The passing of this Bill is extremely close to Healthy Spot’s heart. Co-Founder and CEO Andrew Kim was heavily involved in the process of it being passed, giving a heartfelt testimony at the State Assembly and then again at the Senate. He shared Healthy Spot’s success as a pet store, without the need to ever sell a single pet. He was accompanied by those who introduced the bill: Assembly members Patrick O'Donnell (D-Long Beach) and Matt Dababneh (D-Woodland Hills), and sponsor Social Compassion In Legislation (SCIL).
"I am thrilled to hear that AB 485 is now California law and codifies the best business practice of a humane pet store. We know this humane model can be successful because this is how we have operated our stores since day one and are thriving without the need to sell a single animal.
Now banning an outdated business practice of selling pets will positively impact our community, reduce overcrowding in the shelters, and provide more adoption options through rescue partners. Making AB 485 the law was the right and smart business decision for California so that our pets, businesses and communities can benefit," said Andrew.
On January 1, 2019, AB 485 will become effective and enforce the following pet store regulations:
- The sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits in pet stores in California is prohibited.
- All adoptable pets should have sufficient documentation about their 501 (c)(3) source.
- All pet stores must visibly display a sign disclosing the 501 (c)(3) source from which the animal came from.
- A pet store operator who violates these regulations is subject to a civil penalty of $500 per animal and charged with a misdemeanor criminal offense.
"In banning the sale of mill-bred animals, California took a bold step forward. The deplorable conditions that animals suffer in these high-volume breeding facilities are not a secret and now they have a champion in California," said Judie Mancuso, Founder and CEO, Social Compassion in Legislation.
We are extremely proud to be part of the passing of AB 485. One of our core values is that “We Believe In Profits With Principles,” and we feel fortunate to expand this belief past our company.
See official press release here.
Comments (1)
I am so happy this law will be going into effect 1/1/19. I am a volunteer at Contra Costa Animal Services in Martinez, California and there are so many animals without homes that come into our shelter that even the rescues we work with are overwhelmed.
I am writing because we have a group of volunteers, rescues and community members that are trying to get a law on the books to ban backyard breeding of pit bulls in the state. The shelters are full of them, including ours. I was hoping you could give us some guidance on how to start the process, or possible any ideas on who we might reach out to in the Legislature.
Any info. you might be able to provide would be greatly appreciated.