Governor Newsom Signs Legislation to Combat Puppy Mills and Improve Animal Welfare

Governor Gavin Newsom signed four significant bills on October 9 aimed at enhancing animal welfare in California. Three of these bills specifically target puppy mills, addressing fraudulent breeding and selling practices that exploit hopeful pet owners.

Assembly Bill 506, introduced by Assemblymember Steve Bennett, mandates that pet sellers disclose the origins and health information of animals, aiming to increase transparency in pet purchases. This legislation also voids contracts with non-refundable deposits that often lead to deceptive practices, ensuring that customers are not tied to unhealthy pets.

Another measure, Assembly Bill 519, authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman, prohibits third-party pet brokers from selling pets bred by others within the state, particularly focusing on online platforms that often masquerade as small home breeders.

Senate Bill 312, introduced by Senator Thomas Umberg, requires dog importers to submit health certificates electronically to the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) within ten days of shipment, enhancing oversight of imported animals.

Additionally, Assembly Bill 867, sponsored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, bans non-medically necessary declawing of cats, aligning California with international standards that recognize the practice as harmful.

These legislative actions expand upon previous initiatives by the Newsom administration to improve animal welfare, including laws to end the retail sale of pets, prohibit toxicity testing on animals, and ban the use of certain wild animals in circus performances.

The governor’s efforts also include mandates for evacuation plans for kennels during natural disasters, reforms to pet insurance, and initiatives to support animal shelters through funding and training. The state has invested $50 million over the past two years in a statewide Animal Shelter Assistance Program, aiming for a no-kill goal in animal shelters.