Animal Victory Fights Animal Abuse Through Petitions.

 Our Story

Animal Victory was founded in 2019 by Janelle Babington, who recognized a powerful opportunity to unite animal lovers through social media to fight cruelty. She saw that online communities could become a collective force for change — demanding investigations, accountability, and justice for abused and neglected animals.

Together with Penny Eims, a veteran journalist and animal advocate with more than 20 years of experience, Janelle combined expertise in rescue operations, research, writing, and technology to bring Animal Victory to life.

Their shared compassion and unwavering dedication have built a purposeful petition platform that empowers people everywhere to take action, raise awareness, and help reduce animal mistreatment. Their inspiring journey stands as a testament to their love for animals and their lifelong commitment to justice and compassion.

 

Janelle Babington

Founder & CEO

In addition to her work with Animal Victory, Janelle also founded the American Red Lion Disaster Fund, an organization dedicated to reducing animal suffering during natural disasters. Under her leadership, the group earned multiple honors, including the Great Nonprofits Badge, the GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency, and recognition as one of America’s Best Local Charities. In 2021, operations for the American Red Lion Disaster Fund were paused so Janelle could focus exclusively on Animal Victory’s growing petition platform. However, recognizing the ongoing need for animal disaster relief, she later established the Animal Victory Disaster and Abuse Fund, continuing the original Red Lion mission of compassion, advocacy, and rescue for animals in crisis.

Penny Eims

Lead Petition Writer

With over two decades of experience as a journalist and freelance writer, Penny has made a lasting impact in animal welfare media through her work with Examiner.com, Shelter ME-TV, Pet Rescue Report, and FIDO Friendly Magazine. Her National Animal News Facebook page has attracted more than 600,000 followers, amplifying her voice for animals in need. Penny’s deep expertise in researching animal welfare and rights nonprofits drives her passion for supporting underserved and underfunded causes. In addition to drafting petitions for Animal Victory, she serves as a Director for the Animal Victory Disaster and Abuse Fund, helping guide the organization’s efforts to deliver aid and advocacy for animals in crisis.

Our Team

Our team is made up of dedicated, compassionate advocates who value animals over profit and share one unified goal: to collect as many signatures as possible to persuade officials to investigate alleged cases of animal abuse and seek the maximum punishment for convicted abusers.

Together, we combine our expertise in research, writing, media, and outreach to amplify the voices of thousands who stand for justice and compassion for all animals.

Pierina
Romero

Social Media Director

Pierina leverages her social media expertise and multilingual communication skills to promote each Animal Victory petition across diverse platforms. Her efforts help expand the organization’s global reach and drive higher engagement and signature counts for every campaign.

Kelley
Kite

Petitions Delivery Coordinator

Kelley prepares and formats petitions and signature documents to meet legal and procedural requirements, ensuring they reach prosecutors and judges accurately and on time. She diligently tracks each case, resubmitting updated petitions as signatures grow, and oversees delivery through every stage until resolution.

Jan Karpel

Legal & Case Research Director

Jan gathers the necessary information to liaise with the authorities based on our petition requirements. She monitors each case and maintains communication with the authorities, police, attorneys, or judges until the case concludes. She keeps detailed and accurate notes to help us use our petition effectively, backed by your signatures and comments.

Paul Mueller

Campaign Ambassador & Media Creator

Paul produces compelling videos to raise awareness about Animal Victory’s petitions and shares them with his 300,000+ social media followers. His creative storytelling and broad reach help bring critical attention to cases of animal abuse and drive public engagement in our campaigns.

Maria Proietti, Esq.

B.S., M.S.T., J.D., Ph.D.
Attorney and Counselor-at-Law

Maria serves as Animal Victory’s Legal Counsel, bringing her expertise in law to advocate for animal welfare and justice. She is actively involved in initiatives such as Hogs for Hope and the Endangered Species Coalition , reflecting her deep commitment to protecting animals and the environment. Animal Victory is deeply grateful for Maria’s passion, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to the cause of animal rights and conservation.

FAQ About Animal Victory

Animal Victory creates and hosts online petitions advocating for investigations from alleged animal abusers in addition to the strictest punishment for convicted animal abusers.

Our Mission is to raise awareness of animal cruelty crimes through the use of petitions and gather as many signatures as possible to present to officials and the authorities to investigate animal abuse crimes and push to secure the maximum punishment for convicted animal abusers.

Our vision is to create a world where animals are treated with compassion and respect.

Animal Victory conducts research and provides updates on animal abuse cases to keep the public informed. We create petitions for many of these cases, using social platforms to engage individuals passionate about animal welfare. Our aim is to collect signatures, leveraging our collective voice’s strength to urge officials to conduct thorough investigations of each case and impose the most severe punishment possible for confirmed abusers.

We will maintain and promote/advertise the petition for as long as possible to gather as many signatures as we can. We closely monitor the developments of the story to determine when the case will be taken to court. At that point, we forward the signatures to the relevant authorities, prosecuting attorneys, judges, decision-makers, and anyone else involved in the case, including news outlets.

