California is moving to shut down the puppy mill pipeline and strengthen protections for pet owners under a new package of animal welfare laws signed Thursday by Governor Gavin Newsom.
The measures—three of which directly target puppy mills—aim to curb deceptive online sales, increase transparency, and make it harder for unethical breeders to profit from mistreated animals.
Why It Matters
The new laws target the core business practices that allow puppy mills to operate under the radar—fake online listings, third-party brokers, and unverified imports. By requiring sellers to disclose animal origins, banning online resellers, and tightening health certification rules, California aims to make it far harder for large-scale breeders to exploit consumers and animals.
What To Know
Among the new laws, AB 506 introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Steve Bennett requires pet sellers to disclose the origin and health information of animals and voids contracts that include non-refundable deposits. According to Newsom’s office, as many as 80 percent of sponsored pet ads may be fake, and these deceptive listings often commit buyers to unhealthy pets sourced from puppy mills.
Newsom also signed AB 519 by Assemblymember Marc Berman, Democrat, into law, which prohibits online and other third-party pet brokers from selling cats, puppies, or rabbits bred by others for profit in California…