Sacramento – On Monday, state lawmakers passed a bill aimed at prohibiting online pet dealer websites and questionable middlemen that encourage local breeders to sell dogs to residents in California.
Rep. Mark Berman (D-Menlo Park) stated that Congressional Bill 519 seeks to clarify where puppies originate, especially following last year’s investigation.
“AB 519 closes a loophole that supports unfair practices,” Berman added.
In 2019, California was the first state to enact a law banning the sale of commercially bred dogs. However, this retail ban didn’t cover online pet sales, which surged during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under Berman’s legislation, online platforms where dogs are sold by brokers will be prohibited. A broker is defined as any individual or business that sells or transports a dog bred by someone else. This includes major retailers like Puppyspot and California-based businesses operating as pet matchmakers. AB 519 is now set to go to Governor Gavin Newsom for his approval and will pertain to dogs, cats, and rabbits under one year old.
Puppyspot opposed the bill, stating in a letter to lawmakers that it would dismantle systems that families, particularly those needing specific breeds because of allergies, rely on. CEO Claire Komorowski conveyed to Berman in May that their online marketplace upholds breeder standards that surpass regulatory requirements.
“We believe this bill largely inhibits the growth of underground or unregulated sales, which threaten animal health and consumer trust, while penalizing transparent businesses,” wrote Komorowski.
The legislation makes exceptions for police dogs, service animals, and shelter or rescue organizations.
“This measure is crucial for curtailing the deceptive sales tactics employed by puppy brokers, thereby minimizing financial and emotional distress for families who unknowingly acquire sick or improperly bred pets,” stated Attorney General Rob Bonta in support of the bill. “By eliminating brokers’ profit motives while still allowing Californians a legitimate way to obtain pets, AB 519 protects consumers, aids shelters, and promotes humane treatment of animals in California.”
Additionally, two other bills linked to the Times investigation are anticipated to progress through Congress this week, as lawmakers push a large number of bills to the governor after the legislative session. This bill package enjoys widespread bipartisan support.
AB 506, introduced by Rep. Steve Bennett (D-Ventura), aims to void any pet purchase agreement involving a California buyer if the seller demands a non-refundable deposit. This legislation holds pet sellers responsible for not revealing breeder identities and medical histories of the animals.
A survey by the Times discovered that some puppies advertised as local products through social media and online markets actually originated from out-of-state puppy mills. To trace the origins, the Times sought veterinary examination certificates, which are issued by federally certified veterinarians detailing the dog’s source, destination, and health status for travel.
For some time, the California Department of Food and Agriculture mistakenly received these health certificates from other states—records that should go to county public health departments—and has rapidly moved towards destroying them. Importers rarely filed necessary documentation with county authorities.
The Times found that over 71,000 dogs have entered California since the pet retail ban began in 2019. Travel certificates highlighted how a network of resellers has formed as intermediaries while puppies are often misrepresented regarding their breeding conditions. In some instances, new owners only realized they had purchased from individuals using fake identities and temporary contact numbers after their pets became ill or passed away.
Following the Times report, lawmakers and animal advocates pressed the state Agriculture Department to halt the destruction of records that could expose unethical practices. The department has since started retaining these records, but the information released so far has undergone considerable redaction.
SB 312, introduced by state Sen. Tom Amberg (D-Orange), mandates that pet sellers provide travel certificates to state agricultural agencies. Earlier versions of the bill required the State Department to publish information from these certificates online, but this provision was removed amid opposition.
“Given the high propensity for misleading consumers and the significant influx of dogs into the state, we hope that health certificate information will be available for consumers to check and verify what sellers communicate, and that it will support humane law enforcement efforts,” the senator expressed.
