LA City Attorney Sues Dog Rescue for Reselling Breeder Animals

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s office has filed a civil action against Wagmor Pets, accusing the dog rescue of operating as a resale business rather than a charitable organization. The complaint labels the nonprofit and its owner, Melissa Bacelar, as dog launderers who purchased animals from breeders to resell them to the public.

The legal filing argues that the rescue collected adoption fees that violated California law, which caps such charges at $500. The city contends that the organization bought hundreds, or possibly thousands, of dogs from breeders and then resold them for higher prices. This practice allegedly generated profit for the group while it marketed itself to Hollywood celebrities as a charitable adoption source.

Beyond the financial irregularities, the city attorney alleges that many of the dogs were sick when adopted and subsequently died. The lawsuit seeks damages for these victims and requests an injunction to stop the business from continuing its operations. The office has also established a specific email address, att.wagmorepets@lacity.org, to collect further statements from affected adopters.

The lawsuit targets Bacelar personally, claiming she continues to run the operation from her home and through online channels. In a written response to media outlets, Bacelar stated that she intends to answer the city’s complaint in court. She added, “We will never stop fighting for the dogs who need us.”

City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto’s office is pursuing both the corporate entity and the individual owner to ensure the group pays for alleged harms to adopters. The case hinges on the distinction between a nonprofit rescue and a for-profit reseller in the local pet market.