After a bill was unanimously passed in the Senate earlier this week, California has become the first state to ban the commercial breeding of dogs, cats, and rabbits.

The legislation, AB-485, is a direct blow against the use of puppy mills: facilities that breed animals in crowded, dirty, and inhumane conditions.

All pet stores in the state of California will now have to "maintain records sufficient to document the source of each dog, cat, or rabbit the pet store sells" and "to post, in a conspicuous location on the cage or enclosure of each animal, a sign listing the name of the entity from which each dog, cat, or rabbit was obtained".

Any pet stores that could be found guilty of selling commercially bred animals can be fined up to $500 for each violation.

Once the bill is signed by Governor Brown, it will come into full effect in January 2019.

"The California legislature's passage of Assembly Bill 485 is a landmark victory and one that we have championed for decades," said Chris DeRose, Last Chance for Animals president and founder. "We are elated that our home state is leading the way on this important issue. Requiring pet stores to sell only rescue and shelter animals is a bold venture – but one that will help rehome some of the six million unwanted animals that enter shelters each year."

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