California Leaders Call for Statewide Bureau of Companion Animal Welfare

Aug 27, 2026

California Leaders Call for Statewide Bureau of Companion Animal Welfare

Coalition urges the Legislature and next Governor to create coordinated state entity ensuring animal welfare laws work together

SACRAMENTO, CA August 24, 2026 — Animal welfare leaders, local government officials, law enforcement and community advocates gathered at the California State Capitol today to call on the California Legislature and the next Governor to establish a Bureau of Companion Animal Welfare within the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

California has strong animal protection laws governing the care, sale, transfer, sheltering, rescue, boarding and breeding of companion animals, but no single state entity is responsible for making those laws work as a coherent system. Responsibility is fragmented, information is incomplete and the public and local agencies are too often left without a clear statewide path for raising concerns or identifying risk.

The coalition is seeking a legislative champion and calling on the next Governor to work with stakeholders to enact the proposal. A Bureau of Companion Animal Welfare fact sheet outlines the proposed framework.

“For the past three years, we have worked with a dedicated committee of animal welfare leaders to develop this proposal and carefully refine the legislative language,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, President and CEO of San Diego Humane Society. “It was not drafted in response to Villa Chardonnay or the allegations involving Miranda’s Rescue. But these cases and other serious animal welfare concerns throughout California underscore why this work is necessary and add urgency to the need for legislative action. California should not wait for the next catastrophe to build a system that can identify warning signs earlier and better protect animals.”

The proposal draws in part from Colorado’s long-running Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act, a state-administered licensing, inspection, complaint and enforcement program. The coalition is not seeking to copy Colorado word for word, but to adapt a durable model to California while ensuring that regulatory authority remains with the state.

A statewide foundation that preserves local authority

The Bureau would supplement, not replace, local animal control, public health, sheriff, police and prosecutorial authority. It would create a consistent statewide foundation to:

Register and license companion-animal businesses and organizations.
Conduct regular inspections and investigate complaints.
Collect and publish meaningful statewide data about animal care, transfers and outcomes.
Give the public a clear place to report concerns and find reliable information.
Coordinate with local animal control, public health, law enforcement and other government agencies.
Support enforcement of existing animal welfare laws while preserving local duties and powers.

The proposed framework is designed to be fair and practical. Licensing fees would be tiered by factors such as organization type, animal volume, number of facilities and regulatory burden, and could not exceed the reasonable cost of regulation. Most violations would include notice and an opportunity to correct the problem, with due process and appeal rights. An advisory committee would include representatives of shelters, rescues, breeders, veterinarians, boarding facilities, local governments, animal welfare organizations and the public. Implementation could be phased, with licensing required by Jan. 1, 2030.

“California’s shelters and animal control agencies are being asked to operate within a statewide system that has no common foundation for licensing, inspections or information sharing,” said Jill Tucker, CEO of CalAnimals, the state’s association for animal shelters and animal control agencies. “A Bureau would establish clear, consistent expectations, help organizations understand and meet those standards, and allow small problems to be corrected before they become costly emergencies. That is good for animals, good for local agencies and supports organizations in doing this work responsibly.”

Recent cases show the cost of waiting for catastrophe

Villa Chardonnay. On May 1, 2026, San Diego Humane Society served a search warrant at Villa Chardonnay in San Diego County and assumed responsibility for 728 animals, including 446 cats, 30 dogs, 175 horses and more than 70 farm animals. Investigators and veterinarians found animals suffering from malnutrition and emaciation, untreated wounds, infections, inadequate husbandry and a lack of basic medical care. Some required extensive treatment; others were in such critical condition that humane euthanasia was necessary to end their suffering.

“Villa Chardonnay showed us the enormous cost of waiting until a situation becomes catastrophic,” said Jace Huggins, Vice President and Chief of Humane Law Enforcement at San Diego Humane Society. “Rescuing 728 animals required an extraordinary mobilization of investigators, veterinarians, animal care teams and community partners. A statewide Bureau would not replace local enforcement, but it could provide the licensing, inspections and complaint-response infrastructure needed to identify warning signs before hundreds of animals are in crisis.”

Miranda’s Rescue. During a June 2026 search operation involving Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary in Humboldt County, investigators recovered 117 intact canine remains from two dig sites, 21 canine skulls, hundreds of additional bones and more than 600 dog collars, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Many animals examined at the scene showed evidence of bullet fragments, and forensic veterinarians preliminarily determined that gunshot wounds were the cause of death for many of the animals. The coalition is relying only on publicly released investigative facts and does not prejudge criminal liability.

“The investigation into Miranda’s Rescue has highlighted the need for greater accountability and transparency for organizations entrusted with animals,” said William F. Honsal, Humboldt County Sheriff. “Law enforcement is designed to investigate suspected crimes after evidence comes to light; it is not a substitute for routine licensing, inspections and reliable reporting. A statewide Bureau will give California an earlier line of sight into how animals are received, cared for, transferred and adopted, while preserving the authority of local agencies. Better information and coordination can help us respond sooner and protect both animals and the public.”

The coalition emphasized that these cases do not mean every rescue, shelter, sanctuary, breeder or boarding provider is irresponsible. California is home to thousands of people and organizations doing lifesaving work. Consistent standards, reliable information and proportional oversight would protect their credibility, help local agencies choose responsible partners and allow problems to be addressed before animals and communities bear the cost.

A clear front door for the public and a dependable partner for providers

“Californians should not need to understand a maze of agencies and jurisdictions to find help for an animal in danger,” said Melanie Sadek, President and CEO of Valley Humane Society. “A Bureau would give the public a clear place to ask questions and report concerns, while supporting responsible organizations with consistent guidance. That combination, an accessible front door for the public and a dependable partner for animal care providers, is the statewide infrastructure California is missing.”

Speakers at the Capitol event included Sadek; Tucker; Dr. Gary Weitzman, President and CEO of San Diego Humane Society; Joe DeVries, Director of Oakland Animal Services; Huggins; and Brittany Benesi, Senior Legislative Director for the ASPCA’s Western Division. Sadek also delivered an approved statement from Sheriff Honsal, who remained in Humboldt County because a new fire required his presence as the county’s chief emergency responder. Together, they urged lawmakers, local governments, veterinary professionals, responsible animal-care providers and community advocates to help shape an effective, balanced oversight system.

The coalition is calling on legislators to commit to establishing the Bureau, identify a legislative champion and prepare a proposal that can move with the next administration. No regulatory system can guarantee that harm will never occur, but earlier visibility, clearer accountability and better coordination can give California more opportunities to protect animals, consumers and communities before a crisis reaches catastrophic scale.