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The celebrity-favored dog rescue where Ellen DeGeneres, Kris Jenner, Chrissy Teigen and more got their precious pooches allegedly sold puppy mill pups as rescued animals, according to a new legal complaint.
Melissa Bacelar, the founder of Wagmor, ran a “puppy laundering” scheme, allegedly purchasing hundreds of purebred and “designer” puppies from commercial breeders across the country and transporting them to California for resale under the guise of “adoptions,” according to the LA City Attorney’s Office.
Wagmor built a glamorous reputation through high-profile clients like Jennifer Aniston, Ellen DeGeneres, Chrissy Teigen, and Kris Jenner, all of whom publicly promoted adopting “rescued” pets through the organisation.
Prosecutors allege that customers paid steep “adoption fees” of $650 to $1,500 thinking they were rescuing dogs in need, but the money directly financed Wagmor’s commercial breeding operations, according to an Oct. 22 complaint.
“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,” said LA City Attoney Hydee Feldstein Soto.
Bacelar solicited public donations using deceptive tactics, including manufactured claims of urgency, “claiming that breeders will kill dogs, including by shooting them, unless Wagmor raises sufficient funds within a short period,” according to the complaint.
Wagmor continued to market itself as a 501(c)(3) non-profit and tell donors their contributions were tax-deductible long after both the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board revoked its tax-exempt status in May 2025, city prosecutors said.
The complaint also alleges that Bacelar and her employees illegally administered rabies vaccines to animals without required supervision from a licensed veterinarian or Registered Veterinary Technician.
Wagmore and Bacelar are also accused of operating without pet shop and dog kennel permits at their Studio City facility and conducting commercial “puppy parties” without an animal acts or exhibitions permit.
City prosecutors are urging people who either purchased a dog through Wagmor or have other information about the organisation, to contact them at att.wagmorpets@lacity.org.
