About Us

fighting for the lives of our animals

Animal owners across Virginia have come together to fight for the lives of our animals. No one should risk criminal charges for having an old pet or giving a neglected animal a home. Facts matter.

Puff the Camel arrived at Fort Chiswell Animal Park in 2008 after leaving a neglectful situation. His humps were depleted of their fat reserves, he was severely underweight, and he wanted nothing to do with people! Keepers had to wear their raincoats when they fed him because Puff would angrily spit on anyone who came near him.

After months of care, his attitude improved, he gained his weight back, and his humps started to stand straight again. In his years at the zoo, he has become a park favorite with children and adults. Puff's life was transformed because of Virginia animal owners who cared. He is now the picture of health, but what would of happened if the Animal Law Unit showed up at the zoo during his years of recovery? They've proved over and over again they don't care about the facts or medical history of an animal. This is wrong.

fighting for our way of life

Members of VAOA spend time lobbying for and against animal related legislation in Virginia's General Assembly. We have been involved in legislation pertaining to common pets, farm animals, and zoo animals. We represent a wide range of ownership issues and battle anti-ownership groups. We have also worked at the local and regulatory levels and have challenged ownership issues in federal court.

fighting for justice

The Mogensen family has been fighting for ownership rights since 2019, but in December 2023 their business became the target. The family zoo was raided by Virginia's Animal Law Unit and the case has drawn the members of the raid team out of the shadows and into the sunlight. The State's horrific abuse of multiple animals including Zeus the Tiger has drawn widespread anger from animal lovers across the nation. The Mogensens have fought harder and longer than most people are financially able and their case now sits in the Virginia Court of Appeals. The Animal Law Unit has argued that over 90 exotic animals were in such bad condition that they had to be removed instantly from the zoo. This unit then spread these animals out across the Country with zero accountability as to their location or current condition. However, the giraffes were LEFT at the zoo to be cared for by the Mogensen family! If they were so abusive, why did this occur?

Prior to the raid, the Mogensens had raised reticulated giraffes for 30 years and placed them in conservation projects at zoological facilities around the country. This is their third generation of giraffes. The idea that Michelle Welch and Jason Miyares can simply steal these magnificent animals and "gift" them to their friends is reprehensible. This is indeed the "redistribution of wealth". The raid team showed the world their incompetence when they finally confiscated Jeffrey the Giraffe on October 3rd. People watched in horror for hours and there has been a public outcry after the trauma was livestreamed on Facebook.

As the Mogensen family continues their fight, they are fighting for all of us. The Animal Law Unit must be exposed and abolished. Please watch the following video about Jeffrey:

www.facebook.com/gretchen.mogensen/videos/3731384073671848