Petition to Demand Accountability and Ethical Practices from Wagmor Pets

Wagmor Pets, a prominent pet rescue and adoption organization, is under scrutiny for allegedly engaging in practices that not only mislead the public but also perpetuate the crisis of homeless pets. While claiming to rescue animals from harmful situations, Wagmor Pets appears to be operating in a manner that prioritizes profit over the welfare of the animals they profess to save. It is time to shed light on these practices and demand change.

 

 

Key Issues with Wagmor Pets’ Practices:

1. Misrepresentation of Dogs’ Origins:

Wagmor Pets often presents dogs as being rescued from dire circumstances, such as puppy mills or abusive environments. However, many of these dogs are actually sourced from breeders’ surplus stock, not genuine rescue situations. This deliberate misrepresentation deceives adopters into believing they are supporting a noble cause when, in reality, they are perpetuating a system that exploits animals for profit. Transparency about the true origins of these dogs is essential to maintain public trust and uphold ethical standards in animal rescue.

2. Supporting the Breeding Industry: 

By purchasing dogs from breeders and selling them as “rescues,” Wagmor Pets inadvertently supports and incentivizes the very industry that contributes to the overpopulation and suffering of countless animals. This practice is counterproductive to the mission of reducing pet homelessness and flies in the face of efforts by many cities and states that have enacted bans on the sale of puppy mill dogs to curb irresponsible breeding. Wagmor Pets’ actions undermine these legislative efforts and contribute to a continuous cycle of animal exploitation.

 

 

3. Importing Dogs During a Shelter Crisis:

 At a time when animal shelters across the country are overwhelmed with homeless pets, Wagmor Pets’ decision to import dogs from out of state is both irresponsible and inexcusable. Many shelters are forced to euthanize healthy, adoptable dogs simply because there isn’t enough space or resources to care for them. By bringing in dogs from other regions, Wagmor Pets diverts potential adopters away from local shelters, reducing the chances of these animals finding homes and exacerbating the shelter crisis. In the midst of such a dire situation, focusing on rescuing and rehoming local shelter animals should be the priority for any responsible rescue organization.

4. Neglecting Spay and Neuter Requirements:

Spaying and neutering are fundamental practices in responsible animal rescue, as they help control the pet population and prevent future homelessness. Despite this, Wagmor Pets has been known to send dogs to new homes without ensuring they are spayed or neutered, often relying on vouchers for future procedures. This approach is highly problematic, as it fails to guarantee that these surgeries will be performed, leading to further breeding and compounding the overpopulation issue. Every reputable rescue should make spaying and neutering a non-negotiable requirement before adoption to protect animal welfare and prevent unnecessary suffering.

5. Lack of Adequate Medical Care and Safety Protocols:

 

 

Proper veterinary care is crucial for the health and well-being of rescue animals. However, Wagmor Pets has been criticized for not providing comprehensive medical exams, vaccinations, or necessary treatments before adopting out dogs. Furthermore, the organization’s lack of quarantine procedures and thorough health assessments increases the risk of spreading infectious diseases, endangering both the animals and the public. Ensuring that all dogs receive appropriate medical care and are assessed for any health issues before adoption is a basic responsibility that must not be overlooked.

6. Misuse of Donor Funds and Lack of Financial Transparency:

 

 

Many donors contribute to Wagmor Pets believing their money is being used to rescue and care for animals in need. However, there are concerns that a significant portion of these funds is being used to purchase dogs from breeders and support a for-profit pet hotel owned by the organization’s leadership. This lack of financial transparency not only betrays the trust of donors but also diverts resources away from genuine rescue efforts. It is imperative that Wagmor Pets provides a full account of how donations are used and ensures that funds are directed towards ethical and effective animal welfare initiatives.

7. Impact on Local Shelters and Ethical Rescues:

 

 

By focusing on selling highly desirable puppies, Wagmor Pets diverts attention and resources away from local shelters that are filled with adult and mixed-breed dogs in desperate need of homes. This preference for puppies over shelter animals perpetuates a harmful hierarchy that values certain animals over others, leading to the neglect and unnecessary euthanasia of countless shelter pets. A true rescue should be committed to finding homes for all animals, regardless of age, breed, or background, and should work in collaboration with local shelters to address the crisis of pet homelessness.

8. Creation of a “Rescue Market”: 

 

 

Wagmor Pets’ practices have contributed to the emergence of a “rescue market,” where dogs are bred specifically to be sold to rescue organizations. This market blurs the line between rescue and commerce, turning the act of saving lives into a profitable business. Such practices distort the purpose of animal rescue and threaten to undermine the integrity of the entire rescue community.

9. Ethical Standards and Accountability: 

 

 

The foundation of any rescue organization should be a genuine commitment to animal welfare and ethical practices. Wagmor Pets’ actions, as outlined above, raise serious questions about their adherence to these principles. We call on Wagmor Pets to align its operations with the true values of rescue, focusing on transparency, ethical sourcing, and the well-being of the animals in their care.

11. Wagmor Pets does not adhere to AB 485 Pet Rescue & Adoption Act 

AB 485, also known as the Pet Rescue and Adoption Act, is a California law that took effect in January 2019. It mandates that pet stores in California may only sell dogs, cats, and rabbits obtained from public animal control agencies, shelters, or rescue groups. The intent of this law is to reduce the demand for animals bred in inhumane conditions, such as puppy mills, and to promote the adoption of homeless pets from shelters.

