Existing law, the Pet Store Animal Care Act, requires pet store operators, as defined, to comply with laws governing, among other things, the care of animals in pet stores. Existing law makes a pet store operator who violates these provisions guilty of a misdemeanor, unless otherwise provided.
Existing law prohibits a pet store operator from selling a live dog, cat, or rabbit in a pet store unless the animal was obtained from a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group, as specified. Existing law imposes various requirements on a pet store operator, including, among others, that the pet store maintain sufficient records to document the origin of each dog, cat, or rabbit the pet store sells or provides space for, for at least one year. Existing law exempts a pet store operator who violates those provisions from criminal prosecution and imposes a civil penalty on pet store operators for those violations.
This bill, instead, would prohibit a pet store from adopting out, selling, or offering for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit. The bill would authorize a pet store to provide space to a public animal control agency or shelter, or animal rescue group, to showcase adoptable animals provided the animal displayed for adoption is both sterilized and adoptable for total fees not to exceed $500. The bill would remove the exemption for a pet store operator who violates these provisions, thus making the sale of a live dog, cat, or rabbit in a pet store a misdemeanor, and would make each unlawful sale or offer for sale, adoption, or provision of space to display a dog, cat, or rabbit for adoption a crime. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also repeal various requirements, including, among others, the requirement for a pet store to maintain sufficient records to document the origin of each dog, cat, or rabbit the pet store sells or provides space for adoption.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Statutes affected:
AB 2152: 122354.5 HSC, 122357 HSC, 122357 HSC
02/10/20 - Introduced: 122354.5 HSC, 122357 HSC
05/04/20 - Amended Assembly: 122354.5 HSC, 122357 HSC, 122357 HSC
AB2152: 122354.5 HSC, 122357 HSC