California lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 519, a bill aimed at banning online pet dealer websites and middlemen who pose as local breeders from selling dogs in the state. This legislation, approved on Monday, seeks to curb the influx of puppies from out-of-state commercial breeders, often referred to as puppy mills. Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) introduced the bill to address deceptive practices in the pet industry.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the bill targets online marketplaces where dogs, cats, and rabbits under a year old are sold by brokers. These brokers are defined as individuals or businesses that sell or transport animals bred by others for profit. Major national pet retailers like PuppySpot, which opposed the bill, fall under this category. PuppySpot CEO Claire Komorowski argued that the bill penalizes responsible operations and does little to prevent unregulated sales that risk animal health and consumer trust.
The bill does not apply to police dogs, service animals, shelters, rescues, or 4H clubs. It aims to close loopholes that allow dishonest practices in the sale of pets, which were highlighted by a Times investigation last year. The investigation revealed that many puppies advertised as California-bred were actually imported from out-of-state puppy mills.
If signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, California will continue to lead in animal welfare initiatives. Brittany Benesi from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) noted that the bill would solidify California’s reputation as a “trailblazer in animal welfare.”
Two other related bills are also expected to pass the Legislature this week. Assembly Bill 506 would void pet purchase contracts if the seller requires a nonrefundable deposit and fails to disclose the breeder’s information. Senate Bill 312 would require pet sellers to share travel certificates with the state agriculture agency, ensuring transparency about the origin of pets sold in California.
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