Our organization operates as a for-profit business, but functions much like a non-profit with a social mission. When we initiate a petition, any contributions or donations received are used to promote the petition, with the goal of obtaining as many signatures as possible. Our expenses, including the online platform, newsletter costs, protest materials, and other business requirements for publishing and promoting the petition, are covered by these funds. Animal Victory also allocates a portion of contributions from various petition campaigns to provide reward funds, donations, or direct aid to organizations and/or individuals who have utilized our services or been involved with specific petitions on a case-by-case basis.

Donations for petition work are not tax-deductible, but we provide a solution through our subsidiary, the Animal Victory Disaster and Abuse Fund (AVDAF). AVDAF is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that shares operating costs with our main affiliate, Animal Victory. By sharing overhead marketing and website expenses, both organizations can save money and effectively promote animal welfare issues. This cooperation enables us to attract a larger audience and gain more exposure for our cause. For those looking for a tax deduction while supporting our petition work, donations can be made through AVDAF, creating a beneficial situation for all.

Read more about our non-profit organization here: www.animalvictoryfund.org

Animal Victory is a mission-driven organization with a specific objective, centered on benefiting society and animals, rather than focusing on financial gain for owners and shareholders. The .org in our domain symbolizes our commitment to social responsibility. This is the essence of our identity. Conversely, .com implies an exclusive focus on profit. In essence, we chose .org as it aligns with our social responsibility to better the world for animals, and aids us in achieving our goals, which include donating a substantial part of our revenue.

Donations for petition work are not tax-deductible, but we provide a solution through our subsidiary, the Animal Victory Disaster and Abuse Fund (AVDAF). AVDAF is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that shares operating costs with our main affiliate, Animal Victory. By sharing overhead marketing and website expenses, both organizations can save money and effectively promote animal welfare issues. This cooperative enables us to attract a larger audience and gain more exposure for our cause. For those looking for a tax deduction while supporting our petition work, donations can be made through AVDAF, creating a beneficial situation for all.

Read more about our non-profit organization here: www.animalvictoryfund.org

Why are petitions necessary, even if an animal abuser has been charged? It’s because prosecutors often let animal abusers off with a mere slap on the wrist or a plea deal, even in the face of damning evidence. This leniency can stem from various reasons, such as underfunded courts swamped with cases, inexperienced prosecutors handling animal abuse cases, or those who don’t view animal cruelty as a crime deserving severe punishment. This is where petitions shine. When law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges receive our letter of intent, paired with a petition carrying thousands of signatures demanding specific action, they find it hard to overlook. It demonstrates that the public does care about these cases and wants to see genuine punishment. It prompts them to reconsider their decisions. Consider the changes brought about by recent protests.

Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act

Provides for felony charges, fines, and up to seven years in prison.

As of November 2019, the PACT Act was approved, meaning all 50 states have now enacted felony penalties for certain forms of animal abuse. However, each state determines what constitutes cruelty and the penalties for committing the cruelty. Furthermore, just because an abuser is charged with a felony, it doesn’t mean they are going to get the maximum jail time associated with a felony. Trying to ENFORCE the appropriate “felony” punishment charge can be very difficult. Many courts are underfunded and overwhelmed with an excessive number of cases. Because of this, oftentimes they get pled down to a lower chargeable offense to not have to go to trial; (it saves resources.) Therefore, most of these abusers get off with a slap on the wrist, perhaps some community service, and a small fine. Before long, they are back to abusing animals. The purpose of the petitions is to create pressure on the authorities, prosecuting attorneys, and judges not to follow the lesser offense practice. In all cases, authorities can’t ignore the fact that tens of thousands of signatures and comments have been presented to them through a petition.

The PACT Act & “Animal Crush” Materials as it pertains to Animal Victory.

  • The PACT Act (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture, 2019) does indeed criminalize certain acts of cruelty (drowning, suffocation, crushing, etc.) and the creation/distribution of “animal crush videos.”
  • But the law’s intent and language target exploitative content created for sexual gratification or sadistic entertainment, not journalistic, educational, or advocacy use.
  • Congress specifically allowed exceptions for law enforcement, reporting, political/advocacy campaigns, and educational purposes.

📌 Why Animal Victory’s Petitions Are Different

  • Our graphic videos are not autoplaying and are placed behind a warning, reducing exposure risk.
  • We are not creating, promoting, or monetizing footage of cruelty — you are reporting on an act of cruelty for advocacy and justice.
  • Animal welfare groups, news outlets, and law enforcement agencies often include or reference such material under these very exceptions.
  • Providing context or evidence of cruelty for petition, awareness, or prosecution purposes does not meet the definition of distributing “animal crush material” under the law.
  • The cited penalties (fines, up to 7 years) apply to those who create or distribute cruelty content for exploitative purposes — not advocacy organizations working to stop cruelty.

✅ Bottom line: Animal Victory’s use of videos (with warnings, non-autoplay, and for advocacy/legal accountability) is well within protected activity under the PACT Act’s exceptions. 

