How to Avoid Deceptive Breeders in California

Deceptive breeders and sellers prioritize profit over the welfare of animals, offering dogs from puppy mills that expose pets to unhealthy and inhumane conditions, or cruelly treating them while they are trying to sell them. The suffering these animals experience can result in serious medical conditions and costly veterinary bills, as well as heartbreaking experiences for new pet owners. Buyers are urged to be cautious and informed to avoid falling victim to these predatory sellers.

California shelters offer an abundance of healthy, loving animals in need of homes. The SF SPCA encourages adoption as the best option, noting that shelters provide a wide variety of pets without the hidden risks of deceptive breeding practices. Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, a veterinarian and CEO of the San Francisco SPCA, stresses that shelters are not only filled with wonderful pets but also often collaborate with overcrowded shelters statewide to give animals a chance at a new life. “There has never been a better time to adopt,” she says, highlighting the importance of helping animals who may otherwise be left behind.

By adopting from shelters or choosing reputable breeders, consumers can ensure they are giving a loving home to a healthy pet while avoiding the pitfalls of fraudulent breeding and sales practices.

“‘I adopted my dogs, Luna and Solí, from a shelter, and they have become deeply cherished members of our family. While I highly encourage Californians to adopt their pets from animal shelters and rescue organizations, consumers who continue to purchase their dogs from breeders should ensure the person they are buying from is responsible, honest, and credible, ’” said Attorney General Rob Bonta.” Tragically and too often, shady breeders only interested in making a profit sell chronically sick, injured, and mistreated puppies to unsuspecting consumers. This is sickening. I urge Californians to be vigilant and watch out for negligent breeders.”

If Californians choose not to adopt from shelters or rescue groups, the attorney general’s alert provides helpful and detailed information on “what to look for” when purchasing animals. Read the full consumer alert here.

The post Consumer Alert on Fraudulent and Cruel Puppy Sales Practices appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

On September 26, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1233 into law—a landmark piece of legislation that will dramatically expand access to affordable spay and neuter services for pet owners throughout the state.

What SB 1233 does

Authored by Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), SB 1233 authorizes California veterinary schools to develop high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter certificate programs. This means more veterinary professionals will be trained specifically in these vital procedures, significantly increasing the availability of low-cost and no-cost spay/neuter services for communities that need them most.

The bill initially focuses on Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, but opens the door for other California veterinary schools to create similar programs, multiplying the impact across the state.

Why this matters

California is facing a pet overpopulation crisis, and access to affordable veterinary care has reached critical levels. By training more veterinarians in specialized, high-volume spay/neuter techniques, SB 1233 directly addresses this challenge. More trained professionals means:

• More pets can be spayed and neutered
• Reduced burden on shelters and rescue organizations
• Better outcomes for animals and communities statewide

Building on progress

The SF SPCA proudly supported SB 1233 as part of our ongoing commitment to expanding access to veterinary care. This bill continues the momentum from successful 2023 legislation we backed, including:

• Assembly Bill 1399: Authorized veterinary telemedicine practice in California
• Senate Bill 669: Allowed Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) to administer essential vaccines and medications

Together, these initiatives represent meaningful progress toward solving California’s access-to-care crisis.

What’s next

SB 1233 takes effect on January 1, 2025. We’re grateful to Governor Newsom, Senator Wilk, and all the lawmakers who recognized the urgent need for this legislation and voted to support California’s animals.

This is a significant step forward that will help countless pets and families across our state. Learn more about our advocacy efforts here.

The post Expanded Access to Spay/Neuter: California Passes SB 1233 appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

Thank you to everyone who came out and advocated on behalf of critical pieces of legislation that will help animals in California. It was an energizing day that helped move the needle for animals.

Animal welfare bills we focused on

This year, we focused on three important animal welfare bills, with an eye towards spurring lawmakers to support them:

• AB 2216: This bill would limit landlords’ ability to charge monthly pet rent, prevent tenants from owning pets without justifying their policy, and other practices that prevent tenants from owning pets and/or that result in tenants relinquishing their pets.
• SB 1233: This bill requests that University of California and Western University of Health Sciences establish standards and certification for providing high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter surgical techniques and offer curriculum in their veterinary medicine programs.
• AB 2248: This bill would limit some predatory practices that commercial puppy sellers use to sell puppies, including the use of non-refundable deposits before important information is disclosed.

