Gov. Newsom Signs California Bills to Tackle Puppy Mills and Cat Declawing

On Thursday, California governor Gavin Newsom signed four new bills to protect pets and their humans. Three of the bills specifically target puppy mills, while the fourth one officially bans cat declawing across the state.

“Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and it’s time to shine a light on puppy mills,” Newsom wrote in a press release. “Greater transparency in pet purchases will bring to light abusive practices that take advantage of pets in order to exploit hopeful pet owners. Today’s legislation protects both animals and Californians by addressing fraudulent pet breeding and selling practices.”

About the bills

The first of the bills requires pet sellers to disclose the pet’s origin and health information. This is to protect prospective pet parents from getting scammed, especially since 80 percent of sponsored pet ads may be fake. It also prevents these sellers from demanding non-refundable deposits, because often this leads to pet parents paying large prices for a pet who ends up being riddled with health issues. 

The next bill prevents third-party brokers from selling pets bred by others for profit, because many puppy mills pose as small breeders by hiring a third-party. It’s not just dogs; the bill also extends protections to cats and rabbits. The third bill requires dog importers to submit health certificates to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Additionally, the CDFA must provide the certificates to whoever requests it. This will hopefully make a pet’s health records more accessible.

The last bill bans cat declawing unless medically necessary. Declawing cats has long been declared inhumane by animal health experts. The practice is banned in over 20 countries. Prior to this bill, declawing was illegal in six states — New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. — as well as several individual cities. A few cities in California, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, had already banned declawing before the state law. In short, it’s been a long time coming.

Past progressive pet bills in California

These laws are just the latest in a series of California reforms designed to protect animals. A law passed last year regulated pet insurance, mandating that companies give clearer policies and expediting the time between application and coverage. Prior to that, the California government passed several laws banning new fur products, toxicity testing on dogs and cats, and the use of wild animals like bears and elephants in circus acts. Additional laws include those mandating that shelters and kennels have natural-disaster-evacuation plans and creating a process for unhoused individuals to obtain emotional support dogs.

Most dramatically, a 2017 law outlawed the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits. Pet shops are still able to partner with shelters and rescue organizations. In 2020, a new law known as Bella’s Act tightened up the language in the existing act, since many breeders were creating fake rescues in convoluted “puppy laundering schemes.” The 2020 update also required shelters to microchip all cats and dogs. 

All of these laws make California one of the leading states when it comes to animal welfare. The four new bills take that even further, making the state a pretty good place for pets and their people.