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Rescue Dog Scheme Accused of 'Puppy Laundering'
30 Oct
Summary
- LA officials sue Wagmor Pets for alleged 'puppy laundering'.
- Hundreds of dogs allegedly bought from breeders, sold as rescues.
- Lawsuit claims some adopted dogs died after operations.
The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office has initiated legal action against Wagmor Pets, its CEO Melissa Bacelar, and associated businesses, alleging a large-scale "puppy laundering" scheme. This operation reportedly involved purchasing dogs from commercial breeders, including puppy mills, and marketing them to families as genuine rescue animals.
The lawsuit asserts that this practice allowed the defendants to circumvent animal welfare laws and profit from deception. Officials highlighted that families seeking to adopt deserve honesty and that the defendants allegedly exploited public compassion for financial gain, risking animal welfare.
The City Attorney's Office is seeking a permanent injunction to halt these alleged practices, alongside restitution for affected consumers and civil penalties. Several celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Aniston, and Miley Cyrus, have been publicly associated with adoptions through Wagmor Pets.
