California Pet Stores Will Be Allowed To Sell Pets Only If They Come From Shelters And Rescue Organizations

The phrase “adopt, don’t shop” has been a motto of animal-lovers for years. Now, there’s a chance that in California, people may no longer have to choose between those options.

Beginning the 1st of January 2019, legislation in California has gone into effect that allows pet stores in the state to only sell pet cats, rabbits, and of course, dogs, only if they have been taken from rescue organizations or shelters, all non-profit. Store operators must be prepared to show records of each animal’s origin, or else they will be fined $500 per pet.

This law was signed in by a Governor of California, Jerry Brown, back at the end of 2017 in October. It is known as the Pet Rescue and Adoption Act and prohibits stores from purchasing pets and animals from private breeders. Individual buyers unaffiliated with these shops can still purchase from breeders.

This decision was made to combat the huge numbers of kitten factories and puppy mills popping up all over the country. This makes California the first state in America to have such a low. Not only is this a great change for animals everywhere, but it’s also a good use of taxpayer funds, as over US$250 million per year is spent on the care and euthanization of animals in shelters.

The law is very clear in stating that those who operate pet shops can only sell cats, pups, and rabbits from a shelter, rescue organization, animal control agency, or other similar establishments. All operators must keep and prepare records that document where each animal came from.

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