California has become the first state to ban the sale of animals from breeders in pet shops

Victory for our four-legged friends!

In great news earlier this week, California has become the first US state to outlaw the sale of animals from breeders in pet shops. The new law, which came into effect on January 1 states that pet stores in California will be required to only sell dogs, cats, and rabbits that come from shelters or nonprofits. This legislation has been over a year coming into operation as it follows the Pet Rescue and Adoption Act, which was signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown in October 2017. CNN reports that pet shop owners must be able to produce records of origin for the animals or face a $500 penalty per animal. Under the law, individuals are still allowed to buy from private breeders, but stores are prohibited from doing so. The new legislation is in a bid to end puppy mills and kitten factories. People have taken to Twitter to express their delight in the progressive new law:

california also just passed a law STARTING JAN 1, 2019 making sure that PET STORES ARE ONLY allowed to sell animals that come from ANIMAL SHELTERS OR NONPROFIT RESCUE GROUPS! ???? THIS IS A HUGE WIN

— andie @ i am so sick im sorry (@officialbleeply) January 2, 2019

ON JANUARY 1, 2019, CALIFORNIA WILL BE THE FIRST STATE TO BAN THE RETAIL SALE OF ANIMALS AND ALL PET STORES WILL BE REQUIRED TO SELL DOGS, CATS, AND RABBITS FROM RESCUE SHELTERS!! Why is no one tweeting about this?! pic.twitter.com/W1nfw5IXxK

— Cali Black Ops (@CABlackOps) December 31, 2018

Back in September, California also banned the sale of animal-tested cosmetics.