December 15, 2022 - New York State Puppy Mill Bill Passed
New York State Governor, Kathy Hochul, signed legislation banning the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits bred in animal mills. The law also allows shelters to showcase animals in pet stores for adoption. The legislation will come into effect in 2024, and will help spare the lives of animals killed in shelters each year.
The majority of dogs sold in New York State pet stores are sourced from puppy mills in Iowa and Missouri. Many of these puppy mills are USDA licensed breeders. There is little to no oversight on these breeding facilities, and many are in severe violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
Like other animals raised on factory farms, dogs in puppy mills and cats in kitten factories, suffer severe physical and psychological stress and do not exhibit natural behavior. Living conditions are deplorable and filthy. In most cases, sick animals are denied proper veterinary care. When dogs and cats are no longer able to breed or get sick, they are often killed. The common killing methods for dogs in puppy mills includes a gunshot to the head.
History of California Puppy Mill Legislation & LCA's Involvement
October 13, 2017 - California Bans the Sale of Mill Animals in Pet Stores
Governor Jerry Brown signed California A.B. 485: the Pet Rescue and Adoption Act into law, banning the retail sale of commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops across the state. The law went into effect on January 1, 2019, and requires all California pet stores to only sell dogs, cats, and rabbits obtained from local pet shelters, humane societies, and rescues. California is the first state in the nation to pass such legislation, which aims to stop neglectful animal breeders from profiting off of the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in order to give California's homeless pets a greater chance of finding a home.
October 31, 2012 - Los Angeles City Bans Sale of Commercially Bred Puppies
Los Angeles City Council approved a city ordinance that bans the sale of mill animals in any pet store in Los Angeles. The ordinance includes dogs, cats, and rabbits and institutes a 3-year ban which if violated can incur a misdemeanor count and fines ranging from $250 to $1000, depending on how many times the offense has been committed. Any dogs, cats, or rabbits sold at a pet store must now be obtained from shelters or rescues.
This ban will help counter the growing number of shelter animals in Los Angeles. In 2011, approximately 500,000 animals were euthanized in Los Angeles County at taxpayer expense. Thanks to the championing efforts of long-time animal advocate, LA City Councilmember Paul Koretz, Fifth District, the new law will become operative within 6 months.
The ban affects 24 pet stores in Los Angeles and smaller cities such as Irvine, Hermosa Beach, and West Hollywood have already adopted the ban. San Francisco has pledged to follow suit.
March 15, 2011 - Los Angeles County Approves Anti-Puppy Mill Ordinance
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance spearheaded by Mayor Michael D. Antonovich to reduce animal cruelty associated with puppy mills.
“This ordinance will close puppy mills, which have historically abused animals by placing them in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions without adequate veterinary care, food and water,” said Antonovich.
Under the ordinance, which applies to the County’s unincorporated areas, breeders will be required to: wait until dogs are at least 12 months old before breeding them; keep puppies on premises until they are at least eight weeks old; separate pregnant females at least three days before they give birth; and provide nesting boxes for the moms and their pups
Also, all new pups will have to be micro-chipped at four months and pet stores will have to disclose the source of their animals.
The ordinance will be mailed out to all of the County’s 88 cities urging them to adopt a similar ordinance. To read the full text of the ordinance please visit http://file.lacounty.gov/dacc/cms1_195450.pdf
2008 - LCA Spearheads Puppy Mill Taskforce in Los Angeles County
Following LCA’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) uncovering the desperate conditions for dogs at World Kennel, a breeding facility near Palmdale, CA that supplied several Los Angeles puppy “boutiques” LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich invited LCA to spearhead a taskforce to solve the area’s previously unknown puppy mill problem.
LCA's SIU worked overtly and covertly to put together a report - “LA’s Dirty Little Secret - Puppy Mills". Armed with the below undercover footage and LCA’s report, Supervisor Antonovich proposed a motion to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor’s to review ordinances and legislations to effectively ban puppy mills in the County.