Here's how Wagmor Pets may not adhere to AB 485: Sourcing from Breeders Instead of Rescues or Shelters: AB 485 requires that pets sold in California must come from public animal control agencies, shelters, or legitimate rescue groups. If Wagmor Pets is sourcing dogs from breeders or brokers under the guise of "rescues," this would directly violate the spirit and letter of AB 485. By purchasing dogs from breeders, Wagmor Pets is circumventing the law intended to support shelter adoptions and reduce the commercial breeding of pets.

Misrepresentation of Animal Origins: If Wagmor Pets is falsely presenting animals sourced from breeders as “rescued” to comply with AB 485, they are engaging in deceptive practices that violate consumer protection standards. This misrepresentation not only violates the law but also misleads adopters who believe they are supporting ethical rescue efforts when, in reality, they are contributing to the commercial pet trade.

Undermining the Intent of AB 485: The law was enacted to reduce the prevalence of puppy mills and increase shelter adoptions. By importing animals from breeders, Wagmor Pets is undermining the core intention of AB 485, which is to reduce the homeless pet population and prevent the exploitation of animals by profit-driven breeding operations. This practice diverts resources and attention away from local shelters, where many animals are still in need of homes.

By not adhering to AB 485 if they are sourcing animals from breeders instead of shelters or legitimate rescues, misrepresenting the origins of these animals, and failing to comply with the intended welfare standards of the law. This undermines the efforts to reduce the homeless pet population and stop the cycle of unethical breeding practices, which AB 485 seeks to address.

The important points are as follows: 

 

 

1. Wagmor continues to misrepresent themselves and the source / story behind these dogs putting other rescues and dogs at a disadvantage.

2. Wagmor brings in a lot of donations which aren’t being used as advertised. When people donate, they believe it’s to save dogs lives.

3. These puppies and other dogs are not from a “USDA breeder shut down” but are breeder overstock. Very different. One is plugging the hole and the other is a future full of a continual inventory of puppies. Addressing the problem at the core versus something not even equivalent to a Band-Aid solution, but actually kind of doing the breeders a favor.   This has created a “rescue market”.  What is a rescue market? its puppies that are bred to sell to dog rescue organizations. 

4. Adopters deserve to know the background dogs especially when taking into account medical and infectious diseases. 

5. Wagmor is not properly providing appropriate medical care and veterinary care prior to the dogs being imported in the state or going into they’re forever homes.

6. Dogs are going home without sterilization, simply a promise to spay and neuter. We know that does not work. This is Rescue 101. 

7. Even the adult dogs are going home without being spayed or neuter prior, with a sterilization voucher. Again, we know that we can’t trust people to spay and neuter their pets.

8. Wagmor doesn’t get a proper medical exam for the puppies, or provide veterinary care prior to going into their forever home, they don’t spay or neuter prior to adoption. Just sent home with a voucher, and the money that was donated goes to cover the cost of purchasing the pups. 

9. Wagmor increases their profit margin when people don’t use the spay and neuter voucher. They do not follow up on the dogs that have gone home and whether the procedure has been completed.

10. the rest is pure profit, which goes into Melissa Bacelar’s pet hotel for-profit business and not back into the rescue. Adopters look at your bank statements from your adoption fee. 

11. Fundraising activities that misrepresent the truth do all other rescues and nonprofit organizations a disservice. 

12. Propagating a false sensational rescue story make it difficult for an average neglected or abused dog to be overlooked because their story isn’t good enough.

13. Wagmor’s actions have turned “rescue” into a commodity.

14. Importing pure breed or highly desirable puppies by the hundreds take away hundreds of homes and the opportunity to educate the average person in our society.

The dogs in the shelters don’t have a chance. It puts a higher value on those high demand puppies than it does on the life that sits behind bars and most likely will be euthanized Aren’t those lives deserving as well? 

We Demand:

1. Full Transparency: Wagmor Pets must publicly disclose the true origins of all dogs in their care and provide a detailed breakdown of how donor funds are utilized.

2. Commitment to Ethical Rescue Practices: Cease the importation of dogs from breeders or out-of-state sources and focus solely on rescuing animals from local shelters and genuine at-risk situations.

 

 

3. Mandatory Spay and Neuter Policies: Implement a strict spay and neuter policy for all animals before adoption, ensuring that no dog is adopted out without being sterilized.

4. Adequate Veterinary Care and Health Protocols:  Ensure that every dog receives a comprehensive medical exam, necessary vaccinations, and any required treatments before adoption, and implement proper quarantine procedures to protect both animal and public health.

5.  Stop Importing Designer Puppies from Out of State: Importing pure breed or highly desirable puppies by the hundreds take away hundreds of homes and the opportunity to educate the average person in our society. The dogs in the shelters don’t have a chance. It puts a higher value on those high demand puppies than it does on the life that sits behind bars and most likely will be euthanized Aren’t those lives deserving as well? 

6. Reallocation of Funds: Redirect financial resources towards genuine rescue efforts and animal welfare initiatives, rather than supporting for-profit ventures or purchasing dogs from breeders.

Sign this petition to demand that Wagmor Pets stop supporting unethical breeding practices, adhere to responsible rescue standards, and prioritize the true welfare of animals. Together, we can ensure that every animal has a chance at a safe, loving home, and that rescue means saving lives, not exploiting them for profit.

(Illustration by Jim Cooke / Los Angeles Times)