A recap of Advocacy Day 2024

Advocacy Day 2024 is complete and was a great success.

• We successfully advocated for SB 1233, which allows California veterinary schools to develop specialized programs to combat the pet overpopulation crisis, by establishing high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter certification programs to be offered as elective coursework to students and practicing veterinarians
• We effectively stopped AB 2265, a bill that imposed unworkable burdens on shelters and posed significant challenges for shelter animals—a major win for animal welfare!

Stay tuned for the third annual Advocacy Day 2025 on April 29, 2025.

The post Our Second Annual Animal Advocacy Day appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

The post Guidelines and Templates to Implement SB 669 are Now Available appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

We are delighted to announce that Senate Bill 669 (SB 669), which expands the ability of Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) to administer vital vaccines, was signed into law on October 13 by Governor Gavin Newsom, in one of his last approvals of the legislative session.

Sponsored by State Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), SB 669 will allow trained, educated and experienced RVTs to administer vaccines under the indirect (offsite) supervision of a licensed veterinarian. This legislation will allow RVTs to administer vaccine clinics, expanding access to vaccines at a time when outbreaks like distemper are occurring and providing crucial services to some of California’s most vulnerable pets. 

Notably, we also advocated on behalf of Assembly Bill 1399 (AB 1399), which allows for veterinary telemedicine in California. Authored by Assemblymembers Laura Friedman (D-Burbank) and Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), the legislation was signed into law by Governor Newsom on October 8.  

Because of California’s outdated laws, pet owners currently are often forced to wait for hard-to-get appointments so that veterinarians can perform in-person physical examinations of an animal as a prerequisite to providing almost any medical advice. This issue is particularly acute for seniors, persons with disabilities, and those without access to transportation or who otherwise find it difficult to get to a veterinary hospital.  

By addressing those obstacles to care, telemedicine will significantly reduce animal suffering, alleviate some barriers to veterinary care, improve pet retention, and extend the capacity of animal shelters to serve animals and their communities. 

In addition to actively engaging on legislation expanding access to care, SF SPCA supported several animal welfare and sheltering bills.  As an example, the SF SPCA backed Assembly Bill 781 (AB 781), sponsored by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego). AB 781 will require that when a city or county designates an emergency shelter, it must designate an emergency shelter that can accommodate persons with pets. This will apply to emergency cooling and heating centers, including notifications that must include whether those facilities can accommodate pets. That bill was signed into law on October 7. 

There was one setback when Assembly Bill 1215 was vetoed by Governor Newsom. This bill, actively supported by the SF SPCA, would have created the Pets Assistance With Support Grant Program (PAWS), an initiative to award grants to qualified homeless shelters and qualified domestic violence shelters. These grants have been issued previously through lawmaker support, and the grants provided shelter, food, and veterinary services for pets owned by people experiencing homelessness or escaping domestic violence.  The funding for these grants was temporary and it has run out. AB 1215 would have made the grant program a lasting permanent one. 

Despite that, the Legislative Session was a considerable success with significant gains for animals, and the SF SPCA wants to thank all of its supporters and partners who helped support and advocate on behalf of these critical bills.  

As the SF SPCA increases our advocacy efforts at the state level, we look forward to continuing pushing for new policy measures that will help support and protect our state’s most vulnerable pets and their people.  

And we will make sure to keep everyone informed and updated about our organization’s goals and initiatives. Together, we can and do make a difference. 

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The post AB 1399 Authorizes Veterinary Telemedicine Practice in California appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

California’s animal shelters are experiencing significant stress, due in large part to inadequate access to spay/neuter programs and a crisis-level lack of access to veterinary care that actually is worsening. A recent survey conducted by the SF SPCA found that more than 344,000 California shelter animals do not have adequate access to veterinary care.

Your Help is Needed—One Quick Call or Email from You Can Help to Improve Care for California Animals!

