Attempt to peddle puppies at yoga class lands illegal breeder hefty fine

An unlicensed dog breeder from California who was caught on an audio recording has been fined $15,400 for offering puppies for sale Easter weekend at a Las Vegas class offering “Puppies & Yoga.” 

It’s illegal to sell dogs without a breeder’s license in Clark County, which is enduring a critical animal overpopulation crisis. A bill before state lawmakers would prohibit retail pet sales statewide.

“I don’t need a license,” the breeder, Denise Gottlieb, told the Current when reached by phone. “I do this all over the country.” 

An activity report obtained by the Current from Clark County Animal Control says Gottlieb of Pinon Springs, CA, had 11 puppies and three adult dogs at a Puppies & Yoga class Easter weekend at Kalma Events in Commercial Center.

“Fines for illegal selling of puppies range from a minimum of $500 per count or the sale price or offered sale price of the animal,” Clark County spokesperson Yazmin Beltran said via email.  “Fines have ranged from $500-$5,000 per count.”

In 2024, the county issued citations for 94 counts of illegal sales of puppies, with fines totaling $201,250. So far in 2025, the county has issued fines totaling $46,700 for 36 counts of illegal sales.  

Gottlieb, when confronted by Animal Control officers who were tipped off to the event on April 19 by Nevada Voters for Animals, denied she was selling the puppies and refused to provide her identification to officers, who she alleged cited her because she called them the “f-cken dog catcher,” according to the county’s activity report.  

Gottlieb “became very confrontational,” the report says, when officers told her they “received statements and audio as evidence” of the attempted sales. Gottlieb can be heard on the recording offering one puppy for $750 and another for $1,295. 

“I could have walked out of there with a puppy, with no adoption record, nothing,” says one of two animal rescuers who attended the class and recorded Gottlieb. The Current agreed not to identify the sources out of concern for retaliation.

The county’s report says a man identified as Edgar, the owner of the business, told Animal Control officers via phone that “he has the breeder’s (sic) sign a contract stating that the sale of animals is not permitted on the property or during class,” however, officers did not ask to see the contract, according to a County spokesperson. 

Gottlieb said she was unaware of such a contractual provision. 

The Current was unable to find a local business license for Puppies & Yoga, which operates in 14 states, according to its website. 

Puppies and Yoga did not respond to numerous requests for comment.  

Wellness trend or commoditization?

“I feel like they are using puppies for money,” said one of the two animal advocates who tipped off authorities to the attempted sales. 

Puppies and Yoga Las Vegas charges $69 per person and advertises as many as five classes a day on the weekend, each for about 20 people.

“Our puppies come from breeders who recognize the importance of early socialization and want their puppies to be well-socialized before moving to their new homes,” says Puppies & Yoga’s website.

Yoga classes featuring small animals such as puppies, kittens, goats, and rabbits are a popular trend.  Animal advocates are increasingly concerned, noting potential emotional and physical trauma can befall small animals, and citing health concerns, such as intestinal parasites that are common in puppies and can be transmitted to other dogs and to humans. 

Italy’s Ministry of Health has banned “puppy yoga” classes, the BBC reports, saying it was aware that organizers “borrow” puppies from breeders.

Gottlieb can be heard on the recording saying she brings the puppies to town every weekend. It’s unknown whether the puppies were used in subsequent yoga classes on Saturday. 

The company did not respond to requests for comment on whether it has considered using its events to assist shelters and rescues with adoptions. 

“We’ve done puppy yoga as a fundraiser twice,” said one of the Current’s sources, who operates an animal rescue. “But all of the money goes back to the rescue.”