California's Puppy Black Market: A Transparency Crisis

Over a span of 14 months, our investigation into California's puppy black market revealed dire transparency issues affecting pet ownership and animal health. We spoke with various stakeholders, including pet owners, breeders, brokers, transporters, government officials, and animal advocates. The investigation involved filing over 130 public records requests across 50 states and 58 counties. A crucial point of our findings highlighted that California lacks a systematic record-keeping process for the movement of dogs across state lines. Each time a dog moves, a veterinarian must assess its health and document its journey. However, unlike other states, California destroys these records, asserting that counties should maintain them. This significant lapse creates ambiguity for consumers seeking reputable breeders while undermining the health assurance of the pets they acquire. The absence of these records makes it challenging for potential dog owners to make informed decisions, raising critical concerns about conditions in which these animals are bred and sold. This investigation ultimately calls for a reconsideration of policy and an enhanced system for tracking and managing puppy transactions for the benefit of consumer welfare and animal rights.