La Sociedad Protectora de Animales de San Diego patrocina un proyecto de ley para frenar las fábricas de cachorros en California

In response to a groundbreaking multi-part investigation into the puppy market in California by the Los Angeles Times this fall, Senator Tom Umberg and Assemblymembers Steve Bennett and Marc Berman jointly introduced legislation sponsored by San Diego Humane Society today in Sacramento to curb consumer fraud and abuse in California.

Standing side-by-side with colleagues, animal advocates and puppies from Sacramento County Animal Services, the legislators all declared their commitment to ending the puppy mill pipeline in California, once and for all with the introduction of three measures, all jointly sponsored by the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and San Diego Humane Society.

Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana), author of Senate Bill 312, noted “As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a rescue dog owner myself, I am appalled by what the Los Angeles Times has uncovered in its investigation into, and exposure of, extensive fraud and suffering in the puppy trade. Like many, I have been under the impression that advocacy and awareness of this issue had largely reduced or eliminated the puppy mill business in California. I’m proud to be authoring SB 312 as a part of this important package to protect consumers moving forward.”

SB 312 mandates that dog importers submit health certificates electronically to the California Department of Food & Agriculture within 10 days of shipment and requires those certificates to be made publicly available. This health certificate information is crucial for individual consumers to confirm information about their dog and is also helpful to humane law enforcement agencies as they work to investigate fraud and malfeasance.

"Elegir a nuestros compañeros peludos es un proceso significativo que cambia la vida. Las familias tienen derecho a saber de dónde procede su nuevo perro o gato y en qué condiciones ha crecido". Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Oxnard). "Al exigir a los vendedores que proporcionen más información por adelantado y prohibir el uso de depósitos no reembolsables como "muro de pago", el proyecto de ley 506 de la Asamblea capacitará a las familias en el proceso de adopción."

Assemblymember Bennett’s AB 506 voids contracts between California consumers and online pet brokers that require a nonrefundable deposit and/or fail to disclose the original source of a dog or cat prior to a deposit being issued. The bill also requires sellers to return money to the buyers within 30 days if the contract is voided.

The third bill of the Stop the Puppy Mill Pipeline is Assembly Bill 519, authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman, (D-Palo Alto), Chair of the Assembly Business & Professions Committee. AB 519 ends pet brokering in California by defining “brokers” as any person or business that makes a profit by selling animals bred and raised by another, and prohibits said people from selling or “adopting out” pets for a profit.

"Me sorprendió enterarme de que malos actores eluden la prohibición californiana de las fábricas de cachorros haciéndose pasar por criadores locales, cuando en realidad compran cachorros maltratados y abandonados a crueles criaderos de otros estados y los venden a desprevenidos padres de animales de compañía". Assemblymember Marc Berman. "Como Presidente del Comité de Negocios y Profesiones, cada año veo a los defensores y amantes de los animales presionar para mejorar el bienestar animal en California. Después de leer la exposición del LA Times, y como padre de un perro a mí mismo, estaba claro para mí que tenemos que hacer más para mejorar tanto el bienestar animal y la protección de los consumidores en nuestro estado. Mi proyecto de ley tomará medidas enérgicas contra aquellos que se presentan como pequeños criadores caseros locales, cuando en realidad están importando cachorros criados en fábricas de cachorros en estados con leyes inhumanas de bienestar animal."

The Times’ investigation found that “truckloads of dogs from profit-driven mass breeders pour into California every year from the Midwest, and then resold by people claiming to be small, local home breeders.” Misleading marketing tactics, predatory financial behaviors, and a gap in regulations are allowing these online brokers to take advantage of consumers and allowing puppy mills to continue to reach Californians when searching for a new companion.

“Consumers deserve complete transparency about the flood of puppies entering our state—this is not just about protecting people from unhealthy pets, but about stopping the cruel pipeline from puppy mills,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, presidente y director general de San Diego Humane Society. “These bills are critical to closing dangerous loopholes in California’s pet sales ban, and they will help us shut down the inhumane practices that exploit animals for profit.”

“California has long been a leader in animal welfare, including being the first state to stop puppy mills from selling through their largest outlet – pet stores. Unfortunately, puppy mills shut out from the retail market still ship puppies into California using deceptive websites and middlemen,” said Brittany Benesi, senior legislative director for the ASPCA, Western division. “Together, the three bills introduced by Senator Umberg, Assemblymember Berman, and Assemblymember Bennett address the pet industry’s most deceptive tactics to prevent them from profiting off of unsuspecting consumers looking to add a new pet to their family, and expand on California’s commitment to ending the puppy mill pipeline for good.”

At a time when California shelters are overflowing with adoptable puppies, kittens, dogs and cats, SB 312, AB 506 and AB 519 will provide transparency in the sales process and protect both consumers and animals alike. All three measures will be heard in policy committees in March or April.

You can learn more about each bill by clicking on the links here for SB 312, AB 506 y AB 519.