California

Updates about legal issues facing animals in the state

The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, state and local levels to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals.

Animal Protection Laws Ranking

Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes its U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report. Each state is ranked based on 20 different categories of animal protection.

California
Overall Rank: #6 (Top Tier)

Legislative Session

Active Legislation

Octopus Farming Ban (California)

Octopus Farming Ban (California)

AB 3162
This bill would prohibit octopus farming on land or water and ban the import of farmed octopuses in California.
Prohibiting harmful practices and devices at rodeos (Los Angeles, CA)

Prohibiting harmful practices and devices at rodeos (Los Angeles, CA)

Council File: 20-1575
Proposed Los Angeles ordinance would prohibit the use of harmful practices, techniques, and devices at rodeos or rodeo-related events

Active Cases

puppy

Suing Unscrupulous Puppy Traffickers Who Knowingly Sold Sick Dogs

The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the Kenney family seeking to end their deceptive marketing and sale of puppies, and to recover damages for those who were victimized by the puppy traffickers’ unscrupulous conduct.
Tule Elk

Challenging the Government’s Fatal Mismanagement of Protected Tule Elk

Tule elk are a beloved fixture at the Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County, California. But the National Park Service (NPS), the federal agency responsible for protecting them, is failing at the task — with numerous elk suffering and dying as a result of its negligence. 
Puppy mill victims

Circumventing California Puppy Mill Ban

The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a class-action lawsuit against a network of individuals and businesses who conspired with California pet stores to sell puppy mill dogs mislabeled as “rescues.”
Chicken

Challenging Foster Farms Slaughterhouse’s Illegal Water Use

The Animal Legal Defense Fund sued Foster Farms, operator of a large slaughterhouse and chicken processing plant in Livingston, California, for its illegal use of vast quantities of water in violation of the California Constitution.

Take Action

Take action now to help animals in your state.

Los Angeles: Ask your City Councilmember to support a citywide rodeo ban

Los Angeles: Ask your City Councilmember to support a citywide rodeo ban

The Los Angeles City Council is considering a measure that would ban rodeos citywide — and they need to hear from you.
pig

Urge Governor Newsom and the California Air Resources Board to Stop Factory Farms from Profiting from Pollution (California)

Urge Governor Newsom and CARB to stop allowing factory farms to exploit and profit from California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
cow

Stop Ag-Gag Laws

Undercover investigations and whistleblowers have exposed some of the worst aspects of factory farming, but Ag-Gag laws punish people who speak out about cruelty in animal agriculture. Voice your opposition.
dog

No More Puppy Mills

Puppy mill operators maximize their profits by producing large numbers of puppies as quickly as possible. As a result, unsanitary conditions, disease, and neglect are rampant. Sign our pledge to boycott puppy mills. Together we can end cruel puppy mills.
Passing Local Legislation: Retail Pet Sale Ban

Passing Local Legislation: Retail Pet Sale Ban

In this free webinar, we walk you through the basics of how to pass a retail pet sale bans in your community — a powerful way to fight back against puppy mills.
Passing Local Legislation: Prohibiting Animals in Circuses and Traveling Shows

Passing Local Legislation: Prohibiting Animals in Circuses and Traveling Shows

This webinar will focus on passing a local prohibition on animals used in circuses and other traveling shows.

Recent Victories

dog

Providing Shelter to Companion Animals in Disasters (California)

A.B. 781
This bill would require counties in California to designate emergency shelters that can accommodate companion animals.
puppys

Ban Predatory Lending Related to Companion Animal Sales (California)

An act to add Section 122191 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to online pet retailers
This California state bill prohibits the financing of purchases of dogs and cats, often used in the sale of animals bred in puppy or kitten mills and sold online.