California is kicking off the new year by making significant progress for animals, pintiks writes

Pet retailers in the state are no longer allowed to sell puppies, kittens or rabbits from commercial breeders starting Jan. 1. Only animals rescued from local shelters will be allowed in stores.

The new legislation targets puppy mills and backyard breeders, who are known to prioritize profit over animal care by confining animals in small, filthy cages.

Baby animals are often transported sick to be sold to pet stores, with little or no veterinary care, while their single adult parents spend their lives in the filth being constantly bred for multiple “stocks”.

California’s new law, which is the first and most stringent regulatory policy of its kind in the nation, will almost certainly cost negligent businesses money.

Kitty Block, interim president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), told The Dodo, “This brings us one giant step closer to the day when puppy mills will have nowhere to sell.”

The rule is intended not only to curb demand for animals raised in mills, but also to ensure that people are well-prepared to care for a new pet before adopting one. Rabbits, for example, are often offered as “starter pets” in pet stores, even though they require the same care as a cat or dog and can live a decade or more.

Source: pintiks.com