Since its inception in 2019, Animal Victory has achieved an average success rate of approximately 30%. Each year, we enhance our ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances, maintaining resilience and effectiveness. We improve our capacity to gather and analyze data, enabling us to make informed decisions, measure impact, and optimize our campaigns. Additionally, we develop more innovative, resourceful, and effective strategies, while continuously expanding our subscriber base.

Click here for Victories.

At times, our petition outcomes do not align with what we planned or expected. Navigating the legal system can be challenging, particularly when faced with issues such as underfunded courts, inexperienced prosecutors, and people who do not value animals. However, it only fuels us to fight harder.

1. We will continue to collaborate with organizations and other advocacy groups to build a stronger coalition and amplify our message.

2 . We will also continue to engage the public: using social media to build a community of supporters who can help spread our message and mobilize when needed.

Our expanded knowledge and efforts, coupled with your support, will make a significant difference in the fight for animal welfare and rights, ensuring that one day the respect and legal protections they need become a reality.

Animal Victory indeed gives back significantly. We use a portion of the contributions from our petition campaigns to fund rewards or donations. These are given to organizations or individuals who have sought our services or have participated in petitions on a case-by-case basis.

Click here for Beneficiaries.

The aim is to bring about positive social and political changes to protect animals, which cannot be accomplished unless animal abusers face consequences for their actions. We are tired of seeing animal abusers merely receive a slap on the wrist. Our collective voice must resonate with judges and officials, and we want animal abusers to understand that things are changing! Every signature on a petition represents a voice that demands justice and accountability for those who harm helpless animals. These collective voices matter because they send a clear message that we will not tolerate animal cruelty, and we are determined to see abusers face real consequences. Many regions across the nation are now treating animal cruelty cases with increased seriousness, yet there remains an alarming number of lenient sentences being handed out. too many lenient sentences being issued.

 In June 2023, Justin Reilly Belton knowingly and intentionally cut off the paws and tails of at least four puppies. Despite the sadistic nature of this crime, Belton was found not guilty and he was not punished. Animal Victory and its supporters were dismayed by the outcome. Cases like this make us work harder for meaningful convictions!

 In September 2022, Amber Rose bragged about “smoking” a wolf, who was in actuality, a husky dog. Rose was sentenced to a six-month deferred sentence, mandating that she take an online hunter safety class. The disappointing, slap on the wrist sentence included no jail time – no significant punishment to deter her or others from committing an act of animal cruelty in the future. 

 We demand punishment for animal abusers. The lenient sentences currently imposed are ineffective in deterring potential animal abusers. Research indicates a strong correlation between animal abuse and escalated violence, including domestic violence. Judges hold the power to impose harsher sentences, potentially incarcerating these violent individuals instead of merely assigning probation and fine. 

Please Note we may prematurely end or remove a petition from our platform as the story unfolds. If new evidence indicates that a person accused of a crime is actually innocent,  these new facts that have emerged will be provided. 

Sometimes, we are asked why we share animal abuse videos and graphic animal pictures, and some people express concerns that animal abusers might get ideas from them. 💔 While some may question our motives, there is no scientific research suggesting that watching abuse videos from animal advocates directly leads to animal abuse by viewers. In fact, most research indicates the opposite: exposing the public to the realities of animal cruelty aims to increase awareness, empathy, and advocacy efforts to prevent abuse.

Witnessing actual abuse can shock people into recognizing the severity of the problem and motivate them to take action, such as signing petitions, contacting authorities, or spreading the messageOutrage often leads to action!
If we didn’t see them, we wouldn’t know this abuse exists

Consequently, if we don’t share these experiences, how will you know what’s happening? How will we create change?

We understand that watching these videos can be horrific, and you are not obligated to view them if they cause distress.

We’ve realized that cute, fuzzy pictures of dogs and cats  do not accurately reflect the harsh reality of the cases we report, and authorities must see the factual evidence.

As animal abuse petitioners and news reporters, our primary goal is to gather as many signatures as possible. We aim to report the news as accurately as possible, using the evidence we receive to pressure authorities into conducting investigations and seeking the maximum punishment. ⚖️

Our dedicated team at Animal Victory works tirelessly to combat animal abuse. Our skilled petition writer, Penny Eims, along with Pierina Romero, Jan Karpel, Kelley Kite, and our hand-in-hand affiliate, news reporter Paul Mueller, collaborate to achieve this mission.

I hope this information is helpful. Please continue to join us in signing, sharing, and commenting on these petitions and stories. We will continue to welcome your suggestions and insights on how we can collaborate to create a better world for animals. ❤️🌱

Your support means everything to us. Without YOU, the animals lose.

NOTE: The PACT Act & “Animal Crush” Materials
  • The PACT Act (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture, 2019) does indeed criminalize certain acts of cruelty (drowning, suffocation, crushing, etc.) and the creation/distribution of “animal crush videos.”
  • But the law’s intent and language target exploitative content created for sexual gratification or sadistic entertainment, not journalistic, educational, or advocacy use.
  • Congress specifically allowed exceptions for law enforcement, reporting, political/advocacy campaigns, and educational purposes.
  • Animal welfare groups, news outlets, and law enforcement agencies often include or reference such material under these very exceptions.