Lawmakers taking aim at puppy mills

CHADDS FORD >> State Sen. Tom Killion is promoting his Victoria’s Law legislation, named after a German Shepherd forced to have more than 150 puppies, to help end animal cruelty and shut down Pennsylvania’s puppy mill pipeline.

“Puppy mills are inhumane and cause a lifetime of senseless pain to pets,” said Killion. “No pet should ever be forced to overbreed, as was the case with Victoria. We need to do everything possible to shut down puppy mills once and for all, and we need to do this now,” he added.

Killion and Senator Andy Dinniman are the authors of Victoria’s Law. There are currently 26 Senators co-sponsoring Killion’s legislation, which is over half of the Pennsylvania Senate.

Killion will discuss the legislation at an event with the Hu

mane Society of the United States and Finding Shelter Animal Rescue to highlight the need for Victoria’s Law on Thursday, May 23rd from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the pet store GiggyBites Bakery and Marketplace, 100 Ridge Road, Suite 4 in Chadds Ford.

The event, which is open to the public, will feature puppy mill survivors and animal advocates.

Victoria’s Law would prohibit the sale of commercially-raised dogs, cats and rabbits in Pennsylvania’s pet stores. This prohibition would eliminate the demand for these pets on a mass scale from inhumane puppy mill style breeders.

Killion said the goal of the legislation is to finally move Pennsylvania away from a pet market that sources animals from businesses engaging in antiquated and barbaric breeding practices. He also noted that pets would still be available for sale directly from licensed and regulated breeders.

Killion said, “Victoria’s Law will completely recalibrate our state’s pet market, but most importantly, it will help put an end to puppy mills and the suffering they cause.”