AB 1399 passed the Assembly and is moving forward in the legislative process. This bill represents a significant step forward to reduce animal suffering and help provide access to care in California. Your support is still needed to get this important bill passed in our state.

Please show your support by emailing or calling your state Senator to express your support. Visit: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov to find out who represents your Senate district.

Sample Script

“Hello, my name is _______________________, I live in your district and am writing to ask you to support AB 1399. California is one of the most restrictive states with respect to veterinary telemedicine, and this is causing significant delays to animals getting the vet care they need. In other countries, telemedicine has proven to be an effective tool in expanding access to care for people, as well as a safe and effective means to expand veterinary care. Please help to modernize veterinary care in California by allowing licensed California vets to use telemedicine for their patients.

Please help by voting yes on AB 1399 to allow the use of veterinary telemedicine in California.

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,
NAME”

The post Authorize Telemedicine Practice for Veterinarians—PASSED appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

The San Francisco SPCA is proud to announce our legislation tackling our state’s current access-to-veterinary-care crisis.

As many of you know, a growing shortage of veterinarians is impacting hundreds of thousands of California’s shelter and companion animals. We’re seeing delays in medical treatment, overcrowding in the shelters, and more outbreaks of disease. Sometimes, shelters are left with no other option than to euthanize treatable, adoptable pets, while some pet guardians are forced to surrender their animals because they cannot get the care they need.

That’s why we’re so grateful to Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris for introducing AB 1237, a bill we crafted and cosponsored with our friends at the San Diego Humane Society. This legislation is a big step toward helping California’s most vulnerable cats and dogs receive the care they need and deserve.

AB 1237 will bring veterinary care to struggling shelters

AB 1237 proposes a total of up to $150,000 in educational debt relief to licensed California veterinarians who agree to work for California animal shelters or in underserved communities for at least five years.

Currently, new veterinarians are burdened with the second highest monthly debt-to-income ratio among graduate degree holders. Should AB 1237 pass, the much-needed debt relief will incentivize careers in sheltering and the community service space.

Veterinary shortages hurt animals, shelters, and people

According to a survey of California animal shelters, which we led recently with several partners, nearly 350,000 California shelter animals do not have adequate access to veterinary care staff. Meanwhile, among shelters with budgeted positions for veterinarians and veterinarian nurses, more than 50% of those positions remain vacant due to a lack of candidates.

The lack of veterinary professionals negatively impacts animals, limits community safety net services, strains shelter budgets, and takes a toll on staff mental health and morale. Unless we take immediate steps to mitigate the suffering, these issues will only worsen.

Standing for the welfare of all companion animals

Since our founding 155 years ago, the SF SPCA has advocated tirelessly for the wellbeing of animals. Today, we’re sharpening our focus to ensure all animals have access to quality medical care, compassionate shelter, and a loving home.

AB 1237 is the first of what I hope will be a series of solutions that deliver on this heartfelt promise.

Your Help is needed – One Quick Call or Email from You Can Help to Improve Care for California Animals!

AB 1237 passed committee in the California capital and is moving forward in the legislative process.  This represents a significant step forward to reduce animal suffering and help provide access to care in California.  Your support is still needed to get this important bill passed in our state.

Please show your support by emailing or calling your state Assembly Member to express your support. Visit: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov to find out who represents your Assembly district.

Sample Script:

Hello, my name is _______________________, and I live at (street address, city): _____________. I’m calling because I’m very concerned about improving the care for animals in California. I live in the Assembly Member’s district and I want to know that I can count on the Assembly Member to support two important pieces of legislation, AB 1399 and AB 1237, because (give brief explanation of why you support the bills).  Thank you for your time!

Animal Advocacy Day

Join animal advocates from across the state for a day of action at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. We warmly invite you to join us on Tuesday, May 23 to advocate for animals and their people and meet with legislators. This will be an energizing and impactful experience for everyone. If you are interested in joining us, please RSVP BY Tuesday, May 2.

RSVP TODAY!

Co–sponsored by San Francisco SPCA, ASPCA, California Animal Welfare Association, the Humane Society of the United States, and Marin Humane.

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