A new San Francisco, California law will “ban the sale of non-rescue” animals in the hopes of wiping out “inhumane” breeding operations throughout the Bay Area. The law will also prohibit the selling of any animal under eight weeks old.

Any breeder with a valid license will not be affected by this new measure. Lawmakers hope this new amendment will help thousands of shelter animals get adopted and find their forever home.

“Most animal lovers are horrified at the thought of keeping their beloved family pet in a dirty wire cage for a second — let alone a week, month or even years. Yet, that is the fate of many animals at large-scale commercial breeding operations across the nation, including the mothers of many puppies and kittens sold in pet shops,” the San Francisco Board of Supervisors wrote in an op-ed piece. “In response, more than 200 cities and counties across the nation have banned the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores.”

Members of PETA have praised this new law, which was previously enacted by Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Boston, Austin, and Philadelphia, and find it “progressive and example-setting.”

“With this vote, San Francisco has proved itself to be the city of love for millions of dogs and cats in desperate need of homes. Pet shops’ greed fuels the cruel commercial breeding industry that keeps female dogs and cats prisoner inside filthy wire cages – whose only purpose is to churn out litters of inbred puppies and kittens who are then taken away from them, transported hundreds of miles, and sold,” PETA’s international program director Mimi Bekhechi told The Independent. “The city has recognised that animals are not commodities and that there’s a direct link between the industry and the millions of dogs and cats in shelters around the world who are euthanised each year because there aren’t enough good homes for them all.”

While San Francisco does not currently have any pet stores that sell dogs and cats, the new law would prevent future shops from opening their doors to the public. The city’s animal department works with the local SPCA charity branch to find forever homes for more than 6,000 animals each year.

If it weren’t for all this rain, I’d go adopt a dog right now!