As of Jan 1, 2026 Jackson's Dobermans along with many other breeders have made the difficult decision to no longer do business with California.
Due to several new California laws that have recently passed, we have made the decision to pause placing puppies in the state of California until further notice. While these laws were created with the intention of protecting animals and consumers, they introduce new legal, financial, and administrative risks that I am not comfortable navigating at this time as a small, responsible breeder.
The bills include SB 312, AB 519, and AB 506.
SB 312 requires expanded health certificate reporting and electronic submission of detailed breeder and veterinary information to the state for dogs sold or transported into California. This information becomes part of a public record system. For breeders, this increases administrative workload, compliance costs, and legal exposure if documentation is delayed, questioned, or disputed.
AB 519 restricts certain third party platforms and brokering practices for pet sales. Although its goal is to eliminate unethical large scale operations, it also limits how responsible breeders can advertise and connect with families in California, making placements more complicated for small, ethical programs.
AB 506 changes how deposits and contracts can be structured, including restrictions on non refundable deposits and expanded disclosure requirements before accepting payment. For breeders, deposits help ensure commitment from families and allow us to responsibly plan litters. These changes increase financial uncertainty and make contracts more vulnerable to dispute.
One of my biggest concerns is the increased liability surrounding refunds and medical reimbursement requirements. Under these expanded consumer protection measures, there are scenarios where a buyer may be entitled to keep the puppy while also requiring the breeder to reimburse the full purchase price and additional veterinary expenses if certain claims are made. While consumer protection is important, this creates significant financial risk for small breeders and opens the door for potential misuse or bad faith claims. Unfortunately, not everyone operates with integrity, and as a small program, I cannot take on that level of financial exposure.
Due to several new California laws that have recently passed, we have made the decision to pause placing puppies in the state of California until further notice. While these laws were created with the intention of protecting animals and consumers, they introduce new legal, financial, and administrative risks that I am not comfortable navigating at this time as a small, responsible breeder.
The bills include SB 312, AB 519, and AB 506.
SB 312 requires expanded health certificate reporting and electronic submission of detailed breeder and veterinary information to the state for dogs sold or transported into California. This information becomes part of a public record system. For breeders, this increases administrative workload, compliance costs, and legal exposure if documentation is delayed, questioned, or disputed.
AB 519 restricts certain third party platforms and brokering practices for pet sales. Although its goal is to eliminate unethical large scale operations, it also limits how responsible breeders can advertise and connect with families in California, making placements more complicated for small, ethical programs.
AB 506 changes how deposits and contracts can be structured, including restrictions on non refundable deposits and expanded disclosure requirements before accepting payment. For breeders, deposits help ensure commitment from families and allow us to responsibly plan litters. These changes increase financial uncertainty and make contracts more vulnerable to dispute.
One of my biggest concerns is the increased liability surrounding refunds and medical reimbursement requirements. Under these expanded consumer protection measures, there are scenarios where a buyer may be entitled to keep the puppy while also requiring the breeder to reimburse the full purchase price and additional veterinary expenses if certain claims are made. While consumer protection is important, this creates significant financial risk for small breeders and opens the door for potential misuse or bad faith claims. Unfortunately, not everyone operates with integrity, and as a small program, I cannot take on that level of financial exposure.