California

Updates about legal issues facing animals in the state

The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, state, territory, 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. Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report. Each state is ranked based on 20 different categories of animal protection.

California
Overall Rank: #6 (Top Tier)

Animal Protection Laws of California

The Animal Protection Laws of California compendium contains the general animal protection and related statutes for California with an effective date on or before September 1, 2025.

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Legislative Session

Active Legislation

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Recent Victories

Wildlife, Legislation

Protecting Wildlife from Harmful Poisons (California)

California Ecosystems Protection Act (AB 1788)

Places safeguards on the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides

Companion Animals, Legislation

Strengthening the State’s Retail Pet Sale Ban (California)

Bella’s Act (AB 2152)

Bella’s Act, AB 2152, strengthens California’s retail pet sale ban and helps ensure pet stores do not profit off animals bred in mills.

Farmed Animals, Litigation

Challenging Restrictions on Plant-Based Dairy Marketing

Miyoko's Kitchen v. California Dep't of Food and Agriculture

The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Food and Agriculture on behalf of vegan food producer Miyoko's Creamery, after the agency instructed the company to stop using terms like "dairy" and "butter" on its product

Companion Animals, Litigation

Suing Unscrupulous Puppy Traffickers Who Knowingly Sold Sick Dogs

Jessica Loy et. al. v. Trina Kenney et. al.

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.