UES student shares passion for animals

Posted by Press Release on June 16, 2019

State Sen. Tom Killion visited Unionville Elementary School to speak with students about Victoria’s Law, SB44, a Senate bill sponsored by Killion and state Sen. Andrew Dinniman, that discourages pet stores from using animals supplied by puppy mills.

Victoria’s Law was created in honor of a German shepherd who was rescued from a Pennsylvania puppy mill after 10 years of breeding. She became completely paralyzed as a result of a genetic, neurological disorder called Degenerative Myelopathy, a disease she passed down to the estimated 150-200 puppies she produced while at the puppy mill.

Clare Voss, a fourth-grade student at Unionville Elementary, stands with state Sen. Tom Killion and his sponsorship of SB 44.

Clare Voss is a fourth-grade student at Unionville Elementary. She is very passionate about helping animals and decided to work on a "passion project" in her class this year. Under the direction or her teacher Mrs. Chrissie Rissmiler, she reached out to LaMancha Animal Rescue in Coatesville, Pa. and set up an interview with one of their volunteers. Clare toured the facilities and learned about the rescue and the animals in need. This is where Clare first learned about Victoria’s Law.

Upon learning Victoria’s story, Clare wanted to get involved. She researched the situation and learned about puppy mills (inhumane breeding facilities) and how they supply puppies to many pet stores in Pennsylvania. Clare sent Senator Killion an email and she was invited to visit the Senator and share a slide show presentation she made about her visit to LaMancha and her knowledge about Victoria’s Law. Senator Killion was so impressed, he requested to come and speak with all of the fourth-grade students at Unionville Elementary about Victoria's Law and how a bill becomes a law.

"I really enjoyed doing a passion project this school year,” said Clare. “I feel like I really made a difference. I'm glad that Victoria's Law is going to be put into action. All dogs should be treated fairly. I hope this law helps to end puppy mills.”

About Victoria’s Law

Victoria was a German shepherd who was rescued from a Pennsylvania puppy mill after 10 years of breeding. She became completely paralyzed as a result of a genetic, neurological disorder called Degenerative Myelopathy, a disease she passed down to the estimated 150-200 puppies she produced while at the puppy mill. When puppy mills no longer have pet stores to supply their puppies to, far fewer dogs will be forced to endure what Victoria did.

SB 44 was introduced by Killion and Dinniman and co-sponsored by a record number of senators. Victoria’s Law will drive the pet market in PA towards more humane sources by prohibiting the sale of commercially-raised dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores, and increase transparency by requiring sellers to include identifying information in advertisements.

It is well-documented that puppy mills (inhumane commercial breeding facilities that disregard the well-being of dogs for profit) supply pet stores with puppies; Pennsylvania pet stores are no exception. Cutting off the puppy mill to pet store supply chain will decrease the demand for puppies raised in puppy mills considered shocking, appalling, and unacceptable by the majority of Pennsylvanians.