California is starting the new year with a significant advancement for animal welfare.
As of January 1, pet retailers in the state can no longer sell puppies, kittens, or rabbits from commercial breeders. Instead, they are required to offer rescue animals from local shelters
The new legislation targets puppy mills and backyard breeders, who are known for prioritizing profit over animal care by confining animals in small, filthy cages.
Baby animals are frequently transported out ill for sale at pet stores, with little to no vet treatment, while their lonely adult parents spend their lives in filth being constantly bred for more “stock.”
California’s new legislation, which is the nation’s first and most stringent regulatory policy of its type, will almost certainly cost the negligent business money.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) acting president and CEO Kitty Block told The Dodo, “This puts us one giant step closer to the day when puppy mills have nowhere left to sell.”
The rule is intended to not only curb the demand for mill-bred animals, but also to guarantee that individuals are well-prepared to care for a new pet before adopting one. Rabbits, for example, are frequently offered as “beginning pets” at pet stores despite the fact that they require just as much care as a cat or dog and can live for ten years or longer.
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