A new year and new rules for California families who want to add a four-legged friends to their home.
The Pet Rescue and Adoption Act went into effect Wednesday, banning pet store owners from buying pets from breeders.
Now pet store owners must provide documentation showing the dogs, cats and rabbits they're selling are from shelters or rescue organizations, or else they face a $500 fine per animal.
"It takes the puppy mills completely out of the picture," said Stephen MacKinnon, the San Diego Humane Society's chief of Humane Law Enforcement.
He said he hopes the new law will protect animals from what he said are the atrocities of puppy mills.
“They're in cages they never go outside. They're never walked they're never shown any type of love or affection. It's just not a good condition," said MacKinnon. "When capital is the bottom line and there's a living breathing creature, they suffer. They're just trying to pump out animals."
RELATED: New 2019 Laws In San Diego Address Pets, Courts And Cops
Opponents of the law argued it hurts small businesses and it takes away a pet owner's right to choose. Many animal advocates say expanding your family with a rescued animal is the humane choice.
The bill does not ban individuals from purchasing pets directly from breeders.
You can read the full text of AB 485 here.
For more news on 2019 laws taking effect in California see here.
