California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed six bills into law, which were supported by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), that will help protect the well-being of animals in the state. The laws will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
The following bills were signed by the governor:
Cat Declaw Ban (AB 867): Co-sponsored by ALDF, this bill enacts a ban on cat declawing (except only when medically necessary for the cat’s health, such as disease or traumatic injury).
Pet Broker Ban (AB 519): Prohibits the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits by third-party sellers, or “brokers”. The bill will limit pet sales to only those that are sourced directly from breeders or from shelters, humane societies, or rescue organizations.
Pet Sales Regulations (AB 506): Voids contracts by sellers of dogs under one year, cats, and rabbits that require a non-refundable deposit or fail to disclose the original source of dog or cat prior to the deposit being issued. Additionally, this bill ends bait-and-switch scam tactics by requiring sellers to return money to the buyers within 30 days if the contract is voided.
Pet Sales Documentation Transparency (SB 312): Increases transparency for consumers by mandating that dog importers submit health certificates electronically to the California Department of Food & Agriculture within 10 days of shipment and requires those certificates to be made publicly available.
Stalking Definition Expansion (SB 221): Aligns California’s stalking law with federal stalking laws by expanding the definition of stalking to add threats made to one’s pet (including service and emotional support animals and horses).
FOUND Act (AB 478): Ensures that companion animals are protected during emergencies and that local governments implement clear procedures to support pet owners during and following evacuations.
According to ALDF’s annual U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report, which evaluated the animal protection laws of all 50 states, California is ranked No. 6 in the country.