California shelters are overflowing and illegal online pet sales are a huge reason why. Puppy mills and scammers sell animals online with almost no oversight. Good Samaritans are left monitoring and flagging the ads, and shelters are left to deal with the fallout. We’re calling on lawmakers to require an online registry for anyone selling pets online, including their tax information and verified ID. 
NO MORE ANONYMOUS ONLINE PET SALES. PROTECT ANIMALS. FIX THE SYSTEM. SIGN THE PETITION. 

As a student leader and Co-Founder of People for Pets, I work closely with local shelters and organizations to address the pressing issue of pet overpopulation, which continues to overwhelm shelters across California. A major driver of this crisis is the rise of illegal and unregulated online pet sales.

Backyard breeders, puppy mills, brokers, and scammers rely heavily on online platforms to sell animals with little oversight or accountability. These sellers often operate in inhumane conditions, contributing to animal suffering and flooding the market with pets that are frequently abandoned, surrendered to shelters, or resold. This makes it exceedingly difficult for responsible breeders and adopters who are genuinely interested in the welfare of pets. Taxpayers and shelters are left to handle the consequences.

It's time for a change. I urge California legislators to implement a statewide registration requirement for anyone advertising pets for sale online. This would require sellers to provide a valid California sales tax registration number and verified seller identification. Online platforms, including social media sites and commercial pet-sale websites, should be prohibited from accepting pet sale advertisements that do not meet these requirements.