Hollywood stars' favorite animal rescue accused of selling puppy mill dogs to families in elaborate scheme

A Los Angeles animal rescue popular with Hollywood celebrities has been accused of running an illegal “puppy laundering” operation that allegedly sold commercially bred dogs to unsuspecting families under the guise of saving abandoned animals.The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office filed a lawsuit against Studio City-based Wagmor Pets, its founder and CEO Melissa Bacelar, and two associated businesses, alleging they purchased hundreds — potentially thousands — of dogs from commercial breeders, including puppy mills, before marketing them as rescue animals.The lawsuit, announced Tuesday, claims the defendants exploited animal lovers' compassion to generate profits while circumventing California and Los Angeles animal welfare laws.Melissa Bacelar and Jenna Dewan attend the Wagmor Pets Inaugural Pet Gala at Yamashiro Hollywood on June 27, 2022 in Los Angeles (Getty)It also alleges that numerous dogs died after being adopted through the operation.Wagmor Pets has attracted attention for its connections to celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Ellen DeGeneres, Miley Cyrus and Kris Jenner, who have been 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. According to court documents, Bacelar heads all three organizations, which share an address in Studio City.City officials allege the businesses operated through various entities, including a purported nonprofit organization, to disguise commercial puppy sales as legitimate animal rescues.Melissa Bacelar and Gilles Marini attend the ECOLUXE Awards Season Drive-Thru Luxury Experience at The Beverly Hilton on April 23, 2021 in Beverly Hills (Getty)The alleged scheme allowed the defendants to evade laws prohibiting pet stores from selling live dogs, as well as more recent restrictions on puppy brokers, according to the complaint.The lawsuit accuses the defendants of multiple violations of California's Unfair Competition Law and the Los Angeles Municipal Code.The practice, commonly known as “puppy laundering,” involves acquiring dogs from commercial breeders and presenting them to consumers as rescued animals.According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, such operations frequently use seemingly legitimate rescue organizations to conceal the origins of puppies and charge adoption fees that can reach thousands of dollars.Consumers who believe they are helping abandoned or mistreated animals may instead be financially supporting commercial breeding operations, including puppy mills.The alleged deception also raises animal welfare concerns, with the lawsuit claiming that numerous dogs sold by the defendants subsequently died.Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto said her office was determined to hold businesses accountable for allegedly exploiting families seeking to adopt rescue animals.“Los Angeles and California have some of the strongest animal welfare laws in the country, and my office is committed to enforcing them,” Feldstein Soto said in a statement Tuesday.“Families who open their homes to rescue animals deserve honesty, not deception. We allege that the defendants exploited the compassion of many Angelenos for financial gain, while putting the welfare of vulnerable animals at risk.”She added: “We will not tolerate those who circumvent our laws and profit at the expense of consumers and animals they believe they are saving.”The City Attorney's Office is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent the defendants and their associates from continuing the alleged practices, along with restitution for affected consumers and civil penalties.Bacelar could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday morning. A voicemail seeking a response went unanswered, and an email to Wagmor Pets could not be delivered because its inbox was full.The allegations have not been proven in court.