Californian law change means pet shops can sell only rescued animals

[Calista241]

Source: BBC

California is set to become the first state in the US to ban the sale of non-rescue animals in pet shops. The new law, known as AB 485, takes effect on 1 January. Any businesses violating it face a $500 (£400) fine.

The change means cats, dogs and rabbits sold by retailers cannot be sourced from breeders, only from animal shelters.

Animal rights groups have heralded it as a step forward against so-called "kitten factories" and "puppy mills".

They say the current "high-volume" industries, where pets are bred for profit, can lead to inhumane treatment and long-term emotional and physical health problems in some animals.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46717173

[sakabatou]

1. This is good news

[elmac]

2. Its a great start, I would like to see it nation wide

One side effect may be new black marketing of pets.

[HockeyMom]

3. Living, breathing animals are not PRODUCTS

to buy in stores. ADOPT from your local shelter.

[cstanleytech]

4. So what does this do as far as pets bred as pure breeds?

[jb5150]

6. "Pure bred" animals have many genetic problems due to inbreeding ..

... that practice needs to be ended.

[LisaL]

9. I have two purebread animals who are reaching a normal lifespan.

So that's way too general a statement you are making.

[cstanleytech]

13. I mean does it ban a store from selling pure breeds that come from a

reputable breeder that makes every effort to breed good animals in quality conditions?

[MissMillie]

30. reputable breeders most often sell there own dogs

a really good breeder will not sell an animal to just anyone.

[summer_in_TX]

23. Seems a broad statement.

I'm sure it's true when it comes to the dog breeds bred for pug-type faces and short legs. Friends with bulldogs have told me about short lifespans, problems giving birth, etc.

I've owned purebred Irish setters and bred some too, and didn't see any such problems.

[mahina]

31. Our golden retrievers lived to 12 and 13. My pound hound cocker is now 16

For what it’s worth.

[TexasBushwhacker]

12. You have to buy them straight from the breeder

You just won't be able to buy them in a pet store anymore in CA.

[Codeine]

14. Most purebred dogs aren't sold in pet stores.

Breeders are still a thing, and can still sell their inbred dogs freely.

[Farmer-Rick]

28. Yes, so true

That way you know if they are treated well or left in small cages most of their short lives.

I bought a pure bred beagle from my neighbor. As far as I know, beagles are a very old breed and are not known to have any major breed defects. He just loved beagles so much. I don't think he made any money off it.

But now I have a 1 1/2 old mutt I rescued from the pound. She is part beagle and part whippet. She can sniff out bunnies and chase them down too. Though she doesn't seem to know what to do once she catches up with them....she just likes the chase.

[LanternWaste]

25. So what effect do pure breeds have on puppy mills?

[ansible]

5. There's so many strays in my city that I don't even need to buy pets

Already adopted 2 cats and 2 dogs now, literally came right at my doorstep and never left.

[Codeine]

15. That's how I ended up with all the pets I've had.

They just found me.

[mysteryowl]

7. PLEASE, make this the law of the land!

I will be contacting my new Rep and two Senators about this and make reference to the CA law.

Awesome!

[LisaL]

8. I see it as overreaching by a state to take too much control

over what people want to do.

[Codeine]

16. Ever see where pet stores get their stock?

Puppy mills are an abomination.

[cstanleytech]

17. Wouldnt the proper way to address that issue would be restricting the mills themselves?

Granted, if its out of state there is not to much the state can do to the mill but surely they can require the stores to deal with breeders that are certified and licensed by the state?
Not to mention to encourage stores to sale the animals from the shelters they could also provide them with tax incentives.

[Codeine]

18. Why all this bending over backwards

to make breeders happy? There are an endless number of shelter dogs who need loving homes. I’ll reserve my sympathies for them.

Besides, in California instate breeders don’t tend to sell to pet stores. Private sales are more lucrative and reputable breeders prefer to vet their buyers. They don’t want their beloved cockerpoos and smashed-faced puggiewugs going to some random-ass home. Across the country pet stores get their stock from puppy mills, mostly in Amish country.

[cstanleytech]

20. I am not bending over rather I am pointing out that there "are" alternatives that

the state could try.
Alternatives that might stand a better chance of surviving a court challenge as well as I am willing to bet someone will file a lawsuit over this and given the current SCOTUS makeup I would not be willing to bet on a favorable outcome for the state.

[LanternWaste]

26. What specifically leads you to believe these alternatives have not been looked at?

Failure on your part to research the easily obtainable and relevant information, or simply to utilize plausible deniability again as the narrative is played?

[obamanut2012]

19. Yeah, damn those pesky child labor laws, too

Good to know who on DU are pro puppy, kitten, and bunny mills.

[Nitram]

29. I like this law, and understand the reasons for it. But, obamanut, i suggest you refrain from

making your comments personal with the gratuitous "Good to know who on DU are pro puppy, kitten, and bunny mills." Implying that someone who disagrees with the law are against puppies, kittens, and rabbits adds nothing constructive to the conversation.

[forgotmylogin]

10. I think it just removes the profit incentive to run pet-breeding mills. (n/t)

[Cold War Spook]

11. I have rescuded animals.

I have 10 dogs and 3 cats. I also have a cockatiel, finch, hen, bullfrog and 3 tree frogs. When I was young, my father bought me a dog. A purebred blue merle collie. We went to a farm to pick it out. We saw its parents and the paperwork going back generations including health records and how often a female got pregnant each year. There is a difference between these AKC registered farms and puppy mills.

[CountAllVotes]

21. The AKC hangs out at dog auctions

This is where you can buy yourself a puppy mill dog. The AKC is there to register them for you for a price of course.

I owned an AKC registered dog. It was inbred and had been abused.

The AKC is a corrupt batch of organized THUGS of the highest order!

If you care to rescue an animal, please go to your local KILL shelter and adopt!

Glad to know this new law is in place as there are far too many dogs and cats out there without homes.

[MR. ELECTABLE]

22. Only a change for smaller cities

I live in San Diego and these kinds of sales have already been banned in the city limits for several years. I’m pretty sure this is similar for LA and most of the cities in Northern California. So this statewide ruling really only brings smaller cities up to the same standards. At the pet stores near my house I have only ever seen rescue cats and also dogs if there is an adoption event.

[samnsara]

24. Petco and the other pet shops already do this...

….and it works out beautifully for all....

[whathehell]

27. Good news. n/t