California is moving to shut down the puppy mill pipeline and strengthen protections for pet owners under a new package of animal welfare laws signed Thursday by Governor Gavin Newsom.

The measures—three of which directly target puppy mills—aim to curb deceptive online sales, increase transparency, and make it harder for unethical breeders to profit from mistreated animals.

Why It Matters

The new laws target the core business practices that allow puppy mills to operate under the radar—fake online listings, third-party brokers, and unverified imports. By requiring sellers to disclose animal origins, banning online resellers, and tightening health certification rules, California aims to make it far harder for large-scale breeders to exploit consumers and animals.

What To Know

Among the new laws, AB 506 introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Steve Bennett requires pet sellers to disclose the origin and health information of animals and voids contracts that include non-refundable deposits. According to Newsom’s office, as many as 80 percent of sponsored pet ads may be fake, and these deceptive listings often commit buyers to unhealthy pets sourced from puppy mills.

Newsom also signed AB 519 by Assemblymember Marc Berman, Democrat, into law, which prohibits online and other third-party pet brokers from selling cats, puppies, or rabbits bred by others for profit in California.

A third measure, SB 312 by Democratic Senator Thomas Umberg, requires dog importers to submit health certificates electronically to the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) within 10 days of shipment. The CDFA must make those records available upon request.

The governor also signed AB 867 by Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee, which bans the declawing of cats except when medically necessary. Declawing is already banned in many countries because it can cause chronic pain, infections, and behavioral problems.

Supporters of the new laws praised the legislation as a major step toward ending cruel breeding practices and protecting consumers. Senator Umberg, who authored SB 312, said the measure will help expose cruelty in puppy sales and make California a national leader in animal welfare.

Bennett said AB 506 will bring greater transparency to pet sales and help families adopt animals ethically, while Berman, author of AB 519, said the new package will prevent out-of-state breeding operations from selling sick or mistreated animals to unsuspecting Californians.

Animal welfare groups also welcomed the measures. Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society, said the new laws reinforce California’s commitment to animal welfare and consumer protection, while Brittany Benesi, senior legislative director for the ASPCA’s (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Western Division, said the legislation “officially puts a stop to the puppy mill pipeline” by increasing transparency and preventing bad actors from profiting from cruelty.

A Los Angeles Times investigation revealed how deceptive marketing, predatory financing, and regulatory loopholes allowed online pet brokers to exploit consumers and funnel dogs from large-scale breeding operations into California. Numerous dogs in the state came from mass breeders through an underground market, the 2024 investigation found, only to be resold by alleged small, local breeders. California had passed a law in 2017 barring the sale of dogs in pet stores to prevent pets from puppy mills to inundate the state.

As part of the investigation, The LA Times requested certificates of veterinary inspection from all 50 states and received records accounting for nearly 88,000 dogs. Analysis of the travel documents of more than 71,000 of these dogs entering California since 2019, when the state’s pet retail ban took effect, showed that the animals were often classified as California-bred, having gone through a network of resellers—including ex-cons—who had replaced the pet stores.

About 500,000 dogs are kept solely for breeding in puppy mills nationwide, according to Humane World for Animals.

What People Are Saying

Governor Newsom said: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and it’s time to shine a light on puppy mills. 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."

Senator Thomas Umberg said: “With SB 312 signed into law, California is taking a big step to protect animals and consumers. This law will help shut down deceptive puppy sales and expose the cruelty that still exists in far too many places. I’m grateful to the advocates, journalists, and responsible pet owners who helped shine a light on this issue—and proud that California is once again leading the way.”

Assemblymember Steve Bennett said: "Californians will now have more peace of mind when adopting a new companion. AB 506, in tandem with the other bills in this package, ensures consumer transparency and empowers families to support ethical animal adoption. The future is brighter for the animals who have patiently waited for their families to come along."

Assemblymember Marc Berman said: “Thanks to Governor Newsom signing the Ban the Puppy Mill Pipeline bill package, Californians who want to welcome a pet into their home will no longer have to wonder if their dog or cat came from a cruel out-of-state breeding operation. Bringing a pet into your home is a big decision, and many of us love and treat our pets like they're a part of the family. So it is heartbreaking when our pets quickly develop health and behavioral problems - and thousands of dollars in vet bills - due to being the product of poor genetics, unsanitary environments, and significant stress. As Chair of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee, and more importantly as dog dad to our pup Maven, I am proud of our work to put an end to animal negligence and consumer fraud in the pet sale industry.”

Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society, said: “With Governor Newsom’s signatures, California has again strengthened its commitment to animal welfare and consumer transparency. This package of laws... builds on existing safeguards and sends the clear message that puppy mill cruelty has no place in our state. California continues to lead the way in putting the wellbeing of animals and pet-loving families first.”

Brittany Benesi, senior legislative director for the ASPCA, Western division, said: “California has officially put a stop to the puppy mill pipeline from using its most deceptive techniques to ship sick, cruelly bred puppies into the state to profit off of unknowing consumers. We are grateful to Governor Newsom for signing the three puppy mill pipeline bills into law and to Senator Umberg, and Assemblymembers Berman and Bennett, for their leadership championing these bills to further increase transparency in pet sales, better protect California consumers, and ensure that bad actors cannot profit from cruelty.”

What Happens Next

The new laws will take effect on January 1, 2026.