By Karim Hammam
Los Angeles City Attorney's Office filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Studio City-based Wagmor Pets, its founder and CEO Melissa Bacelar, and two associated businesses, alleging they ran an illegal "puppy laundering" operation that sold commercially bred dogs as rescue animals.
Lawsuit Alleges Puppy Laundering Operation
The lawsuit claims the defendants purchased hundreds, potentially thousands, of dogs from commercial breeders, including puppy mills, and marketed them as rescued animals, exploiting animal lovers' compassion for profit while circumventing California and Los Angeles animal welfare laws.
Celebrity Ties and Business Structure
Wagmor Pets has attracted celebrity attention, with Jennifer Aniston, Ellen DeGeneres, Miley Cyrus, and Kris Jenner publicly linked to adoptions through the organization. The lawsuit names Wagmor Pets, Wylder's Holistic Pet Center Inc., Doho House LLC, and Bacelar as defendants; court documents show Bacelar heads all three entities sharing a Studio City address.
City officials allege the businesses used various entities, including a purported nonprofit, to disguise commercial puppy sales as legitimate rescues, evading laws prohibiting pet stores from selling live dogs and restrictions on puppy brokers. The complaint accuses defendants of multiple violations of California's Unfair Competition Law and the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
Animal Welfare Concerns and Legal Action
The alleged scheme, known as "puppy laundering," involves acquiring dogs from commercial breeders and presenting them as rescued animals, often charging adoption fees reaching thousands of dollars. The lawsuit also claims numerous dogs sold by the defendants subsequently died, raising animal welfare concerns.
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto said her office is committed to enforcing the state's strong animal welfare laws and will not tolerate those who circumvent laws for financial gain at the expense of consumers and animals. The office seeks a permanent injunction, restitution for affected consumers, and civil penalties.
Bacelar could not be reached for comment Wednesday; a voicemail went unanswered and an email to Wagmor Pets could not be delivered due to a full inbox. The allegations have not been proven in court.
