop owner to go along with them!
As long as there is no backdoor breeding. Anyone caught breaking this law should be punished with an iron fist. Please consider adoption then you can call yourselves true animal lovers.
No more commercial dog and cat breeding, this needs to end.
TY for remembering there are kitten mills, too.
This is fantastic news! Justice has been served at last!
Finally some good news for the animals!! Great victory Cali–now EVERY State in the U.S. needs to adopt the same procedures…..these animal mills are disgustingly filthy, the animals get treated like crud and make sure they stay pregnant until they cannot have anymore litters. The so called humans dump them out and make sure they die of either exposure to the elements or lack of food.
What good news! Thank you to all concerned with bringing this about.
YAY!!! HOPE ALL THE OTHER STATES FOLLOW, WOULD BE MORE AWESOME!!!
Awesome great news. We as humans need to protect and respect animals and punish humans who abuse and torture animals.
Thank all for efforts to get Puppy Mills shut down. Now for all the rest of the states.
THANK GOD
ITS ANOUT TIME
I am pleased that Gavin has a compassionate side for Dogs and cats and rabbits
now its time to reform the factory farm industry and make meat cost what it should. like caviar…
Well done Gavin Newsom.