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New California Pet Law

WELL THERE IS GOOD NEWS ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA – A NEW LAW IS HELPING SHELTER PETS FIND HOMES.

LAURIE PEREZ HAS THE STORY.

ALT LINE: STORES WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO SELL DOGS, CATS, AND RABBITS THAT ARE CONSIDERED RESCUE ANIMALS.

THE LAW IS DESIGNED TO HELP STOP THE SALE OF "MILL-BRED" ANIMALS, AND TO CUT DOWN ON THE ABUSE SEEN AT "PUPPY MILLS" AND "KITTEN FACTORIES" -- WHERE ANIMALS ARE OFTEN BRED IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS.

WHILE THE CALIFORNIA LAW WILL ALSO MAKE THINGS HARDER FOR WHAT STORES CONSIDER TO BE REPUTABLE BREEDERS, LAWMAKERS HOPE THE INCREASED SALE OF RESCUE ANIMALS WILL ALSO HELP LESSEN THE STRAIN ON SHELTERS.

THE BILL'S SPONSOR SAYS CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS SPEND 250-MILLION-DOLLARS TO HOUSE AND TO EUTHANIZE SHELTER ANIMALS EACH YEAR.

"THIS IS ANDREW HE'S UP FOR ADOPTION"

"THIS IS CHIPPY"

"THIS IS YODA, YODA IS THE FACE OF A PUPPY MILL DOG"

LAURIE: THESE ANIMAL ADVOCATES SAY ANDREW, CHIPPY AND YODA ARE JUST THREE OF 800-THOUSAND ANIMALS TAKEN IN BY CALIFORNIA SHELTERS EACH YEAR - HALF OF WHICH ARE EUTHANIZED? IT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THEY BELIEVE SB 485 WILL SAVE LIVES.

"THIS IS THE STORY RIGHT HERE, A HEALTHY INNOCENT ANIMAL WHO DOESN'T DESERVE TO DIE SO SOMEBODY ELSE CAN MAKE MONEY BREEDING ANOTHER ANIMAL, THIS IS MADNESS."

LAURIE: CALIFORNIA IS NOW THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO PROHIBIT PET STORES FROM SELLING DOGS, CATS OR RABBITS, UNLESS THE ANIMAL IS A RESCUE. THAT MEANS NO MILL-BRED ANIMALS AT ALL.

STARTING IN 2019, STORES WOULD FACE 500-DOLLAR FINES FOR EACH ANIMAL SOLD THAT ISN'T FROM A SHELTER OR RESCUE GROUP.

ANDREW KIM HAS 11 "HEALTHY SPOT STORES" THAT ALREADY OPERATE THAT WAY - HE SAYS NOT ONLY THE HUMANE CHOICE, IT'S PROVEN FINANCIALLY SAVVY.

ANDREW: "PEOPLE'S CONSCIOUSNESS ARE GROWING AND PEOPLE ARE MORE COMPASSIONATE AND THEY WANT TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES WITH THEIR DOLLARS ABOUT SOMETHING THEY BELIEVE IN AND CARE ABOUT DEEPLY."

LAURIE: THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT LED MAGGIE VLAHOVIC AND HER HUSBAND TO ADOPT SHERLOCK THIS PAST AUGUST - SHE SAYS THEY TOOK "ADOPT DON'T SHOP" TO HEART?AND HAVE BEEN REWARDED:

MAGGIE: "HE'S HELPING US WITH LOSING OUR LITTLE DOG THAT WE HAD BEFORE AND WE'RE HELMING HIM SO IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING, YEAH."

RICK: THANKS LAURIE.  (SHORT PAUSE) NOW WE WANT TO KNOW FROM YOU – SHOULD ALL STATES BAN SELLING PETS FROM BREEDERS? WRITE TO US AND TELL US WHY OR WHY NOT. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THE LAW AND SOME OF THE DOWN SIDES?


Find Out More


Website Article: Do Something, 11 Facts about Puppy Mills | Learn the facts

Magazine Article: INFOhio, Explora, To the Rescue! Scholastic News, Mar. 27, 2017. | What the California law means. May need password.

Website Article, American Humane, Fact Sheet on Animal Abuse | Stop animal abuse by learning the signs.