Wisconsin’s governor, Jim Doyle, signed new puppymill legislation into law last Tuesday, December 1st. Wisconsin is one of a number of states including Pennsylvania that has changed its laws in the last year to make lives better for dogs who are suffering in puppymills across the nation.
Joyce Kitsemble, pictured above, fought to get this legislation passed for over a decade. Joyce and her husband, Ed, gathered 5,000 signatures on a petition that was delivered to the governor last Tuesday. They had also written countless letters to lawmakers.
Sadly, last Tuesday as the governor was speaking at the signing ceremony, Joyce suffered a fatal heart attack. Although she will never see the actual changes to the puppymills, her dedication, perseverance and hard work was not in vain. She worked tirelessly for ten long years to make a difference for these helpless dogs.
My deepest sympathies to her husband, Ed.
Thank you Joyce for being the voice for those who have been stuck in Wisconsin puppymills and making a difference. You will not be forgotten.