Pet Stores Cited For Illegally Selling Puppies: Humane Society

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego Humane Society this week cited pet stores in Santee and Escondido for illegally acquiring puppies and other pets to then sell, the organization said in a release Wednesday.

The first store cited was Pups & Pets in Santee. According to the release, the store was violating a state law that only allows pet stores to sell dogs, cats and rabbits from animal shelters or rescue organizations.

Humane Officers also issued the store a "notice to correct" for selling unaltered puppies and a citation for violating signage requirements.

All told, the store was issued seven citations.

Broadway Puppies in Escondido was cited for eight violations of failing to partner with a rescue that has a valid cooperative agreement with at least one public or private shelter.

According to the release, both stores are required to suspend the sale of pets until they begin sourcing animals from a shelter or rescue group with a valid cooperative agreement.

“San Diego Humane Society is deeply concerned about the sale of puppies from puppy mills,” Humane Law Enforcement Chief Bill Ganley said in a statement. “Our officers are enforcing current laws, but sadly the law as it is written today does not allow us to legally stop these stores from importing puppies from outside the State of California.”

The Humane Society said since AB 485 was enacted in 2019, most of the state's pet stores with questionable pet suppliers have shut down. But, some have found loopholes and continue selling mill-bred puppies.

Buyers are urged to stay vigilant because some stores might still be selling animals bred at out-of-state puppy and kitten mills.